Terry Blackburn
Terry had a long association with the sport he loved - first as a owner in the 60's with Monmore trainer Alfie Prentice. He then moved to Pat Ryan and became an owner and kennelhand - that's when his long and successful relationship began and flourished with trainer Patricia Cowdrill, along with owner and breeder Pete (Elderberry) Richards.
Terry owned hundreds of dogs throughout his life and the best, most memorable would be Kildallon Bound, who ran in 22 races with 10 wins including the Puppy Oaks at Nottingham. Terry loved his graded racing along with Open race success, but most of all he loved his greyhounds and association with the Elderberry Kennels and Monmore Green.
A stalwart of Monmore's Owners Association, Terry would always add to every discussion with his knowledge and wisdom. Terry sadly passed away in October 2023 and is sadly missed but remembered by all his friends and colleagues at Monmore and the Elderberry Kennel. A true gentleman.
Carol Turner
Carol, aka Mrs T, has probably watched more greyhound races and stewarded more meetings than any current serving local steward of the GBGB. She has seen so many changes throughout her career and has been involved in the operation at Monmore since 1978 employed by Ladbrokes and before that for two years with Midland Greyhound company, a total of 47 years.
Working in the racing office, judges' box and paddock Carol has always been professional, worked with integrity and been the best of timekeepers making sure she is never late for work and with a stopwatch timing the races, she is never more than a length of the winning time of a race.
She is a shining example to all, especially her younger colleagues who see what a great job that she does in her important role.
Jim Woods
Monmore mourned the loss of Jim in late 2022 as he passed away following a short illness. He was a very well-respected and highly-regarded figure across the greyhound racing world, having served as Racing Manager at Monmore for 27 years following roles at Perry Barr, Leeds and Nottingham.
Jim had a eye for detail and would make sure he walked the track before every race meeting, taking pride in his role and in his thought for the dogs that would be racing daily. He would also spend lots of time in the stewards box and would give great direction to his team meticulously watching replays.
Jim was elated when Monmore won the Track Championship in one of his final years as Racing Manager. His name will be a permanent fixture on the track's Hall of Fame board, honouring a man who is fondly rembered and greatly missed.
Sandra Ralph
Sandra has been a stalwart of Monmore Green for over 50 years, and has had a long and successful career with highlights including the 1998 Laurels at Belle Vue with Ardant Jimmy. Jimmy was the first Monmore Trained winner of a classic. The Produce Stakes winner, Robbie De Niro who was one the dogs of his era and was expertly handled by Sandra being one of her best known charges. She also had an English Derby semi finalist with Coney Grand. Later on, some of her favourite dogs she trained included Top Aim, Liscahane Razl who won many opens at Monmore aswell as Droopys Genie, who were all Monmore favourites.
Sandra’s career began at Monmore many years ago working as a kennel girl for Eddie Bamford. She then worked for Jack Simpson before taking over herself in 1989. She was one of Monmore's leading trainers for many years throughout her time training. Sandra retired at the end of 2019 but is still heavily involved in the running of the Chris Fereday kennel. She paraded Tommys Dove on Derby final night this year, who won over the marathon distance. She is a recognised face in the industry and still maintains the same passion for the sport as she has had throughout her time training.
John "Mick" Reeves
Known to everyone as Mick or Dilly he has been involved with Monmore green since 1954 when as a 14 year old visited the track to watch Speedway. Within a few years he was working for Alf Martin who was a bookmaker and later on in the seventies started as a bookmaker himself and hasn't looked back since. Mick has seen many changes in his time at Monmore and has stood at thousands of race meetings, and quotes his 2 favourite greyhounds to run here as Marbec Wonder and Silent worship the latter of which was owned by Mick himself.
