An initiative from Oxford's promotions manager Mick Wheble, has been given the cold shoulder by one of Oxford's most experienced trainers Terry Atkins.

Wheble's plan to attract new owners to the sport is for trainers to give them a free kennel for three months.

It is known that Oxford trainers own a substantial amount of their charges, and with the kennel strength so high not every owner is getting a regular run.

It would mean that trainers having to bear the cost - around £400 - for the period with no guarantee that the owner would continue.

It costs an average of £5-£6 a day to keep a greyhound in training.

Atkins said: "In today's climate it would be hard. Every trainer at Oxford is struggling at the moment.

"We have too many dogs and are struggling to get regular runs for the owners.

"I'm for the idea in a way, but I think the BRGB should finance it. I think I speak for most trainers at Oxford when I say it would be very hard.

"I'm not denying that we have our good times in the game, but that is certainly not the case now."

Champion trainer-elect Ian Wills, has added to his large strength with six new imports from Ireland.

They should all make reasonable graders, one that already has caught his eye is Time Flyer, an April 06 whelp and full sister to A3 grader Time Bridge.

Flyer posted a smart 27.67 on her first look at the track in Monday's trial session.

Anyone wishing to become an owner should contact Wills on 07801 636284.

Rotting wood in the starting traps at Cowley, which has been caused mainly by a combination of salt and sand, has led the GRA to invest £3,000 to introduce stainless steel bases.

I assume they would also be fitted with a non-slip surface, as the hounds generate great pace from a standing start.

The existing traps situated at the 450, 595 and 645 metre distances, are only three years-old and set the company back some £25,000 when installed.

Terry Kibble's top grader Sparta Flyer came out on top winning by a short head in an open race at Sittingburne on Sunday, while Michael Peterson, successful with Moss Hill at Coventry recently, aims for a double at Swindon tonight.

Keep an eye on Ard Surge, trained by Tony Magnasco. Surge posted a superb 37.07 over 595 metres on Monday and looks the part.

Early bookings for the popular Boxing Day meeting are well up on this time last year.

Remember it is now a BAGS meeting which starts at 1pm.

The kennel strength rose to 467 after another 27 hounds joined the grading ranks at Monday's trial session.