Welcome everyone.

On behalf of the committee I would like to thank all those who helped out during what was another testing year due to Covid. In particular, many thanks to a number of veterinary surgeons who stepped in on numerous occasions in order that we could continue to conduct meetings. Also, thank you to the Adelaide trainers who regularly made the long trip down to Mount Gambier to support our meetings.

A GRANT OF $130,000 FROM GRSA allowed for the erection of new front fencing, a new gator, second slipping track, extra wash down bays and a tractor turnaround area.

A FURTHER GRANT OF $800,000 will see the clubroom upgrade undertaken in 2022.

AS FAR AS RACING WAS CONCERNED, the biggest news of the year was the upgrading of Mount Gambier Sunday meetings to Category 2 status as from July. The Listed Commercial Hotel Mount Gambier Cup went off well with Deb Coleman’s Zipping Zarbo winning the event. The Exchange Printers Anniversary Cup was won by Tracie Price’s Tandiki and the Williams Crane Hire Christmas Cup by John Little’s Bungaloo Anne. Other successful meetings conducted during the year included the SE Football Day and the Hoteliers Day. With 305 metre racing introduced and the return of 732 metre racing, some Sunday meetings included the running of five distances.

CONGRATULATIONS to Captain Abbott who was successful with Another Pick in the Greyhound of the Year award and to David Peckham, winner of the Ian Badger Leading Trainer award for the third successive year.

CHARITY WORK continued through the running of the Michelle Niele Memorial which resulted in a donation to Cystic Fibrosis Australia. Also, $4000 was donated to local charities Foodbank and the Visually Impaired Club by way of the Tara Tipsters.

I extend sincere thanks to our valued sponsors. We also welcome on board for 2022 our new major sponsor, C&G MG, and thank Adrian Jones of Carlin & Gazzard for his assistance in securing this sponsorship.

I also extend a sincere thank you to Barry Shepheard who has stepped down as our secretary/club manager after 20 years. We now welcome Mark Dwyer on board as the club manager and wish him well.

Thank you,
NOEL PERRY
Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club President