The WJ & JE Cearns Invitation is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Central Park Stadium. It was inaugurated at Wimbledon Stadium in 1951 as the W. J. Cearns Memorial Trophy following the death of W. J. Cearns in 1950.

W. J. Cearns was the founder of Wimbledon Stadium and chairman of West Ham United F.C. The event was held in his honour until 2006 when his grandson Roger Cearns (owner of Central Park) brought the competition to Sittingbourne. It was renamed the WJ & JE Cairns Invitation, with the JE part being named after his father John who was also instrumental in the history of Wimbledon.

Past winners YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTime (sec)SPNotes/ref1951Fancy Hero Trabolgan Prince – Carriganea Lass Jack Harvey (Wembley) 30.23 4–5f1952 Ryton Basher Model Dasher – Ryton Blunder Stan Martin (Wimbledon) 28.34 4–11953 Judy Luck Trevs Cutter – Queens Wood Stan Martin (Wimbledon) 28.48 10–11954 Forever Cloone Bellas Prince – Rare Rarity Dennis Hannafin (Wimbledon) 28.83 13–21955 Fitzs Marquis Tom Paddy Reilly (Walthamstow) 28.65 7–11956 Spark Prince Fire Prince - Ell For Leather Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon) 28.41 8–11957 Ford Spectre Polonius – Harrow Glamour Dennis Hannafin (Wimbledon) 28.13 33–11958 Gentle Touch Magourna Reject – Abbey Jane Dennis Hannafin (Wimbledon) 28.44 8–11959 Greenane Valley Champion Prince – Prairie Vixen George Waterman (Wimbledon) 28.43 40–11960 Dunstown Champion Demon King – Geffs Linnett Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 28.02 11–21961 Oregon Prince Knock Hill Chieftain – Burleighs Fancy Phil Rees Sr. (Private) 28.17 1962 Little Archie Flash Jack – Little Jingler Henry Parsons (Crayford) 28.31 1963 Coup Leader Disabled Leader – Nancys Honeymoon Clare Orton (Wimbledon) 28.50 1964 Cranog Bet Knock Hill Chieftain – Dont Bet Phil Rees Sr. (Private) 28.28 4–5f1965 Cranog Bet Knock Hill Chieftain –Dont Bet Phil Rees Sr. (Private) 28.14 1966Clopooks Collar Clare Orton (Wimbledon) 28.06 1967 Warfield Flash Alpine Miller – Anything Goes Len Drewery (Private) 27.87 1968 No Credit The Grand Prince – Ladys Plume Nora Gleeson (Wimbledon) 28.21 8–11969 Always Present Printers Prince – Berrings Five Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon) 28.75 5–11970 Bell Solo Sunbow – Clopook Lassie Paddy McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 28.10 2–11971 Sole Aim Monalee Champion - Yurituni David Geggus (Walthamstow) 27.96 2–11972 Mullas Shore O'Leary – Cremona Maid Clare Orton (Wimbledon) 28.54 10–11973 Mels Pupil Monalee King – Ellas Rocket Frank Baldwin (Perry Barr) 27.74 3–11974 Carry on Bimbo Monalee Champion – Silver Oregon Paddy Coughlan (Crayford) 28.45 4–11975 Sandispec Spectre II – Cydnys Hope Clare Orton (Wimbledon) 40.66 1–2f1976 Monalee Customer Ritas Choice – Monalee Dream George Curtis (Brighton) 40.99 5–4f1977Miss Kilkenny Monalee Champion – Spring Breeze Bill Bookle (Private) 40.89 6–11978 Muskerry Air Knockhill Champion – MuskerryTreveno Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon) 40.82 1–1f1979 Clountie Comment Toms