GREYHOUND TRAINERS
Barry O Sullivan
Around 68 years ago in 1955 Terry O Sullivan started training Greyhounds at the old Crayford stadium, back then Terry was the youngest ever professional trainer at Crayford and was helped by his wife Eileen who often stepped up especially when Terry had issues with his hip. Terry had his first hip replacement aged around 42 and Eileen took control during his convalescence and had many winners at the old Crayford.
Due to the upgrading of the track and demolition Terry moved to Catford in the early 1980s while the current Crayford stadium was being built. There have been many major success stories from the old pig farm Terry converted into one of the great schooling track and kennel sets up in the south east of England based right next door to Brands Hatch at Fawkham. Hazlewood kennels have schooled and supplied many Springbox and Grand National winners over the years and won numerous top class races.
Over 40 years ago now Terrys son Barry who grew up in the kennels learning his trade from a very young age took over the training of the greyhounds and is still attached to Crayford stadium as well as Central Park. A truly family run affair Barry’s wife Jackie handles the pups and the rearing and Barry’s daughters are hands on at the kennels, Chloe is a fully qualified vet and Rosie is hands on running and assisting Barry with the kennels
In the picture attached are Terry and Barry O Sullivan
Scott Phelan
Scott has had a passion for greyhounds and racing since a very young age and as soon as he was old enough he worked as a kennel hand for a few local trainers and hasn’t looked back since. Scott’s partner Ciara has grown up in the greyhound world as well
Fast forward a few years and Scott and Ciara purchased a house in Dunlavin Co. Wicklow and named the Kennels Voyage kennels, they have a wonderful training facility with a nice long uphill gallop and expansive paddocks for the dogs.
In the first year of training Scott has had enormous success with reaching the Irish Derby Final with Threesixfive and in the picture on the right you can see Scott and Ciara with Threesixfive by the timing clock when she broke the 750 yards track record at Limerick. along with these success Scott also produced a finalist in the Irish Cambridgshire and won the 750 yards race on Laurels final night at Curaheen Park and also had a heat winner in the Irish Oaks and Harlequin Missy’s brother Catunda Ciaran was 2nd beaten a short head in the Irish Gold Collar final. From 108 runners sent out 28 have won with a 26% strike rate and the majority in top class events Scott is a very progressive up and coming trainer and I personally think he will be a leading trainer in the next year or two.
Scott and Ciara put 110% into what they do and are reaping the rewards with becoming Harlequins Irish trainer.
Seamus Cahill
Seamus Cahill is from Mullinhoe, County Waterford and joined Catford Stadium in 1994 working for Paddy Milligan. In 1997 he took control of Milligan’s Catford Stadium racing kennels in Keston and established himself as a leading trainer.[2] He reached the final of the Laurels in his maiden year of 1997. One year later he moved from Catford to Wimbledon Stadium.[3]
In 2002 finished runner-up in the 2002 English Greyhound Derby final with Call Me Baby[4] and Shevchenko provided the first Classic win when sealing a Gold Collar triumph in the same year.[5]
A short lived move to Walthamstow Stadium was followed by a switch to Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium before he won his first Trainers Championship at Wimbledon in 2008 and became Greyhound Trainer of the Year in 2010. He trained the brilliant sprinter and 2010 Greyhound of the Year Jimmy Lollie and has won four Grand National‘s.
His greatest achievement to date is winning the 2017 English Greyhound Derby with Astute Missile.[6] In 2023, he won the St Leger for the first time with Droppys Clue, who broke the track record in the final and the East Anglian Derby, also for the first time.[7]
Interview with Julie Collier
Jason Bloomfield
Jason Bloomfield is based at Romford and Yarmouth tracks and his kennels are based in March, Cambridgeshire. Jason and his partner Kelli have trained for Harlequin Syndicates for a while now and have educated a lot of the unraced pups into racing dogs. Whilst not the most prolific strike rates for winners, it is understood that Jason and Kelli are more into developing the Harlequin Greyhounds before they move on to other tracks. Now we have a more established team of dogs, Jason and Kelli will get more racers than puppies going to them as we alos understand the needs for racing at Yarmouth’s track.
Harlequin Asmara become the first open race winner Jason trained for Harlequin when going unbeaten through the Maiden Stayers competition at Yarmouth at the start of December 2024 and becomes the first Category 1 Runner in England for Harlequin when she lines up for the Kent Cesarewitch at Central Park
Paul Foster
Paul Foster trains at Swindon Greyhound Stadium and his kennels are based on site at Swindon track. Paul will be taking in initially one of Harlequin Syndicates bad travellers as he is based on site at Swindon and we will also be moving one of the Harlequin Racing Club dogs to Pauls care from Ireland in early January as well. Pauls set up is ideal if we do have dogs that do not travel well.
Sarah Spillane
Sarah Spillane is based at Nottingham, Sarah will be receiving Harlequin Gee Up in January as her first dog to train for Harlequin. Sarah was recommended to Harlequin by Barry O’Sullivan who trains at Central Park for Harlequin. We look forward to working with Sarah in 2025
Ann Lagan
Ann Lagan is based at Sunderland, Ann will be receiving Harlequin Eilish in January as her first dog to train for Harlequin. Ann was recommended to Harlequin by Teresa Cahill and Seamus who trains at Hove for Harlequin. We look forward to working with Ann in 2025
Paul Young
Paul Young is one of the most successful trainers in the UK along side the other trainers selected to train greyhounds for Harlequin Syndicates. Dave has personally known Paul from the 1980s when both was working for different trainers. Paul is based at Romford and will be training a few greyhounds for Harlequin Syndicates to be raced hopefully on the evening meetings on Friday and Saturday nights. Paul is based in Wickford Essex which is just a short drive to Romford.