A dream come true for Leaha
Peter Fenemor • September 3rd, 2025 12:06 PM • 4 min read
19-year-old Leaha Washington has come a long way since she first became involved in greyhound racing just over three-years ago.
Washington, along with her mother Angela, has become an integral part of the successful Craig Roberts kennels.
Her continual enthusiasm, dedication and love for greyhounds resulted in Leaha being recognised as the 2024/25 Canterbury Youth Achiever of the Year.
Her prize was an all-expenses paid trip to Brisbane for last weekend’s Australian Nationals Championships meeting held at the world renown recently opened three-track The Q complex.
The Group 1 Australian Nationals is an annual event where greyhounds converge at a rotating venue each season after winning their respective state Sprint (500m) and Distance (700m+) finals
For the first time the Australian Nationals Straight Track final was also contested at the same venue, The Q Straight.
New Zealand previously had representation at the Australian Nationals finals, however that is no longer possible for obvious reasons.
For Leaha Washington it was a dream come true.
“It was a truly amazing trip - a great experience.
“The Q is such a fantastic venue. It’s incredible the attention to detail they have put into it.
“I met so many good people, like Jan Wheeler (Bale greyhounds) and the Delbridges who were involved in a lot of the Paw dogs we race here. We also race Dewy News here for them.
“My partner Nicholas (Ware), who works on the Addington track, attended the track curators meeting held there.
“The racing was fantastic. Actually, it felt weird being on the inside of the glass instead of being outside on the track.
“I was fortunate enough to attend the Australian Greyhound of the Year awards evening. It was a fantastic opportunity and to watch Fernando Bale being inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame was so very special.
“I own and train Tabetha Jewel who is by Fernando Bale and that made his induction so very moving for me.
“I am very grateful for the trip and grateful to the Christchurch license persons who were responsible for me in being able to go to The Q,” explained an appreciative Washington.
Leaha Washington is credited for the Craig Roberts trained Xisco Bale striking solid form, which included his pair of late season Group 1 wins.
Xisco Bale was a timid dog when he crossed the Tasman and Washington took it upon herself to care for him, transforming him into a finalist for the Middle-Distance category at the forthcoming GRNZ Greyhound of the Year awards.
“Yes, I brought Xisco Bale out of his shell. He was lacking confidence when he arrived here – today he’s such a big goofball and I love him to bits,” enthused Washington about Xisco Bale, who races at Addington tomorrow evening (M10 R1).
Fernando Bale inducted into Australia’s Greyhound Hall of Fame
The Australian Nationals week also incorporated the Australian Greyhound of the Year awards evening with the outstanding Jason Thompson trained multiple Group race winning Explicit receiving the ultimate accolade.
Also announced during the evening was the long-awaited induction of the immortal greyhound Fernando Bale into the Australian Greyhound Hall of Fame.
Fernando Bale, who was bred and owned by the late great Paul Wheeler, was an absolute freakish greyhound during his racing career winning 35 of his 44 races, earning $1.3 million,
At stud Fernando Bale has proved himself to be the greatest ever being a siring phenomenon. His progeny has won in excess of 53,000 races, combining to earn over an eyewatering $325 million in stakes to date.
The white and fawn champion was recently retired from his stud duties.
Fernando Bale also has made a profound impact on New Zealand greyhound racing. So far, he has sired the winners of over 2,700 New Zealand races while closing in on $10 million in stake earnings.
A truly remarkable greyhound in every sense!
