SWIFT SILLY produced one of the great runs at Newcastle as the locally trained star landed an emphatic and popular win in the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup Final at Newcastle on Thursday.

Claiming the £20,000 prize and a first GBGB Category One title for her trainer Ray Hale, the Michael Thompson-owned runner blasted from the traps on route to a famous victory at the Byker circuit, adding her name to an impressive roll of honour in the process.

One of a small number of racers at Hale’s Ashington base, the April 21 daughter of Pestana and Swift Magnetic was completing an unbeaten run through the last major event of 2023 having posted the fastest time in the heats before a similar runaway trap-to-line success in the semis.

Lining up in the 480m final the 13-8 favourite off the back of those wins, a fast start set up a 4.46sec sectional before a seven-and-a-quarter success over Jonny Whiskers (Harry Burton), the Arc Classic winner, with Witton Venus (Jill Sutherst) crossing the line in third. The winning time was 28.48sec (-10).

Paying tribute to the winner, Newcastle general manager Ian Walton said: “What a fantastic performance from Ray’s bitch whose absolutely romped the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup, which was never going to be easy in such a strong field.

“However, Swift Silly has put them to the sword and has completed one of the great stories I’d say because it’s a family-run kennel of Ray’s, who works pretty much full-time as a binman. It means he only has 14 dogs at any one time.

“But it’s been a lifetime involvement for all the family and Ray has said he never thought he’d have a dog good enough to run at Newcastle, let alone win the north east’s main competition, but he always has good-class runners and Swift Silly just looks exceptional.

“I was speaking to one of my colleagues at Nottingham and they said how well she’d run on Eclipse final night there coming into the All England Cup – and she’s continued that form, improving out of season in the process.

“The 2023 Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup gala completed another busy programme of open races during the year here – and it was good to see a number of cracking performances in the supporting finals on Thursday.

“It augurs well for the future and I’d like to thank all the owners and trainers who supported Newcastle Greyhound Stadium in 2023.”

On the supporting Swift Josh (29.09sec -20) initiated a superb night for Ray Hale in the Arena Racing Company Puppy Final; Highview Sean (17.18sec -10) won the Arena Racing Company Dash Final for Stephen Caile; Wraysbury Diva (28.67sec -10) took the Arena Racing Company Standard Final for Paul Rutherford, while Jimmy Fenwick took the Arena Racing Company Stayers Final with Lightfoot Clark in 39.23sec (-30).