The Birmingham Cup is a greyhound racing competition inaugurated in 1939 and currently held at Nottingham Greyhound Stadium.
History The event began life as a handicap kennel sweepstake in 1938 but the following year was inaugurated as an open race competition being held annually at the Old Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium, until the closure of the track in 1984. The competition was one of the leading events in the Midlands and was brought back in 1992 at the new Perry Barr Stadium, until the decision was made to discontinue the event in 2009.
The event was held over the standard distance (the most common distance held at a track) and winners included the 1946 English Greyhound Derby champion Mondays News.
In 2020, the competition was brought back in memory of Michael Lambe Senior and in 2023 was upgraded to category one with a winner's prize of £12,500. With the closure of Perry Barr in 2025 the event moved to Nottingham.
Venues and distances 1939–1979 (Perry Barr, Walsall Road, 525y) 1992–1997 (Perry Barr, Aldridge Road, 500m) 1998–2024 (Perry Barr, Aldridge Road, 480m) 2025–2025 (Nottingham, 480m)
Sponsors
Past winners YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTime (sec)SPNotes/ref1939Black Johnny Johnny Peters - Toftwood Magnet Stan Raymond (Gloucester) 29.76 4/1track record1940 S.M. HectorBella's Brother - Acid Fast Ernest Fryer (Coventry) 30.05 8/11941 to 1942 not held1943 Farloe Best Mrs Renie McKay (Coventry) 29.68 7/2 1944 Model DasherModel Whiskey - Dashing CometTom Baldwin (Perry Barr) 29.80 n/a Re-run (no betting)1945 Duffys ArrivalShamrock Prince - Moon BridgeGeorge McKay (Coventry) 30.14 6/4f1946 Mondays NewsOrluck's Best - Monday NextFred Farey (Private) 30.354/6f1947 Funny MickRuby Border - Olive's IdolBob Burls (Wembley) 30.09 100/301948 Baytown StorkBaytown Tulip - Ulster RowJack Toseland (Perry Barr) 30.34 6/11949 Kilcaskin MailTrain - Tinker's HillLes Brown (Wolverhampton) 30.52 10/11952 Rushton Smutty Mad Tanist - Summer FrockFrank Johnson (Private) 29.80 1/2f1953 Fly Prince Bellas Prince – Lough Baby W E Hughes (Private) 29.85 3/11954 Galtee Cleo Sandown Champion – Cleopatra Jack Harvey (Wembley) 29.74 1/1f 1955 Rushton Spot Rushton News – Rushton Panda Frank Johnson (Private) 29.85 1/2f1956 Hopalong Pal Ollys Pal – Hopalong Dante Joe Booth (Private) 30.26 11/8jf1957 Silent Worship The Grand Champion-Miss Chancer John Bassett (Wolverhampton) 29.72 7/4f1958 Dancing Sheik Imperial Dancer – Delias Green Ted Brennan (Owlerton) 29.49 4/7f1959 Fearless Mac Ballymac Ball – Dare Me Now Joe De Mulder (Private) 29.72 4/6f1960 Jungle Man Man of Pleasure – Seafield Biddy Harry Tasker (Private) 29.95 5/21961 Desert RamblerChampion Prince – Imperial Peg Joe Booth (Private) 29.76 4/7f 1962 Dromin GloryHi There - Dromin JetJohn Bassett (Clapton) 29.19 1/2f1963 Cahara RoverPaddle First – Cahara Lass Joe De Mulder (Private) 29.78 7/21964 Scamp Boy Keep Moving – Flying Fantasy Bessie Lewis (Private) 30.55 4/11965 Arthur's JetOdd Venture – Arthurs ShoeJohn Bassett (Clapton) 29.61 6/1 1966 Corville GallantOdd Venture - Irish IsleJimmy Quinn (Perry Barr) 29.654/1 1967 Limits CrackersOdd Venture - Pats RegretColin McNally (Perry Barr) 29.48 3/11968 DiscretionsPrairie Flash - Sheila at LastDavid Geggus (Walthamstow) 29.67 3/11971Jellico MistClomoney Jet - Ivy MillieNorman Oliver (Brough Park) 29.79 7/4jf 1972 Cowboy JoDusty Trail - Roamin BeautyMick Hawkins (Private) 29.57 4/6f1973 Mel's PupilMonalee King - Ella's RocketJohn Bassett (Perry Barr) 29.23 7/11977 Blackwater GladeQuiet Spring - Husky SilverBrian Jay (Perry Barr) 29.79 5/11978 TailsJimsun - Wall TieFrank Baldwin (Perry Barr) 29.48 5/4f1979 MohanePacific Treasure - Tricias ArrowFrank Baldwin (Perry Barr) 31.13 2/1f1992 Ballyard CurtisI'm Slippy – Ballyard Murlen Geoff De Mulder (Private) 30.37 14/1 1993 Winsor VicDukes Lodge - Winsor Aird John McGee Sr. (Reading) 30.94 2/1f1994 Heres SeanieArdfert Sean - Mindys MiraclePat Ryan (Perry Barr) 30.13 6/4f1995 Courier KidManx Treasure – Strange Manner John Coleman (Walthamstow) 30.37 5/11996 Longvalley RebelRight Move – Long Valley LadyJohn Coleman (Walthamstow) 30.33 7/41997 SaradebSlaneyside Hare – Genotin LauraJimmy Gibson (Belle Vue) 30.30 9/21998 Honour And GloryMurlens Slippy – Satharn LadyJohn Coleman (Walthamstow) 29.17 3/11999 Derbay Flyer Ayr Flyer – Brown Missile Charlie Lister OBE (Private) 29.06 4/6f2003 Farloe Hack Staplers Jo – Farloe DingleBarrie Draper (Sheffield) 28.50 9/42005 Canimar Top Honcho – All Grit Charlie Lister OBE (Private) 28.67 3/12006 Kingsmill AgainRoanokee – Mitzys DreamAndy Johnson (Private) 28.68 7/12007 Zigzag Dutchman Dutchys Angel – ZigZag Bullett Charlie Lister OBE (Private)28.13 4/12008 Ballymac Under Ballymac Maeve – Ballymac LarkMatt Dartnall (Private)28.25 4/5f2009 Fear Zafonic Premier Fantasy – Farloe Oyster Charlie Lister OBE (Private)28.44 4/5f2010 to 2019 not held2020Droopys CaratAzza Azza Azza – Droopys DorothyAngela Harrison (Newcastle) 28.74 8/12021Candy ManHoldem Spy – Wont Fall BehindCarol Weatherall (Sheffield)28.105/12022IvanexileLaughil Blake – Trusted ExileMatt Dartnall (Oxford)28.167/42023Brookside RichieDroopys Sydney – Droopys GreatestJames Fenwick (Newcastle)28.277/22024Rioja BungleBallymac Bolger – Bull Run ByteKevin Hutton (Oxford) 28.22 9/22025Chelms BearDroopys Sydney – Barntick SmokeyCraig Morris (Yarmouth)28.1410/11f
References