THE sport of whippet racing has adopted a North-East town as the home for one of it's main events.

And as record crowds descended on the region at the weekend it was easy to see why.

It is the third year that the Chudley's Classic English Whippet Derby has been held in Newton Aycliffe.

Organisers have praised the venue, the Oakleaf Leisure Complex, year after year and say its reputation speaks for itself by the number of entries for last weekend's event.

Main organiser Chris Cornish said: "We had 189 dogs entered this year. When we first started here the event was small but it keeps getting bigger and better each year.

"People look forward to this all year round and treat it as a holiday. We have had a fantastic weekend."

The warm-up started on Friday with fun racing, giving dog owners from throughout the UK their first chance to eye up the competition.

The banter was friendly and the company good, but when the dogs get on to the track it's gloves off and the survival of the fittest with owners doing whatever is needed to coax their dogs through to the finish line.

On Saturday and Sunday, the competition was fierce and it was Nottingham father and son team Chris and Anthony Horshall who were victorious with their dog Short Spot.

Tony and Sue Cooper travelled from Portsmouth for the Derby and were not disappointed when they clinched the double with young bitch One's Sassy winning the Bitch Puppy Derby and One Off winning the Dog Puppy title.

Mr Cooper said: "This is the third time we have been to Newton Aycliffe and we love it here.

"The facilities are brilliant and they really look after us."

The event is sponsored with a £2,000 grant from Great Aycliffe Town Council as well as Chudleys, Wendy Freeman, Greyhound Megastore and Whippet News.

Great Aycliffe Town Council's chairman of recreation Alan Courtney said he hoped that the world of Whippet racing saw the Oakleaf Complex as the home of the Chudley's Classic English Whippet Derby.

He said: "We would love them to come back again next year, they are a great crowd. It has proved very very popular and the people of the town have turned out in force to support it and enjoy the racing.

"I would like this to be known as the home of the Derby and with the facilities we offer I feel confident that it can be."

Racing continued on Monday with the Newton Aycliffe Whippet Club's Not So Open Derby.