Three Greyhounds, Melksham Tom, and his two Sons, Melksham Endurance and Melksham Denny

The remnants of a paper label on the frame records that Melksham Tom was the fastest dog of his day and sire of more winners than any other greyhound of his time. He was bred and owned by Henry Sawtell, a great coursing owner of the 1920's whose kennels were situated near the Wiltshire town which gave his dogs' names their prefix. Melksham Tom was bred by the most popular sire of the day, Staff Officer, who produced four out of five Waterloo Cup winners between 1921 and 1925. His mother Melksham Nellie had won the Netherby Cup, one of the most prestigious events in the calendar after Waterloo.
Melksham Tom's pace was the stuff of legends, although he rarely won a race. In his debut meeting at Avon Valley he led by seven lengths but was still soundly beaten. His next outing in the Sefton Stakes at Altcar was his most succesful when he won three courses before being outscored in the fourth. His most enduring legacy was his offspring; his son Meadow Fescue, sire of Casteltown Lad, led on to Champion Prince and Knockrour Again amongst others. Melksham Denny and Melksham Endurance ran in Ireland, from where their father Melksham Tom had been retired to stud in 1925.
We are grateful to C. T. Blanning, Secretary of the National Coursing Club, for his help in preparing this entry.