The Australian Greyhound of the Year is selected by a media and administration panel from all over Australia. The Award was presented on special editions of the Sky Channel weekly greyhound programme, The Catching Pen, from 2002 to 2006. The 2006 Award (presented in 2007) was hosted at The Meadows by the Melbourne Greyhound Racing Association and the 2007 Award (persented in 2008) was hosted at Sandown by the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club.
The Australian Greyhound Racing Association then determined that the Greyhound Of The Year Award was to become a premier presentation night and a focal point for recognition of excellence from a National perspective.
The 2008 Australian Greyhound of the Year was presented in April 2009 at a gala function at the Sheraton on the Park in Sydney, NSW. The 2009 Australian Greyhound of the Year was hosted On March 12, 2010 by the Western Australian Greyhound Assocation (WAGRA) at Cannington and the 2010 Australian Greyhound of the Year will be hosted in 2011 by Greyhound Racing South Australia in Adelaide.
In 2012 the Greyhound of the Year was hosted by the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club.
In a change of direction in 2013 the Meadows hosted the last of the awards to held on a calendar year and again hosted the 2012-2013 Awards in August. In 2013-2014 the Awards were hosted at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle West Australia. In 2015-2016 the Awards Night held at the InterContinental Hotel in Adelaide South Australia. In 2016-2017 the Awards night moved to Park Royal Hotel on the banks of the Brisbane River in Queensland. With this year’s Awards night making it back to Melbourne to the Langham Hotel and hosted for the first time since 2007 by the Sandown Club. In 2018-2019 a change was made when NSW were unable to stage the Nationals Western Australia stepped forward a year and staged an outstanding event over three days in Perth. The inclusion for first time since one year in the 80’s of New Zealand made the event an international affair and the fore runner for years to come.
The inaugural Australian Greyhound of the Year was Boomeroo. His success was followed by Bombastic Shiraz 2003, Whisky Assassin 2004,Pure Octane 2005, Betty’s Angel 2006,Flashing Floods 2007, El Galo in 2008, Cindeen Shelby 2009, El Grand Senor 2010, Dyna Tron 2011, Miata 2012, Miata 2012-2013, Xylia Allen 2013-2014,Fernando Bale 2014-2015, Dyna Double One 2015-2016, Fanta Bale 2016-2017, Fanta Bale 2017-2018, Orson Allen 2018-2019, Simon Told Helen 2020 – 2021 Tommy Shelby, 2021 – 2022 She’s A Pearl.
If you click on the links above it will give you a detailed description of the achievements of each winner in the particular year they won the award.
AUSTRALIAN HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES – GCA ANNUAL AWARDS
Greyhound of the Year
2002 Boomeroo, 2003 Bombastic Shiraz, 2004 Whisky Assassin, 2005 Pure Octane, 2006 Betty’s Angel, 2007 Flashing Floods, 2008 El Galo, 2009 Cindeen Shelby, 2010 El Grand Senor, 2011 Dyna Tron, 2012 Miata, 2012 Miata, 2012-2013 Xylia Allen, 2013-2014 Fernando Bale, 2014-2015 Dyna Double One, 2015-2016 Fanta Bale, 2016-2017 Fanta Bale, 2017-2018 Orson Allen, 2018-2019 Simon Told Helen, 2020-2021 Tommy Shelby, 2021-2022 She’s A Pearl.
Trainer of the Year
2007 Jason Thompson, 2008 Reg Kay, 2009 Graeme Bate, 2010 Darren McDonald, 2011 Graeme Bate, 2012 Jason Thompson, 2013 Graeme Bate, 2013-2014 Darren McDonald, 2014-2015 Andrea Dailly, 2015-2016 Anthony Azzopardi, 2016-2017 Robert Britton, 2017-2018 Tony Brett, 2018-2019 Chris Halse, 2019-2020 Anthony Azzopardi, 2020-2021 Steve Withers, 2021-2022 David Geall.
