LOCAL bitch Double Twist has been nominated as a contender for the 2013 NSW Greyhound of the Year title.
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Owned by Jason Lymbery and trained by Nowra Hill’s Garry Edwards, the three-year-old, March-born hound out of Wes Pedro and Tifi had a breakout year in 2013, winning 19 races.
This included winning the group three Nowra Puppy Classic and also placing first in the group three Christmas Gift before finishing the year off with a record-breaking run at Dapto’s 520 metre track, with a finishing time of 29:44 in December.
Edward’s kennels owner/trainer Garry Edwards said he has trained the dog since she was 12-months-old and this is the first time he has been to the awards with a nominated dog.
“It’s a big achievement really and I’m chuffed but also quite amazed. You don’t realise how well she’s done when you’re in the thick of it but she has had a good career this year,” he said.
“Overall she’s had 37 starts and 21 wins.
“She’s probably one of hardest chasers I’ve ever had … she’s one of those dogs that never says die and puts in every time.
“She has had a really stellar year. I’m very proud.”
Mr Edward’s disappointment was evident in his tone when he recalled the moment when Double Twist was scratched from Wentworth Park’s quarter of a million Paws of Thunder race this month, due to a torn muscle in her hind-quarters.
“It was devastating,” Mr Edwards said.
“It’s definitely not career ending but we’re taking it easy and hopefully she will come back just as good.
“We’ll be walking for four weeks and after this we start giving her light trots and a gallop four weeks after that and hopefully back in to hard runs.”
Double Twist’s owner Jason Lymbery said her story is one of the under dogs, having been the runt of the litter that no one wanted.
The dog now has great breeding potential with a rough value of $150,000 to $200,000 thousand, said Mr Lymbery.
“We bought three pups from the same litter and they’re all great racers, but she is the star of the litter,” Mr Lymbery said.
“There were nine or 10 in the litter and she was the smallest … I said I would take her and we have been very fortunate.”
When the dog is in training, Double Twist has a tough workout regime – morning, noon and night.
“Training them back from injury is a little different, she will be doing more straight work,” he said.
“The nest race we are planning for is the Golden Easter Egg in March but it might be too quick so if she’s not ready the next will be the Ladies Bracelet in June.
“The longest race she has run was at Richmond on a 532 metre track last year and the shortest was a 400 metre race.”
During her extensive career, other notable runs from Double Twist included one at Wentworth Park with a finish time of 29:56 and the other at Nowra’s track with a time of 29:6.
A personal trait of Double Twist is her obscene love of liver treats, French fries and soft serves according to Mr Edwards.
Mr Edwards said dogs have been a passion of his since he was 14-years-old and he bought his first greyhound in 1974.
The 2013 NSW Greyhound of the Year award will be announced at a gala night at the Crystal Palace, Luna Park on Friday, March 14.
Other awards set to be announced on the night include the state’s leading sprinter, stayer, sire, brood, bitch, media coverage, volunteer, young person, trainer and club of the year.