Trainers to Note .. Mark Wallis

[bennythedip2]

Imperial Kennels , Lakenheath , Suffolk .
Linda Jones and her husband moved to Lakenheath in 1989, bought 9 acres of land and formed the now famous Imperial Kennels. They started training with just four dogs and a couple of litters. Mark Wallis joined Linda in 1990 as the kennel started racing at Swaffham and other local tracks.

Over the next few years the kennel gradually built up it's kennel strength to around 30 dogs and success quickly followed with regular winners at Mildenhall, Yarmouth and Swaffham. A few good class dogs began to emerge and Imperial Kennels were quickly recognised on the Open race circuit. A dog called Lonely Mixture put the kennel on the map when claiming a major sprint competition at Bristol.

The major breakthrough came with a lucrative contract at Romford in 1994 and this, combined with a further increase in the kennel strength led to the kennel picking up bigger prizes and attracting more quality greyhounds. The Champagne Club with their greyhounds running under the "Bubbly" prefix became strongly associated with Imperial Kennels. Honky Tonk Girl won the Essex Vase, providing Linda with her first category one winner.

After a brilliant 1998 where the kennel finished 7th in the Championship they were drafted in as reserves for the Trainers Championship Meeting at Walthamstow the following year. Despite being the 100/1 outsiders, they won the competition! This probably helped Imperial kennels gain a yet more lucrative contract, this time with Walthamstow. More major Open race successes followed culminating in Linda becoming Champion Trainer in 2001, a title she retained in 2002.

Mark is married to Linda's daughter Sarah and had been Assistant Trainer for 6 years before taking over the license in early 2005 due to Linda's health problems and he took the Trainers Championship in his first season. Linda is still very much on the scenes and continues to play a big role at Imperial Kennels. Mark currently has around 50 graded dogs who run at Walthamstow as well as countless top-class Open racers who contest competitions throughout the country.

Having met Mark in Luton's GUK Poker Festival in August this year, and seeing his patience first hand, you cant help to see how he has become one of the best trainers around. A nicer person you couldn't wish to meet, and if i wanted to own a racing greyhound, he would be the first person i would phone. ... ..
bennythedip2