Justine’s fast track to racing success

GREYHOUND trainer Justine Northfield with Bingo (left) and Ronnie

A CANINE coincidence sparked Justine Northfield’s greyhound career.

Her passion for training winners took off when her dad, Ronald, spotted the dog Ronnie’s Princess for sale on the internet.

Five years on and she now has around 35 greyhounds and 20 puppies at Nod Farm, Chadderton, and has submitted a planning application for new kennels and a greyhound gallop.

The facilities include kitchens and a hydrotherapy pool and Justine said: “My dad used to call me princess and it was really Ronnie’s Princess that set me on this adventure. I started with one dog and it just escalated.”

The 41-year-old was a regular racegoer at the former dog track at Watersheddings and fancied giving training a go.

The first dog she had was called Penny Farthing and she explained: “She only ever won twice but I was bitten by the bug.

“We then bought the farm and boarding kennels and I drifted out of it for six or seven years while we built them up. I then got back into it in 2004 when Ronnie’s Princess was up for sale.”

The coincidence prompted her to buy the dog and youngest daughter Rebecca Northfield (17) and son-in-law Christopher Thoburn (24) are now both involved with her business Just Greyhounds Ltd.

Justine also runs Nod Farm Boarding Kennels in Cragg Road with her other daughter, Samantha Thoburn (23).

Despite racing every week at Doncaster, and also having four dogs at Belle Vue with trainer John Walton, Justine never has a flutter. But her success on the track speaks for itself with a win rate of one race in every six, which is considered to be doing well.

Justine, who is qualified in both aquatic treadmill and aquatic therapy, added: “It would make a big difference to have everything in place — and to have the hydrotherapy centre up and running would be something different.”