MWD Partnership top owners for 2024 open-race campaign
THE MWD Partnership of Mark Wallis and Mike Davis has been named GBGB Owner of the Year for 2024 ahead of Thursday's awards gala at York's Milner Hotel.
The Owner of the Year is awarded to the owner or owners whose greyhounds have collected the highest number of points based on a scale recognising the number of the competition finals reached - and won - and the prestige of those competitions.
This is the first time the syndicate has won the award and follows seven Category One victories achieved during 2024.
The MWD Partnership’s team of greyhounds, trained at the famous Imperial Kennels of 15-times champion trainer Wallis, amassed a huge 1,294 points, finishing ahead of nine-time winners the KSS Syndicate (908) and leading owner-breeder David Firmager (627).
New Destiny, as a three-time Category One winner, top scored for the MWD Partnership. She won the Coronation Cup and Champion Stakes – both at Romford – plus the Challenge Cup at Oxford.
A highlight of their year was Whyaye Man reaching the final of the English Greyhound Derby, scoring valuable points in the process, but it was their final three victories – all achieved on one Saturday night in December across races at Hove and Oxford – which sealed this Award.
Jonathan Kay
Reflecting on their win, Davis and Wallis jointly-commented: “We are delighted to have won the GBGB Owner of the Year title for 2024.
"There is a very high bar when it comes to achieving this accolade and we are proud to have our name put on the roll of honour following an unprecedented period of success by the KSS Syndicate.
"Particular thanks have to be given to the entire team at Imperial Kennels and all those that have supported us with sourcing our wonderful dogs.
"And of course, to the greyhounds themselves who are the real stars of the show.”
GBGB Chief Executive Mark Bird said:“Congratulations to the MWD Partnership on winning the Owner of the Year title.
“They’ve broken an incredible run of success of the KSS Syndicate, nine-time winners of the award, and, as in recent years, both sets of owners had a great battle for the ultimate honour.
"This time the MWD Partnership came out on top, so well done to them. Their greyhounds have done them proud in 2024 and their support of greyhound racing as a whole is particularly valued.
"Owners really are the lifeblood of the sport and their loyalty to these great athletes cannot be underestimated.
"Competition is also at the very heart of the sport and no doubt the MWD Partnership will be keen on repeating their success in 2025 – and the race is already on!”
Jonathan Kay