The greyhound industry in the Northern Rivers will honour the late Jack Sommerville with the announcement today that a new $50,000 event will be staged in April this year.
Jack was the on-track vet for several decades at Grafton, Casino, Lismore and at Tweed Heads, as well as servicing greyhound participants right across the Northern Rivers and up to the Queensland border. He passed away in January this year.
The new event, to be known as the Jack Sommerville Northern Rivers Cup, is sponsored by the Tweed Heads Coursing Club, and will be run at Casino and Grafton.
“Jack was the vet at all three tracks, and a wonderful friend to the industry and its participants,” said Steve McGrath, Manager of the Tweed Heads Coursing Club.
“To honour Jack I made contact with his wife Carol and got her permission to use his name on this race series, and she was more than happy with what we were doing in recognition of Jack’s contribution to greyhound racing.”
Two heats will be run at both Grafton and Casino with first and second in each advancing to the $50,000 to the winner final which will in 2024 be held at Grafton, but will alternate between venues moving forward.
The Grafton heats over the 450m trip will be held on April 14, with the Casino heats over the 484m journey run on April 16. The final will be held at Grafton on Saturday, April 20.
“It’s a wonderful initiative to honour Jack Sommerville and we are delighted to be a part of it and thank the Tweed Heads Coursing Club for sponsoring the series,” said Grafton President John Corrigan.
“Jack was a vet at the three tracks but not only that he was the best friend that greyhound participants on the Northern Rivers have ever had.
“Jack helped whenever and wherever he could and would go way out of his way for participants.
“He was a wonderful man, and it’s an honour and privilege to be part of a race series named in his honour.”