IT was an up and down 2002 at Oxford Stadium with three general managers at the helm.

January saw the appointment of former bingo hall manager Mark Beattie.

However, his reign lasted a little over three months. Like most new men, he made changes which proved disastrous, and he quit.

Mick Hardy, the man who put Oxford back on the map, took some time off from his new appointment as general manager at Wimbledon to fill the void, before former policeman Jim Snowden stepped into the breach at a particularly difficult time approaching Christmas.

Snowden gave up the general manager's post at south coast track Portsmouth to further his career at Cowley.

He has come up through the ranks within the Greyhound Racing Association, having been racing manager, and will be moving house into the area with his wife Jenny in the New Year. She is a dedicated retired greyhound fan, and is expected to have an input at Oxford.

Meanwhile, there were comings and goings in the racing office where Kieran O'Brien and Tony Killingbeck were both released.

The local bookmakers and businessmen continued their big-race sponsorship, with RD Racing backing the Oxfordshire Gold Cup, and MIke Alan supporting the Trafalgar Cup.

William Hill continued their highly successful Pall Mall Stakes sponsorship, with the finals night attracting some of the best viewing figures for a greyhound meeting.

Brian Constable, now free of his football commitments at Witney, stepped in to back the Oxfordshire Trophy with his company McLeans Coaches.

Oxford continued their good charity work by raising over £2,000 for the Helen House Hospice in September, and in December, the Oxford Retired Greyhound Trust benefited by £3,500. There is optimism in the industry for a better 2003, with the likelihood of more cash for owners and trainers if plans to extract more revenue from off-course bookmakers bear fruition.

Snowden said: "2002 has been below the company's expectations, but next year we will endeavour to improve facilities and racing for our customers, as well as getting speedway back on track for the fans."

Meanwhile, Snowden was a happy man on Boxing Day as tote takings reached record levels of £36,800 from the 1,200 attendance.

It gives Oxford the kick-start the track needs for the New Year.