Caption: Straight to the pool room! A happy group of tradies with On The Buses, winner of the Fraser Coast Plumbers and Gas Fitters 5th Grade (550m) at Bundaberg recently. (Photo: Uncle Rustys Photos)

Howie (aka Cambla Kid), may not have been a champion on the track, but he could always sniff out a yarn. Now retired, each month Howie hunts up morsels of news from his beloved Bundaberg club. Here’s his latest offering.

BUNDY on Mundy turned it on again for members of the Fraser Coast Plumbers and Gas Fitters group recently.

About 40 tradies travelled by bus to the track for a day of fun.

To thank the group for making the trip, a race was named in their honour, catering was supplied by Bargara Bakery and the drinks were flowing.

It was a beautiful, sunny day and to top it off the Fraser Coast Plumbers and Gas Fitters 5th Grade race over 550 metres was won by a dog called On The Buses which fittingly the boys had put a couple of dollars on.

The club arranged for the group to then have their photo taken with the winner, which now holds pride of place on the wall at Reece Hervey Bay.

******

WE\’RE into the second half of 2021 and the Bundaberg Greyhound of the Year title is a tight race with only 22 points separating the leading four greyhounds.

The David Plummer-prepared Fogelberg (114 points) has forged to the lead recently on the back of four successive wins at the track.

Eric Conroy\’s Three Sore Feet, in second place with 98 points, is showing age is no barrier making the 550m trip look like a walk in the park.

The white and black chaser (Banjo Boy-Kingsbrae Nelly) – he turns four in coming months – actually won his first city race over 520m at Albion Park last month, showing he\’s in cherry ripe condition.

Just sitting outside the top six is last year\’s winner Savuro, while wildcard Cambla Doll (Steve Bland), equal third with Burn Out (John White), has been winning just enough to keep the competition wondering.

With still four months to go and a cramped leader board, anyone could win.

******

TRAINERS are reminded that trials are held on track after Monday race meetings and every second Thursday afternoon.

And from the number of trials and some of the times being recorded there are some smart young dogs coming to race age.

The club is very flexible with trials for those greyhounds just starting their careers or coming back from injury.

Slips can be made from the 250m mark or catching pen, and 460m and 550m box trials and post-to-post slips are also held. However, you need to abide by club directions of first booking and paying for your trial and then being patient and listening to the volunteers so we can all get home as fast as possible.

*******

NOT mentioned often enough but most smaller clubs wouldn\’t survive without the time volunteered by not only committee members to run the club, but by many members who give a hand on trial days, working bees, club events etc. Thank you all!

One to mention at our club is our groundsman Keven. Even though he has a paid position, he puts in many more of his own hours opening up for tradesmen and general maintenance that he does out of the goodness of his heart. Thanks mate, we dogs appreciate a well-trained human.

Yours in racing spirit

Howie (AKA Cambla Kid)

Bundaberg Greyhound Racing Club