Mexborough and Swinton Times April 20, 1928
South Yorkshire Greyhounds.
Opening Of The New Stadium At Wombwell.
Track To Be Illuminated
History Of The Scheme.
The sport of greyhound racing has been introduced to South Yorkshire. The magnificent new track constructed by the Company known as the South Yorkshire Greyhounds (Wombwell), Ltd., is to be formally opened to-morrow (Saturday) with an evening meeting. As will be seen from an advertisement elsewhere in this issue racing will commence at 7 p.m.
A preliminary meeting has been held already and the keen interest taken by the public in the sports facilities the new greyhound track is intended to provide for them has led to the supposition that the undertaking is likely to meet with great success. The new sport he is being launched under promising auspices.
The fact that Wombwell has been chosen as a centre for this new sport is important from more than one point of view
An Ideal Site
This Week a stand to accommodate 2000 spectators been assembled by the Calton engineering company. The stand will be constructed of steel with an asbestos roof and will be absolutely five.
The stand will have a sunny aspect, leaseback to the Kent Row.
This is only the first instalment of accommodation of this type. Most of us will be erected as the need develops and the “popular” side will be enclosed.
It is the directors intention eventually to see that everyone who pays for admission will be under cover.
A Brilliant Spectacle
Of the general equipment of the ground much might be said. There is the judges not, the central tower and other items of appointment, all of attractive design, and “picked out” in white. These should give effect to the general billions of the scene when the ground is flooded with electric light power, for which is being supplied by the Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire As for the entrance to the ground the directors have concentrated on making this as attractive as possible, and to that end neither effort, nor money has been spared. Set well back from the road, the ground is approached at two points, between which there is parking accommodation for a great number of cars. The frontage has been designed on a grand scale, utility having been combined with the attractive in the construction of enquiry offices, pay boxes and other buildings
There is the usual sanitary accommodation and the requirements of public health have been complied with. At the entrance also are the offices of the company, where preside ,Mr. P. Broadbent, the genial general manager of the company, and Mr. B. J. Jagger, who has just been appointed the company’s accountant. At the turnstiles only the exact amount of the admission fee will have to be tendered; an office has been provided whereat change may be obtained. This will avoid unnecessary waiting.
The stadium generally is so designed as to give a note of brightness to the district in which it is locited.
Buying The Dogs.
Greyhound T acing would be nothing without the hare and the hounds. The dogs first.
Starting from zero the directors were anxious to get some of the very best dogs to be produced. They had the offer of dogs from many people running kennels in England, but after much consultation they decided to make, their purchases in Ireland. Accordingly, the chairman of the company Mr. A. E. Gelder, crossed the Channel and visited Tralee, Killarney, Dublin, and many of the more remote places in the West country. They returned with 24 dogs. These were put into training at once, and so satisfactory did they prove to be that the company forthwith purchased another 26 from Mr J. Cronin, one of the best known Irish dealers.
There are now on the site 60 greyhounds owned by the company, and in addition some 30 or 40 private owners have promised to send their dogs to the ground. The company’s dogs are for sale, and anyone wishing to inspect them may do so on applying to the general manager. All the dogs are pedigree stock and registered in the Irish stud book. The directors hope that eventually most of the dogs will be privately owned.
The kennels in which the dogs have been housed are the last word in hygiene and comfort. Situated in a secluded quiet and spot in a corner of the big stadium they are erected in series of 25 each dog having a separate kennel. The kennels are centrally heated, lofty and quite draught proof. In the centre is the kitchen where the dogs food is cooked. Orders for meat, bread, and sauna been placed locally. The kennels open onto a sunny panic, in which the ground can be exercised in view. It is anticipated that many private people and dog lovers generally want to purchase the animals.
A “Trackless”Hare
Last, but by no any means the least important comes the hare. In choosing the method by which the hare is to be propelled the direction of the South Yorkshire Ground (Wombwell) Ltd, “swapped horses while crossing the stream,” so to speak.
Actually a “pent track” have been excavated wearing the buggy to carry the air was to run in a later method was adopted in the “Trackless Air.” This change of plan was inspired by a visit to Staines, near London, the “Ascot” of ground racing, where the “Trackless air” had been installed.
The “trackless hare” and big advantages over the earlier method. It is simpler to install and costs per fraction to operate. It is noiseless and the cost of upkeep is practically nil. Whereas the electric air runs at exactly the same distance from the edge of the track even on the bends, the trackless MBAs, practically on the bends much as a live hare would do. There is nothing of the mathematical exactness about its running. In order to keep the leading dog from running wide electric air to be run many yards ahead, whereas the trackless air, being kept much closer to the dogs, excite them to keen racing, retained their attention and lessens the danger of fighting.
The operation of the trackless hare is simplicity itself. A very fine, hardly visible, cable is drawn round the track. Attached to the cable is the hare (a real hare stuffed) mounted on a small sleigh. It weighs in all about 7 pounds. The cable is carried round the bends by means of small pulleys. Speed and centrifugal force prevent the hare colliding with the pulleys. The required power can be supplied by a couple of men at the pit and winless, and a speed of 60 miles an hour can be attained. Captain Nixon is the inventor.
The activities of the company will not be confined exclusively to ground racing. As time and opportunity permits other sports ands attraction will be introduced. It is possible that of the 13 acres not yet developed the company will eventually lay out a track for motorcycle racing. This will be done at once if the demand is sufficiently insistent. Facilities also will be provided for whippet racing and boxing and foot racing matches. For this purpose the centre of the greyhound track will be available. The company have applied for affiliation to the National Greyhound Control Board under the National Greyhound Racing Club. This will ensure the racing being conducted on a standard basis and will give the promoters facilities for control, the free interchange of dogs, and for running of championship events.
