One of many caches I've placed in Brighton & Hove to get me into the spirit of Geocaching. Look out for the others ranging from nano's to large containers, a great multi cache hunt in Preston Park using only photo's as reference and now, Brighton's one and only night time hunt using special firetacks placed in Withdean Woods called 'Geophrecia's Lair- The night cache Gold' GC566QM. I hope you enjoy them.
Arguably the greatest greyhound of all time because he rejuvenated an industry and created a new generation of greyhound fans spending a lot of his time here where the cache is located, Ballyregan Bob was a brindle dog and was born in 1983 bred by Robert Cunningham of Ballagh in Ireland.
He joined George Curtis in Brighton after just one race and victory in Ireland.
He lost his first four races in England but then won eight in a row by the end of 1984 running on strongly in all of them.
On the 1985 Greyhound Derby supporting card he strolled to a twelve length victory. After wrapping up victory in the Essex Vase the St Leger got underway and Ballyregan Bob won all three of his rounds to make the final. He had set a new track record in the second round recording 39.46 for 655m. In the semi-finals he had been given a stiff test by Evening Light after he encountered serious trouble at the first bend. He rallied magnificently and finally led near the line and won by just a neck. Bob remained 13 unbeaten. He was then found to have injured a wrist and failed to take his place in the final.
Ballyregan Bob reappeared on November 2nd and broke the track record at Hove over 695m before five more wins and four track records came his way. Then it was time for an invitation race at Wembley where he would meet Scurlogue Champ for the first and only time.
What a brave decision by George Curtis and owners Cliff and Jess Kevern as they risked ending Ballyregan Bobs attempt at a new British record. He currently stood on 19 wins and only needed one win to match the brilliant 1974 record set by Westpark Mustard. In his way Scurlogue Champ. The greyhound world came to a standstill as the pair lined up in a £12,000 one off race sponsored by Wembley bookmaker John Power. Sadly Scurlogue Champ failed to finish after pulling up lame leaving Ballyregan Bob to equal that record and annihilate the field. A future BBC TV trophy winner Glenowen Queen trailed in 11¾ behind in second place.
Nine days later Bob had won his 21st race and set a new British record, the superstar was rested for the winter. In 1986 the sport was buzzing from the incredible record set by Ballyregan Bob at the end of the previous year. Along with Scurlogue Champ the pair had captured the public’s attention and attendances were beginning to rise as a consequence.
Before the first classic of the year (Grand National) both Ballyregan Bob and Scurlogue Champ had returned to the track. Bob continued where he had left off winning seven more consecutive races, three of which were in track record times. However a re-occurrence wrist injury left him on 28 not out. This was just three short of the world record held by American hound Joe Dump trained by J C Stanley and set in 1979.
As the year progressed the long wait for the re-appearance of Bob finally ended on the 13th November in a race at Hove. The brindle then wrapped up wins 30 and 31 at Harringay breaking yet another track record in the 31st victory that also equalled the world record. So on the 9th December Ballyregan Bob lined up for the Racing Post Challenge over 695m at his home track Hove. Sent off at 4-1 on he breezed away from the field to win by 9¼ lengths from Swift Breeze. The amazing 32 consecutive wins had been achieved and Bob became a legend.
Trainer George Curtis and owners Cliff and Jess Kevern retired the champion and brought the greatest two years of racing in Britain to an end. Ballyregan Bob was voted the greyhound of the year for the second time.