Rushmoor Willow
Rushmoor Willow affectionally known as Big Willy participating in 202 graded races
His racing career is brilliant, a greyhound that any trainer would wish for, never had an injury throughout its racing career is a credit to his current Trainer Craig Marston and his Previous trainer Paul Slater.Owned through his career by Paul Slaters Partner Kerry Satchwell, with 34 wins and 37 second places the dog looks fantastic and I'm sure could keep on racing ,but now surpassing Hall of fame dog for Monmore Kranky Scott who raced in 200 races it's time for the retirement couch and to honour this wonderful greyhound. Jo Slater Paul Slaters daughter and Craigs Kennel hand will be taking him home .
On the 6th of May 2021 Rushmoor Willow competed in his final graded race before retirement live on RGPTV with a race named in his honour he won this race ending his fantastic career on a glorious note.
I'm sure you will agree a great story about a tremendous, graded racing greyhound.
Alison Bandurak
The founder of the Wolverhampton Branch of the Greyhound Trust in 2004, leading the branch to become the most successful Greyhound rehoming branch in the country, with the branch recently surpassing the 4000th rehoming in 2019.
Alison is a regular volunteer for the Greyhound trust nationally and regularly attends Crufts and other national awareness campaigns.
Chris Allsopp
Chris Was a long serving trainer at Monmore until last year and during his time there was no one as successful with 4 Monmore Trainer of the year awards and being triumphant in most of Monmores Category one races including the Puppy Derby and the Summer stayers and also becoming the national Trainer of the year in 2011 being the last trainer other than Mark Wallis to win the prestigious title
Florence Rowley
Florence has been a constant presence at Monmore for over 50 years and still remains an ever-present asset to this stadium with her fantastic personality, superb customer service skills, calming influence under pressure and the person all customers from far and wide ask about when they revisit the restaurant
Elderberry Veron
Home Trained and Home bred by the Cowdrill team This Successful Greyhound finishing 2nd in the Peterborough Derby and going on to win the prestigious Ladbrokes Gold Cup in 2004
Kranky Scott
The Pam Burford owned and trained Greyhound Retired in October 2019 after competing in his 201st race being the only Greyhound to do so at Monmore winning 26 of them in a career that spanned over 4 ½ years running in many grades and reaching the heights of A3
Peter Billingham
Pete was one of the longest serving trainers at Monmore until taking a step back to pass on to Daughter Kim. Pete was very well respected and could always be relied upon for honest advice using his vast experience in the industry and could always tell a great story and would always bring a smile to the room. Sadly, Pete passed away last year but will always be remembered at Monmore as a true Gentleman.
Pete Richards
Pete began his serious involvement with Greyhounds when he joined forces with trainer Pat Ryan about 34 years ago, and after very little success with the purchase of a Greyhound called Engine Breaker they decided that breeding was the way forward and began to breed under the Prefix Elderberry named after Pete's home Elderberry Cottage, Pete continued to support the kennels when pay sadly passed away and Patricia Cowdrill took over from Partner Pat, notable success along the way have been Elderberry Chick (Champion Stakes), Elderberry Veron ( Gold Cup) and in 2008 Elderberry Azel became the British bred only cat one that year with success in the Summer stayers.
Jack Taylor OBE
An owner at Monmore with trainers George Anderson and Michael Harris his proudest success as an owner was Loughteen Bandit winning the Ladbrokes Gold cup in 2005. During his time as an owner he owned numerous dogs that raced in graded and in Open race company the likes of Druids Bangkok , Druid Sydney , Shy County and Torbal Manor to name a few all held in high esteem by the Monmore faithful.
Jack was a regular face on the terraces at the stadium and presented numerous trophies for the track until his passing in 2012. As well as a succseful greyhound owner Jack was a local lad whose fathers butchers shop where he worked was opposite the Wolverhampton Wanderers football stadium, he was also a local Magistrate and Steward of the National greyhound racing club, but was most famous for his illustrious career as a world class football referee taking charge of the 1974
world cup final and the 1971 European cup final. He had refereed in over 60 countries throughout the world and was an inductee to the FIFA hall of fame.
