The Champion Hurdle was a greyhound racing competition held annually. Until 2017 it was held at Wimbledon Stadium but switched to Towcester Greyhound Stadium following the closure of Wimbledon.
The event previously culminated on the same evening of the English Greyhound Derby final and is over hurdles being the third most valuable hurdle race behind the Grand National and Springbok.
The race was switched to Central Park following the closure of Towcester and because Nottingham (the new hosts of the Derby) did not run hurdles races it no longer featured on Derby final night. In 2023, the event was run at Crayford Stadium but ended with the closure of Crayford Stadium in 2024.
Venues and distances 1990–2009 (Wimbledon, 460m hurdles) 2010–2016 (Wimbledon, 480m hurdles) 2017–2018 (Towcester, 480m hurdles) 2019–2022 (Central Park, 480m hurdles) 2023–2024 (Crayford, 380m hurdles)
Sponsors
Past winners YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTimeSPNotes/ref1990 Cloran MajorBold Work – Lively Genie Steve Gammon (Ramsgate) 28.62 6/4f1991 Unbelievable Echo Spark – Rathnasare Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 28.00 2/1Track record1992 Gaytime Yankee Odell Yankee – Gaytime Harp Sam Sykes (Wimbledon) 28.52 7/11993 Ring Patriot Kyle Jack – In Advance Gordon Hodson (Hove) 27.96 4/11994 Gis A SmileFlashy Sir – Desert Pearl Philip Rees Jr. (Wimbledon) 27.96 1/1f1995 Arrogant Prince Ballinderry Ash – Proverbia Tom Foster (Wimbledon) 28.29 5/21996 Glown Fox Polnoon Chief – Glown Mascot Tom Foster (Wimbledon) 28.43 6/4f1997 Westmead Panda Murlens Slippy – Ballynew Two Nick Savva (Walthamstow) 28.19 3/11998 Strideaway Teddy Leaders Minstrel – Lomas Girl Tom Foster (Wimbledon) 28.66 5/21999 Monumental Ardcollum Flash – Sister Nora Tom Foster (Wimbledon) 28.49 25/12000 Rackethall Rover Moaning Lad – Galtymore Laura Patsy Byrne (Wimbledon) 28.27 8/12001 Born To Go Staplers Jo – Lift Up Tom Foster (Wimbledon) 28.52 7/22002 Top Jock Top Honcho – Lochar Lucy Seamus Cahill (Wimbledon) 28.70 3/12003 Farloe Browny Blue Murlen – Seanos Miss Seamus Cahill (Wimbledon) 28.09 10/12004Joe Bananas Larkhill Jo – Woman Power Nick Colton (Oxford) 28.23 6/4jf2005 Druids Mickey Jo Top Honcho – Druids Villa Seamus Cahill (Wimbledon) 28.07 4/5f2006 Stradeen Ouzo Daves Mentor – Snazzy Flash David Mullins (Romford) 28.47 11/42007 Newlawn Berts Tucks Mein – Berts Baby Pat Cusack (Crayford) 27.96 9/4f2008 Morell Warrior Larkhill Jo – Selsey Tess Lorraine Sams (Crayford) 28.26 10/12009Platinumlancelot Roanokee – Mist Of Avalon Jason Foster (Wimbledon) 28.24 6/4f2010Men Of Hope Top Honcho – Razldazl Pearl Jason Foster (Wimbledon) 29.18 3/1Track record2011 Plane Daddy Big Daddy Cool – Lordsbury Knows Gemma Davidson (Crayford) 30.16 8/12012 Olivers Twist Head Bound – Kewell Irony Lisa Stephenson (Sheffield) 29.37 5/4f2013 Soviet Military Premier Fantasy – Invincible Diva Ricky Holloway (Private) 29.26 9/42014 Cornamaddy Jumbo Ardkill Jamie – Cornamaddy Maid Mark Wallis (Yarmouth) 29.52 3/12015 Jetstream Reason Hondo Black – Handy Princess Steve Gammon (Crayford) 29.24 7/22016 Razldazl Raidio Razldazl Rioga – Razldazl Marilyn Ricky Holloway (Sittingbourne) 28.90 11/8f2017 Ballymac Manix Ballymac Vic – Moyar Kite Seamus Cahill (Hove) 29.17 10/11f 2018 Lenson Wilson Scolari Me Daddy – Killduff Kerry Ricky Holloway (Central Park) 28.40 6/5f 2019 Turnhouse JetLaughil Duke – Jaytee China Ricky Holloway (Central Park) 29.59 4/1 2020 Swift Loki Swift Hoffman – Swift Elise James Turner (Crayford) 29.65 6/1 2021 Toolmaker DaddyScolari Me Daddy – Droopys IsabellaRicky Holloway (Private)30.2611/1 2022 Borna RhythmCloran Paddy – Borna GemAnthony Collett (Central Park)29.9310/3 2023 Lenson DoolinAzza Azza Azza – The Other TessaRicky Holloway (Crayford)23.104/6f Track record2024 Nunhead ShivBallymac Best – Flat White Barry O'Sullivan (Central Park)23.5412/1
Winning trainers Ricky Holloway 6 Tom Foster 5 Seamus Cahill 4
References