Kibble and Biscuits Mick's Happy with Townsville ... - Greyhound-Data

Greyhound racing is a real family affairBETWEEN September and March mostseasons, it’s probably advisable not to expecttoo much of dogs trainer by David Gear inBundaberg.For the past 10 years David’s time duringthose months has been taken up coachingsoftball, junior and representative teams, inBundaberg.It’s a passion he has had for a decade andone that has rewarded him.He has coached junior, senior and repsoftball and for the past three years has beenpresident of the United Softball Club.“I generally get five or six weeks offduring the Christmas holidays,” he said.David Gear, 46, has been traininggreyhounds since 1979.“My then girlfriend and now wife Sharongot me into dogs,” he told The Journal.Sharon’s father Rex Achurch has been astalwart of greyhound racing in the “RumCity” for decades.“I don’t suppose there was much chanceof me not training greyhounds,” Gear said.A Fire and Rescue Authority member for25 years in August, David got his fist dog froma litter of pups Rex had bred.“Her name was Madam Bigfoot and shewas not much chop. But she won a race,” hesaid.But winners, and a constant supply ofthem, soon turned up.“Probably the best dog we’ve have wasRock Buster,” said David. “He was by ChiefAmbition out of a bitch called Miss Magnetwho Rex had got up from Tassie.”Rock Buster was one of 10 pups from thelitter and he won 20 races.“He was very good to us,” said David. Thedog came to Ipswich one night and finishedthird to Western Creole when he ran 30.08 ata time when the track record was 30.05.“Miss Magnet had plenty of ability forRex,” said David. “She ran 28.00 around theBundy track when that was a very good run.”From the litter of 10, David kept four andlost a bitch that could have been the best ofthe litter. “She broke in as good as EurekaMan at Galaxy Lodge, but she fought.”Rock Buster was five years old and stillwinning in top grade at Bundaberg when heBenjamin JohnBusy’s ChiefBusy’s CharmChief AmbitionTop KabanaFairy BeaverROCK BUSTERTake A BowBenjamin JohnRebel WayneMiss MagnetWestmead ChampMini MagnetParadise Peg*Stewards Inquiriesretired. “He won the Pizza Hut Stakes twoyears in a row at Bundy on the old and thenew track.”David and Sharon have a six and a halfacre property with a kennel block for fivedogs, straight track and paddocks.Father-in-law Rex has been laid lowrecently with a bout of cancer and during thistime David got Rex’s handy galloper Can TheBoss into the Bundaberg Cup final.David and Sharon have two children,Christopher, 16, and Alanna, 9.“Christopher saved up recently andbought two pups by No Intent from Sydney.They are about to go to Bevan and ElaineWilliamson to be broken in,” said David.“Alanna helps around the kennels ‘to earna quid’ and can’t wait to be old enough tohandle dogs on race day.”The Gears constantly plan to have a breakfrom greyhound racing, but have neverseemed able to do so.“Racing can’t seem to attract youngpeople these days, but the club up here isgoing well now even though it was in troublefor a while. We are getting stronger andstronger,” said David who has had a coupleof stints on the club’s committee.“We’ll always be in dogs.”He has a number of handy gallopers racingaround Bundaberg including Unique Girl,Casual Wisdom, Full Alert and recently hadplanned to have Angelistic mated to TrendyJULY 22Stewards present: SJ McGrath (acting chairman), D Kays (investigations).Stewards opened an inquiry into a complaint lodged by steward G Thorsby against MrPaul Mills, trainer of Marungi Bella, a late scratching from Race 10 at the Gold Coast on June22. Stewards took evidence from Mills and a statement from Thorsby.After hearing evidence, Mills was charged under Rule 109 (15) which states: “Any person(including an official) who has in relation to a greyhound or greyhound racing done a thing oromitted to do a thing which in the opinion of the stewards is negligent, dishonest, corrupt,fraudulent or improper, or constitutes misconduct;”Mills pleaded guilty and was placed on a good behaviour bond for two years. Stewardsinformed Mills that should he behave in this manner again, stewards would readdress thematter.Leigh but the bitch went off season.David has always been a sportsman. Heplayed baseball for 16 years when he wasBRAND NEW ...RIGID PLASTICPVC MUZZLESGOOD, LONG LASTING MUZZLESDESIGNED FOR YOUR GREYHOUND'SNEEDS . . . BE IT* YARDS/REARING MUZZLES* WALKING MUZZLE * HARD WORK MUZZLE* CALMING/ANTI BARK MUZZLE * PREVENTS SOIL EATERS* POST OP MUZZLE/PREVENTS CHEWINGALL QUALITY LEATHER HEAD STRAP FIXING IN THREEOPTIONAL TYPES* VELCRO ON LEATHER * SOFT LEATHER BUCKLE* METAL BUCKLEOUR MUZZLES ARE DESIGNED WITH A SHAPED NOSE ROLLTO AVOID THE DREADED PLASTIC BITE OTHER MUZZLESTEND TO LEAVE.We have tried to achieve a quality product that will last for years, notsomething that will last for days as can happen now.Price $30DOG AND BITCH SIZES AVAILABLEDavid and SharonGear and theirchildren Christopherand Alanna and twoNo Intent pupsowned byChristopher.younger.Coaching softball and coaxing the best outof greyhounds fills his days now.Inquiries to KERRI OR STEVE(07) 32000210 or 0407697085Please note: As these muzzles are hand made, a slight difference betweenmuzzles will be normal.The (September, 2005) Journal Page 13