Kibble and Biscuits - Greyhounds Queensland

ALWAYS A THRILLTHE late Sam Apap was mates withJohn Allison for many years.Allison, now 69 but a greyhound mansince he was 16, often did Sam a favour.In return each year Apap gave Allison hispick of a litter of pups he bred.“I’d go over and pick out a pup andSam would rear it to 12 months,” saidJohn who with wife Maureen have longbeen among the most astute andsuccessful of greyhound trainers.These days John and Maureen arecontent to let someone else do theirtraining, more often than not their longtimefriend Tom Noble.So when Sam Apap asked JohnAllison over to his Park Ridge propertya couple of years ago for his yearly pickof pups, Allison took an immediate likingto a long barrelled, hugely undershotblack bitch.She was one of two black bitches inthe Bright Ebony-Sleek Model litter.“She took my eye straight awaydespite the fact she is shockinglyundershot,” said Allison.Rick Fall broke her in, Tom Noble gother to train and Maureen named herAngel Flight in honour of the charity thatco-ordinates free non-emergency flightsfor financially and medically needypeople.Townsville Cup (498m)1 ANGEL FLIGHT $4(Bright Ebony-Sleek Model)Owner: Maureen AllisonTrainer: Tom Noble2 COOL BLACK $8(Carnage-Blues Alley)3 OWEY $3.50(Harvard Bale-Keen Express)Others:4 Eiswein $2.755 Illusion Star $86 Poke Along $67 Fury Express $118 Cruiser Moment $4Time: 29.00Cairns NewsWith the Cairns Cup now over, the Clubwill now continue its battle with the JockeyClub.The Club would like to thank DaleWidderick for all the help he gave our Clubwhile staying here. It certainly made lifeeasier for the few volunteers that continuallyoffer their assistance to keep our Club goingunder the strained conditions we have at themoment.The $75 rebate for transport has beengreatly received in Cairns. Remember onlynamed greyhounds that are ready to race areeligible.With the big Time Out Concert on August25 our club was forced to have ourAnniversary Cup night on August 27 with thefinal on September 1. Our QDog races havebeen set out for the year with 12 in all madeup of 8 x 5th grades and 4 x 4/5th grades.The Club would like to welcome RichardJackson and the Indi Confederacy membersto our Club.Richard has had greyhounds before andis now residing in Cairns. He bought agreyhound and she is going well at this stagefor them.Emma O’Connor (President)Maureen vowed to give a percentageof the bitch’s prizemoney to the AngelFlight Australia charity.And when Angel Flight, the greyhound,dashed clear in the straight and went onto win the 2007 running of the TownsvilleCup, Angel Flight, the charity, gave theloudest cheer.“Every month Maureen writes out acheque for the charity,” said John. “Thebitch has been such a prolific winner.”Angel Flight has indeed been thattaking her record to 27 wins with victoryin the Townsville Cup and her stakesearnings to almost $60,000.“She was good right from the momentTom started trialling her,” said John.The Allisons run a scrap metal yard andwhile their two sons Mark and Steve workfor the business, the Allisons have been flatout for years.So much so that John had to curtail hisgreyhound training. He’d had greatsuccess in the Gabba days with SamanthaQueen and more recently with Farmer’sDaughter.“These days we are happy just to watchthe dogs race on TV,” he said.On Townsville Cup night John ranglocal trainer Robert Olsen minutes beforethe start of the race and listened to the callon Olsen’s mobile.“It’s always a great thrill whenever thedogs win,” he said. “We get a great kickout of it.”John and Maureen have just bought aBombastic Shiraz pup and he has a litterof Collision pups out of Samantha’s World.“I’ve got Samantha’s World and theBombastic Shiraz pup at home and I takethem walking every morning for exercisefor both myself and the dogs,” said John.“If we ever sold the business I wouldprobably get a dog or two to train again.”While there have been nibbles to buythe scrap metal yard, it is not sold untilthe money is in the bank and John and hisfamily continue to work it today.Of Angel Flight, there is no doubt shehas plenty of racing left in her yet but sheRenzo Park ComplexNew!CoveringGrafton - CasinoAreastoGold CoastBrisbaneToowoombaOsti’s IdolElle’s CommandoElle ShantyBright EbonyShining ChariotBright BannerFashion PlateANGEL FLIGHTBenjasonBonjaseBonnie TreaseSleek ModelAcacia AblazeAcacia KingdomFree Methodalready has a spot set aside for her atthe Allison’s home.“She will be a broodbitch for sure,”said John. “Maureen would never let hergo, she loves her.“Tom (Noble) says she haseverything to make her a goodbroodbitch, temperament, pedigree andshe could sprint and get 600 metres.”John Allison started in greyhoundracing when he was 16 working for thelate and legendary Bob Doak.“I was there when he had dogs likeRocket Fire, Direct Fire and that famousbroodbitch Secretly,” said John. “Shewas a great straight track bitch, a biglong black bitch.”He’s been a dog man ever since andhe and Maureen still get a huge thrillfrom every winner they get. TownsvilleCups are that extra special though.As an extension of Renzo Park Rearing and Spelling Complex, we are now offeringa transport service for your valuable animals.RenzoParkPET TRANSPORT SERVICE* Pick-up Grafton Saturday (appointment only)* Leaving Casino sunday (early AM)* Returning Casino Sunday PM* Pick-up and Drop off along the way* Other trips available by arrangementInquiries & Bookings: Peter & Helen SimpsonPh: (02) 66335115 Mob: Peter 0438 792348 Helen 0428 302725The (September, 2007) Journal Page 17