Pal – Candid Comment George Curtis (Brighton) 41.03 16–11980 Murrays Champion Itsachampion – Fur Collar Paddy McEvoy (Wimbledon) 41.36 5–21981 Flower Noel Yellow Band – High Drama Linda Mullins (Cambridge) 40.92 10–31982 KasamaTrac Butchers Trac- Lady Kasama George Curtis (Brighton) 40.83 1–2f1983 Decoy Lassie Westown Adam – Tibbys Girl Joe Cobbold (Ipswich) 40.84 4–6f1984 Pagan Sand Sand Man – The Grand Inn Ted Dickson (Slough) 40.92 7–21985 Crown Mars Inny Mist – I'm Trendy Philip Rees Jr. (Wimbledon) 41.22 20–11986 Shining Bright Lax Law – Bright Fur Gary Baggs (Ramsgate) 41.46 4–11987 Ohteevee For Real – Patricia May Ted Dickson (Wembley) 40.51 5–11988 Bankers Benefit Easy And Slow – Society Girl Adam Jackson (Wembley) 40.65 2–11989 Millgrove Girl Lodge Prince – Under The Stone Albert Hill (Private) 40.74 1–5f1990 Trans Mercedes Oran Jack - Shelley Maldwyn Thomas (Reading) 40.46 10–11f1991 Sail Over Ballygarvan What – Touch The Sail Sam Sykes (Wimbledon) 40.97 4–5f1992 Lets All Boogie Carters Lad – Princess Alucard John Coleman (Walthamstow) 40.57 1–3f1993 Heavenly Lady Manorville Sand – Black Sancisco Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 40.68 4–5f1994 Heavenly LadyManorville Sand – Black Sancisco Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 40.46 11–8jf1997 Wandering One Leaders Best – Passing Whim Derek Knight (Hove) 40.97 7–4cf1998 Awbeg Sally Low Sail – Ardbeg Ruby Bill Masters (Hove) 40.55 1–1f1999 Palace Issue Deerpark Jim – Clear Issue Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 40.87 1–4f2000 Palace Issue Deerpark Jim – Clear Issue Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 40.89 4–5f2001 Palace Issue Deerpark Jim – Clear Issue John Mullins (Walthamstow) 41.36 8–11f2002 Form of Magic Iceni Regent – Clodeen Magic Brian Clemenson (Hove) 40.97 1–10f2003 Dunbarton Cross Toms The Best – Dunbarton Legend Wayne Wrighting (Hove) 40.87 6–4f2004 Special Trick Spiral Nikita – Castlerea Delia Linda Jones (Walthamstow) 40.82 5–4Track record2005Dods Delight Larkhill Jo – Rockmount Hazel John Walsh (Wimbledon) 41.96 16–12006 Battle Ground Top Honcho – Lovely Sharon Alan Stevens (Oxford) 30.73 3–12007 Lenson Express Top Honcho – Gold Seacrest Tony Collett (Sittingbourne) 30.31 7–4fTrack record2008Rocky Rocket Droopys Scholes – Kincraig Lauren George Andreas (Sittingbourne) 30.59 6–12009 Corrig Vieri Droopys Vieri – Corrig Rebel Mark Wallis (Harlow) 30.29 4–6f2010 Dilemmas Tom Toms The Best – Westmead Oak Spencer Mavrias (Sittingbourne) 30.38 7–22011 Salacres Polizzi Collision – Fabulous Airport Peter Harnden (Nottingham) 30.36 11–22012 Westmead Maldini Droopys Maldini – Mega Delight Nick Savva (Private) 30.27 11–10f2013 Ballymac Luke Royal Impact – Coolavanny Key Richard Clarke (Henlow) 30.47 7–4f2014 Droopys Norris Droopys Scolari – Droopys Lotto Dean Childs (Hove) 29.76 2–1jf2017 Brinkleys King Blonde Snapper - Grayslands Swan Seamus Cahill (Hove) 31.01 9–4

Venues and distances 1951–1974: Wimbledon, 500 yards 1975–2005: Wimbledon, 660 metres 2015–2016: not held Since 2006: Sittingbourne/Central Park, 500 metres

References