Stud Dog of the Year
2007 Token Prince & Brett Lee (Joint Winners), 2008 Token Prince & Bombastic Shiraz (Joint Winners), 2009 Bombastic Shiraz, 2010 Surf Lorian, 2011 Collision, 2012 Bombastic Shiraz, 2013 Bombastic Shiraz, 2013-2014 Where’s Pedro, 2014-2015 Bekim Bale, 2015-2016 Kinloch Brae, 2016-2017 Barcia Bale, 2017-2018 Barcia Bale, 2018-2019 Fernando Bale, 2019-2020 Fernando Bale, 2020-2021 Fernando Bale, 2021-2022 Fernando Bale.
Brood Bitch of the Year
2007 Flood Fawn, 2008 Chinatown Babe, 2009 Thai Again, 2010 Rosemary Bale, 2011 Abbadale Gold, 2012 Winsome Bluebird, 2013 It’s A She, 2013-2014 Tayah Bale, 2014-2015 Maple Bale, 2015-2016 Chloe Allen, 2016-2017 Ucme Typhoon, 2017-2018 Aston Elle, 2018-2019 Chica Destacada, 2019-2020 Ready Riot, 2020-2021 Serena High Fly, 2021-2022 Mepunga Rosie.
Run of the Year
2007 Miss Grub, 2008 Chinatown Lad, 2009 Turanza Bale, 2010 Satanic Cash, 2011 He Knows Uno, 2012 Bizarre Barbie, 2013 Xylia Allen, 2013-2014 Sweet It Is, 2014-2015 Fernando Bale, 2015-2016 Bourbski Fever, 2016-2017 Burn One Down, 2017-2018 Rockoon, 2018-2019 Zipping Bailey, 2019-2020 Hooked On Scotch, 2020-2021 Stanley Road, 2021-2022 Extra Malt.
Denise Fysh Award
In April 2019, the Australian greyhound industry lost a true icon with the passing of Denise Fysh after succumbing to cancer. Her passion and selfless devotion to the Hobart Club and to her home state Tasmania had a profound influence that will benefit generations to come.
2018-2019 Jade McKenzie (WA), 2019-2020 Frank and Tracey Hurst (NSW), 2020-2021 Ron Hawswell (VIC), 2021-2022 Stevie White (NSW).
Hall of Fame Inductees in Categories
Greyhound Based on Racing Performance.
1999 Tenthill Doll, Flying Amy & Rapid Journey, 2000 Chief Havoc, Zoom Top, 2001 Macareena, Rookie Rebel, & Sandi’s Me Mum, 2002 Brett Lee & Bold Trease, 2003 National Lass & Winifred Bale, 2004 Lizrene, 2005 Bogie Leigh, 2006 Temlee & Black Top, 2007 Paua To Burn, 2016 Miata.
Male Greyhound Based on Breeding Performance.
2008 Temlee, 2009 Black Top, 2013 Byamee (Coursing) & Brother Fox, 2014 Tell You Why, 2016 Tumble Bug,2019 Keen Jet, 2022 Barcia Bale.
Female Greyhound Based on Breeding Performance.
2008 Osti Too, 2009 Wee Sal, 2018 Francis Colleen, 2021 Strand Belle.
Trainers
2007 Sam Bladon, 2008 Ray Herbert & Jim Coleman, 2009 Ned Bryant & Stan Cleverley, 2010 Vivian James Beresford & Doug Payne, 2011 Paul Cauchi & Tony Zammit.
Breeders
2008 Rod Deakin & Allen Wheeler, 2016 Paul Wheeler, 2022 Martin Hallinan.
Administrators
2008 Arthur Morgan, Roy Maidment & Howard Ashton, 2009 J.G. (Jack) Nelson, Vic Peters & Henry Harrison, 2010 Brian Johnstone & Noel Banks, 2011 Albert Bunny Hewton & Ken Carr, 2013 Ray Foley, 2018 Ron Nestor.
Associates
2008 Bill Pearson & Paul Ambrosoli, 2009 Dr Jim Gannon & Frank Kennedy 2011 Dr John Murray, 2015 George Schofield, 2013 Ray Foley, 2018 Ron Nestor, 2021Jeff Collerson.