SIGNATURE DANCER, trained locally by Michelle Brown for Craig Chesson and Carl Plummer, became the inaugural winner of the BGBF Scurry Final at Henlow on Sunday.

Landing her trainer a biggest win since taking her the licence from her mother Hazel Kemp, Brown’s youngster was also handy after a good break and hit the front approaching the third bend before going on to score by one a half lengths from Westcot Norman in 26.43sec (-20).

Having been involved in the no-race when knocked over and then the re-run semi-final, trainer Brown was confident the July 2017 son of Tullymurry Act and Franks Dream was ready to do himself justice in the £4,000 final – and he produced the best run of his career to strike in the Bedfordshire showpiece.

“We had him fully checked out after the tumble, and knew he was right as rain,” she said. “He’s a young dog and handled the extra run as such. In fact, he was bouncing the lunchtime after the fall – so that told us everything! He’s a very exciting pup, in fact the whole litter as lovely looking pups.

“I actually picked Dancer out early on as he has a lovely temperament – he’s so laid back and takes everything in his stride. He won two opens at Romford and finished second in a puppy final there, so to win at Henlow makes us all so proud – and that includes mum and dad (Michael), who do so much still.

“We’re a brilliant team,” she added. “Dad does the feeding and finds the next races to suit the dogs and mum does the pups and generally everything really! My focus is making sure all the dogs are sound and well, given I especially enjoy the physio side of things, the grooming and well-being off all the dogs.

“My brother Robert is also brilliant with the dogs and comes in a couple of times a week, while Graham (Cowman) and Cally (Gibbs) are always there to go graded racing for us and June Hughes is always a great help at the track. Henlow have been great to us and we’ve a few exciting pups coming through to go with some our older racers – Slippy Maggie included of course!

“She’s a real star and never disappoints. Craig (Chesson) part-owns her as well as Signature Dancer with Craig and he and David Redmile have been brilliant owners for mum and dad – and I thank them for their continued support now I’ve taken over the licence. Their support is fantastic.”

Liz Mort, new chairman of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum (BGBF), said: “All six finalists were a credit to British breeding – it was a good race and congratulations are definitely due to all the connections of Signature Dancer.

“It was great to see the prize going to an owner/breeder as joint-owner Craig Chesson bred him out of Franks Dream, a good open-race winner he owned jointly with three others including trainer Michelle Brown.

“The dog only started his career at Henlow in A10 in January, so connections must be thrilled at his progress. I’m also delighted for Michelle, who only took out a licence a few months ago.

“This is what the BGBF is all about – encouraging quality in British breeding – and giving owners and breeders an incentive by ensuring there are good competitions with proper prize-money being staged.

“Our aim is to have a decent competition for British-breds at every track in the country over the year. It won’t happen immediately, but we’re on the way!

“I’d like to thank Henlow for hosting the competition and to all those who entered and supported it, also to SIS for their continued support of British breeding.”