Smashing Amy And Did I Entertain Perth Bound
The NSW Finals of the AGRA Schweppes National Sprint and Distance Championships were run tonight to decide who will represent NSW in the national finals at Cannington on September 5.
Each year the National Championships create considerable interest across the country and tonight brought to a close the running of the various State finals for 2009 except for WA with its heats tonight and State finals next Saturday. Tonight's NSW finals provided two quality fields with several of the contestants in both races fancied to take the first prize and earn a trip to Western Australia to fly the flag for NSW.
Smashing Amy owned by P and M Ferguson and trained by Majella Freguson won the NSW Distance Final and Did I Entertain, owned and trained by Robert Arnold, was successful in the Sprint Final.
Both Majella and Robert said they were very proud to be representing NSW and were eagerly looking forward to going to Perth to contest for the $50,000 winner's purse on offer for each of the National finals.
Tonight's NSW Finals winner's each received $10,000 in prizemoney plus $1000 towards travelling expenses for their trip to Perth.
The National Championships rotate each year between the States – NSW hosted a very successful Nationals Championship in 2008 and next year South Australia will be the host State.
At the presentation ceremonies tonight the winners received presentation rugs and trophies to commemorate their victories from NSW GBOTA Chairman Bill Mangafas and Metropolitan Director Sue Absalom.
GBOTA Directors offered their heartiest congratulations to the winners and wished them well in their mission to Perth for the challenge of bringing the National titles back to NSW.
“On behalf of the NSW GBOTA and everyone associated with greyhound racing in NSW I take this opportunity to congratulate the winners on getting through tonight.
“The finals of the Nationals showcase Australia's best greyhound talent and we wish our NSW representatives good luck in keenly contested and interference free races,” Mangafas said.