BALLARAT Greyhound Racing Club has pocketed a major honour at the Victorian Greyhound Awards.<\/p>\n
The club was the recipient of the club initiative of the year award for its collaboration with the Ballarat Eight-Ball Association.<\/p>\n
Known as the home of Ballarat eight-ball, the club runs two weekly competitions on Monday and Wednesday nights, helping boost race night attendances on the latter and the club’s membership base.<\/p>\n
Each player in the greyhound club’s 14 home teams becomes a greyhound club member, resulting in a boost of nearly 100 members.<\/p>\n
Since dedicating space in the club’s refurbished racing room for eight-ball four years ago, the competition has grown to more than 20 teams, including visitors from Ararat, Maryborough and Rokewood.<\/p>\n
“Four years ago we had three pool tables at the club, and now we have eight,” said BGRC general manager Jodie Faralla.<\/p>\n
“We’ve grown the number of teams we have in the eight ball association competition on a Wednesday night. We’ve now got 14 home teams for the Ballarat greyhounds.<\/p>\n
“We have those tables in operation on Wednesday nights \u2013 over four different divisions.<\/p>\n
“That brings an extra 80 to 100 people to our race meetings on Wednesday nights.<\/p>\n
“We also have a social competition on a Monday night, and once again all the tables are full.<\/p>\n
“They (players) are of all different abilities; some have represented Australia internationally but come down and play on a Monday night and play against people like me, who really need to practice a lot more.”<\/p>\n
The BGRC shared the award with the Shepparton Greyhound Racing Club, which was honoured for its vet clinic.<\/p>\n
As well as the boost in the memberships, the eight-ball competition has increased bar and food sales, added to the atmosphere on race nights and created a revenue stream for the club on non-race nights.<\/p>\n
Equally important as the financial benefits, the pool room has created a safe recreational space for people of all ages, with the player-base ranging from 16 to 80.<\/p>\n
Leading from the front, the BGRC entered its own team in the Monday night competition as a staff bonding exercise, with what Faralla termed as mixed success.<\/p>\n
The team includes track and facilities manager Shaun Boag, assistant track curators Peter Brennan and Cain Dyett and bar staff member Jen Reid.<\/p>\n
“We wanted to show that we are very much a part of the community too,” Faralla said.<\/p>\n
“We do tend to bring up the bottom of the ladder, but it’s just really good fun.<\/p>\n
“Anyone can play pool; there are just those who can play it really well, but we love participating as a team.<\/p>\n
“If anyone was to walk in off the street, the place has a really great vibe.<\/p>\n
“There’s people there and a great environment and it certainly gets people along to the greyhounds.”<\/p>\n
A successful industry awards night for the Ballarat club was capped with former club manager and industry stalwart Ron Hood’s win of the Ken Carr Medal.<\/p>\n
The prestigious award recognises long-standing excellence and service to the industry.<\/p>\n
Hood is the father of the current BGRC general manager Jodie Faralla, Melbourne Cup\u2013winning trainer Seona Thompson and respected bank manager Carolyn Hood.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BALLARAT Greyhound Racing Club has pocketed a major honour at the Victorian Greyhound Awards. The club was the recipient of the club initiative of the year award for its collaboration with the Ballarat Eight-Ball Association. Known as the home of Ballarat eight-ball, the club runs two weekly competitions on Monday and Wednesday nights, helping boost […]<\/p>\n