2007 Review

Lets start with the Hounds (alphabetically)

BEANIE BEAR - Bea only had 5 races in 07 before injury cut short her career. 0/5 in 07 and 3/11 career. The RGT found her a home in September and she has settled in nicely.

BLUE HAWAII - Purchased at HG sales in March, Fivo has had many problems since arriving on these shores. His record of 4/29 doesn't set the world alight but he's a better dog than that.
Has won a A5 and Three at A4, wont be seen this year until probably February after his latest setback.

BLUE TAURUS - Well what can i say about this fella. 15/52 in 2007 a fantastic effort. Russ has improved throughout the year winning races from A5 up to the Top Grade of A1. In December he won 4/5 including our very first Hatrick.

CHANCERY GRA - Chelsey had her career abruptly ended in February when she broke her Hock whilst racing. She was 2/5 in 07 and moving nicely up the grades. Her career was 4/25 and after many trips back and forth to the vets she is living the life of luxury at home with us.

CHOCOBOBBLE - Bobby was purchased at HG sales in March,unfortunately his career (0/2) only lasted 2 races before injury struck. He also has the life of luxury our friend Eunice who took him home in August.

DEVON JANE - Janey was also purchased from the March HG sales, her record stands at 0/13 (oh dear). She has just come back from seasonal rest and we hope she can get her head in front in the near future !!!!!!!

HAPPIER NOTE - Purchased in September from PB sales. Belle's record is 2/11, she struggled early doors and won her first race at the 9th attempt at A8, she doubled up at A7 next time out and we think she will come into her own when stepped up in distance when old enough.

HILLCROFT GEM - Gemma was restricted to 19 races in 07 winning on two occasions in A8 company. Will we play it by ear and if she shows us shes had enough then retirement beckons.

KILAHARRY ARCHIE - RIP, Purchased in January. What a rollercoaster poor old Archie had. In Short he won 2/18 got a DQ, had clearing trials then got marked Awkward. Not wanting to go the Hurdles route he was retired in August. Whilst on the RGT waiting list he suddenly fell ill in November with heart problems and at only 2 years old he passed away. RIP.

LAGGANMORE POWER - Teddy is the latest edition to the clan and what a start he made for us winning on his first start in A3 company on 7th December. He is now 2/5 and has contested A1 races without success. His future probably lies over 6 bends in the near future.

PANDORAS HOPE - (Pandoras Hope-less) as i renamed her !!!!!!! This gorgeous blue bitch had a 1/21 record in 07 and a career of 3/33 for us before we retired her in August due to slowness and niggling injuries. She now has a lovely home with our friends Pam and Alan.

SHEAR HEAVEN - Purchased early January Marvin's record of 5/44 in 07 is an injustice to him.
A fast dog on his day he has been anchored by being seeded Wide for all but 2 of his races. He races over both 4 and 6 bends winning 3 and 2 respectively. His win record % will definately improve now the (W) has been taken off.

STEEPLE RD JO - Unfortunately never raced for us. Purchased way back in October 2006 Jo went lame trialling in. We persevered with him until his Wrist couldn't stand up to it in January. Jo then went on the HG RGT and he found a loving home in September.

WERE JUST BACK - Shelley a bargain basement buy won 10/48 in 07 winning in grades from A8 up to A5. A very consistent laid back bitch she is a joy to own.

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Purchased at HG sales in October were

RELIGHT MY FIRE - Lulu has had 2 trials before coming into season.
LUCY SCHOLES - Lucy is trialling in now after a slight setback.
KEVITT RUBY - RIP , Ruby died at the vets after contracting a life ending illness (complicated, story for another day).

BETTYS HOTPOT - Betty is a youngster who was a replacement for Ruby. Came over in December and will probably trial in at the end of February.

So with 45 wins in 2007, our best ever year we look forward to beating that in 2008 with the help of Mark and Stuart.


POKER

Strange year where i played lots at some stages and then not at all for a long period of time. (probably due to work and Dog commitments)
Ended the year with 6 wins and 70 more FTs (thanks to Gats and the £2 thread on the Betfair Poker Forum)

Will play more when the NFL season winds down and my aim is to win a nice tournament around the $5K GTD mark, see you at the tables soon.


ASTON VILLA and MIAMI DOLPHINS

Well Martin has got us playing decent football and the young kids are improving fast. Interesting in the window if we can pick up a target man to rival Carew (who has done well but dont think he takes us to the next level) so the young guns can feed off. Think we will finish pretty much where we are now but with a good second half to the season who knows we might even geta European spot :) heres hoping anyway !!!!

Miami Dolphins finished the regular season with a dismal 1-15 record :( , the only game we won was against the Ravens and that was in OT after a missed FG by them.
Injuries to key players as Green, Brown, Thomas etc etc didn't help the cause but in plain truth we were garbage. We now have the First pick in the Draft but we need Parcells and co to get quality Free Agency players to turn the team around. Frankly i think it will take a while to get a winning season again but in the NFL you never know.
A big up to the NE Patriots who went 16-0 in the regular season , now lets see if they can emulate the 72 Dolphins by going Undefeated.

OTHER MATTERS

We did finally move house in September and we have settled in well. Wondered why we didn't do it a long time ago the extra space is great.
A big thanks to my Vauxhall Cavalier who i spent 8 years with but time had come to move on and i now have a Civic (please be as reliable as the Cavvy)
Work is as frustrating as ever and i do hope this time next year i will be out of this shitty shop.

There we go then i finally got round to updating :)

Thanx for dropping by and GL everyone and have a great 2008 :)