By Pat McLeod
Bundaberg Greyhound Racing Club president Stephen Bland has thrown the gauntlet down to his country cousins ahead of what will be a hotly contested 2024 Queensland Country Cup series.
The lids first fly on the series when the Bundaberg club hosts two heats of the Wide Bay Country Cup (531m) on Monday.
Rockhampton follows suit next Wednesday with the Central Queensland Country Cup heats (510m), before Townsville stages the North Queensland Country Cup heats (498m) on Tuesday, January 16.
The series has a building drum roll.
Firstly, each region will crown their final winner. Then representatives from each of the three regions will contest the $26,500 Queensland Country Cup Final (520m) at Albion Park on the night of Thursday, February 1.
“This series is up there with our top feature races,” says Bland.
“Of course, for each region, their local cup will hold special significance, but the Country Cup is very special.
“There is plenty of competition between the regions, don’t you worry about that.
“To be crowned the winner, the best regional greyhound, at Albion Park on a Thursday night, well that is a great honour.”
And Bland believes 2024 will ‘Bundy’s year’.
“There certainly are quality dogs at Bundy over that distance (531m),” he said.
“Each week our local dogs are winning races against the visiting greyhounds from north and south.
“I believe we can take the series out this year.