Yesterday’s afternoon forecast of rain never really eventuated and as such the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s second annual South-East Clubs Challenge once again proved to be a great success.

From a greyhound racing point of view, the highlight for the eight invited clubs was the running of the SE Football/Netball Clubs Challenge – eight greyhounds racing over 512 metres with the eight clubs all drawing a runner.

And taking the early lead from box six was Nangwarry’s representative, the $19 outsider Flatty Hunter. Trained at Hamilton by Tony Harding, he’s no stranger to longshot winners after the dog had won at 100/1 earlier in the year at Murray Bridge.

Giving chase was Compulsory Hero, who gained a start as a reserve. Trained at Two Wells by Clint Trengove, the brindle dog carried the hopes of the Tantanoola Tigers and somehow they managed to get the him over the line with 1¾ lengths to spare.

Raced by Clayton Langdon, a Broken Hill-based cousin of Trengove’s wife Shelley, Compulsory Hero was described by his trainer as a hit or miss greyhound. He was certainly a hit with the Tigers who secured him in the random draw.

The Tantanoola Tigers certainly entered into the spirit of the day, coming dressed for the occasion and thoroughly delighted to have won the Challenge trophy with their representative.

Incidentally, Trengove is now set for a busy few weeks. “It’s back to Two Wells tonight then off to Bathurst with 18 pups to be broken-in. Next weekend we expect to be racing in Broken Hill and then back here the following  week,” he said.

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