OXFORD trainer Hazel Walden, described as a credit to the profession by NGRC boss Frank Melville, will hand over the reins to son Paul in the new year.

A veteran of over 30 years in the sport, her stock answer to people who asked when she was to retire was "When Charles takes over from the Queen."

But now it will be her vastly experienced son Paul who succeeds one of greyhound's Queens.

Hazel, who has produced over 6,000 winners, almost gave up once before when she was forced to pull out of Wembley three years ago to nurse her late husband Douglas.

Naturally, her enthusiasm for the sport waned, but spurred on by Paul, she never did quite let go and now Paul will take over the licence in January.

The long haul for Hazel began way back in 1967 with a regional licence at Swindon.

Six years later she moved to GRA track Slough and spent 14 happy years there before the track closed down in 1987.

She moved on to Wembley that same year and stayed there until taking time out to look after her husband.

"I wanted to give up there and then, but Paul persuaded me to run a few dogs at Reading," she said. "He was born into greyhounds and I am sure he will carry on the good tradition of the kennel, while I will be giving him support as his assistant and any advice he may need.

"It was at Reading in June 1997 that Dan McCormick phoned me and invited me to come to Oxford out of the blue. It took just 24 hours to accept.

"Paul will inherit a very classy kennel with high hopes for Active Dan as well as Function Diamond and Freighduff Bid and I wish him every success."

The one big prize to escape Hazel was the Derby, but there have been many big wins along the way for the handler who was champion trainer at Slough six years on the bounce.

One of her favourite hounds was one of the last to provide so much pleasure.

Sadly, Churchtown Pride had to be put down, but he was runner-up in the Regency and Trafalgar Cup and was her big hope for the St Leger.

Meanwhile, their home-bred Piledriver won the Produce Stakes, Round Grove won the Coronation Cup, Beamont Alpha won the Westway Cup at White City, while Nobodys Pick proved a prolific winner all over the country.

Hazel, who earned a strike rate of 18.24 per cent with 242 winners from 1,327 runners at Oxford. also won the Golden Crest and Silver Plume four times.

Young Paul certainly has something to live up to.

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