MARK WALLIS secured his fifth success at the meeting – just one behind the legendary Charlie Lister OBE – on an extraordinary night at Perry Barr as the Premier Greyhound Racing Trainers’ Judgement Night went down to the wire.

Heading into the last leg of Judgement Night, formerly the Trainers’ Championship Meeting, Wallis was one of three trainers potentially able to take the £5,000 outright prize after brilliant nights up to that stage for both Tom Heilbron and Nathan Hunt, the two youngest handlers in the six-trainer, six-race shootout.

Ultimately, a staying-on third place for Kilmore Dancer in the concluding top division of the 480m contests behind Patrick Janssens’ Romeo Steel (28.22sec -10) saw the boss of Imperial Kennels with 41 points edge out Nathan Hunt (39), Tom Heilbron (36), Janssens (33), Maxine Locke (26) and Kevin Hutton (25).

Heilbron had set a serious pace in the early legs with wins for the Newcastle trainer courtesy of Deliverooo (28.20sec normal) and Clona Dash (28.14sec normal) before the baton was passed to Nathan Hunt who also had a superb night.

Monmore handler Hunt landed the spoils with Fire And Ice (16.11sec -5) and later his joker Droopys Flotilla (39.62sec -15) for double points – the only joker landed on the night – while Kevin Hutton struck with Southfield Poppy (28.17sec -10).

It meant Wallis was the only trainer not to win a leg as the runners headed to traps for the final contest and it needed a gutsy off-the-pace effort from 13-8 favourite Kilmore Dancer, crowded out early, to finish third behind Romeo Steel and Antigua Kestrel (Hutton) to get Wallis over the line for a fifth victory in the trainers’ showdown.

“We’re proud to have won it again and, with Proper Heiress also winning the (Arena Racing Company) Kent Plate at Central Park tonight, it’s been some night for the MWD Partnership – maybe even better than when we won those three Cat Ones on the same night in December at Hove and Oxford

“There was more of the team involved tonight across the two tracks and that makes it even more special for us. Again, thanks to everyone who made this possible.”

Perry Barr general manager Chris Black congratulated Team Wallis and thanked all the trainers who competed in this year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Trainers’ Judgement Night – and helped make it a memorable night at the Birmingham track.

“You couldn’t ask for a better finish – and even when they crossed the line in the last leg we were all checking places and scores to see who’d won! That’s the perfect way to finish a unique team event such as this and well done to Mark (Wallis) and his staff.

“Thanks also to the other trainers involved – Patrick Janssens, Tom Heilbron, Maxine Locke, Kevin Hutton and, particularly, Nathan Hunt who stepped up at late notice to take his place. They all played their part in a great night here – and we’ll do it again for the Arena Racing Company Laurels which starts on Saturday.”

*THE next Premier Greyhound Racing Trainers’ Judgement Night will take place at Monmore in 2026.