Champion sprinter Aston Rupee was announced the Victorian Greyhound of the Year (GOTY) at the 2022 Victorian Greyhound Awards, held on Friday night at the spectacular Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne.
Trained by Glenn Rounds for Ray Borda, Aston Rupee was judged the state’s top performing greyhound during the 2022 Racing Season (1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022) by the Victorian GOTY Panel ahead of a plethora of superstar greyhounds including (in alphabetical order) Ferdinand Boy, Jarick Bale, Koblenz, Lala Kiwi, Mepunga Ruby, Untapped and Wow She’s Fast.
A host of other awards were presented on the night, including three new inductees into GRV’s Hall of Fame – Peter Giles (breeder/trainer), Eddie and Mary Lieshout (studmasters) and Dyna Double One (racing greyhound).
Jan Wheeler, wife of champion breeder, the late Paul Wheeler, accepted the award on behalf of Dyna Double One amid emotional scenes.
Recently appointed Minister for Racing, the Hon. Anthony Carbines, MP presented the illustrious Ken Carr Medal to Heather Villinger, a long-serving volunteer in the coursing fraternity, which drew rapturous applause from the 350 guests.
