BY DAVID BRASCH

BY his own admission, Sydneysider Frank Hession has been around a bit.

Now 76, that was always going to be the case because Frank spent all his working life with the Commonwealth Bank, tripping about NSW running bank branches.

Dubbo based for 30 years on a 25-acre property, he is a racing fanatic, harness horses mostly.

But, a stint at Commonwealth Bank branches at Casino and Ballina presented him with the opportunity to get into greyhound racing which he has embraced as much and in which he has enjoyed great success.

“I met up with the Lollbeck family, and that led on to meeting the Northfield family, and here we are,” he said.

“Here we are” is Frank Hession owning such smart gallopers as Magic Liar, Fast Lies, Porky Teller, Liar For Hire, Magic Lies.

Frank’s dogs are now with Charlie Northfield.

“Bill Northfield and I were great mates,” said Frank of the grand old man of Northern Rivers greyhound racing. “I met up with him during the Pretty Short days and it was something.”

Frank’s first passion was harness horses.

“I had 25 acres at Dubbo and bred a few horses in my time,” he said. “I’ve still got four out there.”

Frank moved to a unit at Milson’s Point in Sydney four years ago.

“Horses cost a fortune,” he said. “My mate John Lew trained mine and his brother Barry ran third in a Miracle Mile with Carlew Mick.

“I won an Oaks at Parkes with a filly called Our Imposing Miss. She sat three wide throughout and still won.”

Frank is a sporting “groupie” of sorts.

“I have been going to the Interdominion final since the 1960s, until Covid hit of course,” he said. “And, I’ve been to the New Zealand Cup for 25 years in a row … until Covid.

“My favourite Interdominion wins were Markovina because I backed it, and Koala King was pretty special.

Cricket’s Ashes tours of England are another passion.

“I been to plenty of them as well.”

The Northfields have been regulars staying with Frank at his Dubbo property during greyhound raids to those parts and Frank came to stay with Charlie and Toni Northfield a couple of times a year … until Covid.

“I’ve had some pretty good dogs,” he said. “The first one was Got Rhythm who Brad Northfield trained. Brad Rail was very good and Porky Teller earned $40,000.”

Frank has slowed somewhat and recently underwent a heart operation.

“I enjoy the dogs, but I let Charlie do what he wants with mine.” he said.

His cricket passion was enhanced as a youngster when striving for a spot in the Central Cumberland (now Parramatta) first grade side.

The trouble was, the side contained Doug Walters, Richie and John Benaud.

“I played a fair bit with John who was a very good captain,” said Frank.