Mark Wallis

In 1990, Wallis joined leading trainer Linda Jones at the Imperial Kennels (Linda would later become his mother-in-law). The kennel gained significant success during the following 15 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.markwallisgreyhounds.co.uk/history/|title=Imperial Kennels - 1989-2005 - Linda Jones|publisher=Mark Wallis Greyhounds}}

In 2005 he became a trainer in his own right taking over the Imperial Kennels from Linda Jones. Patrick Janssens was a kennelhand for Wallis from 2005-2014. Wallis secured the trainers title in his first year of training and won his first major competition (the Grand National).{{cite book|last=Hobbs|first=Jonathan|title=Greyhound Annual 2008|year=2008|publisher=Raceform|isbn=978-1-905153-534}} The kennel continued to gain success and won numerous events culminating in the 2009 English Greyhound Derby crown. A second Derby triumph ensued when he won the 2012 English Greyhound Derby with Blonde Snapper.{{cite web|url=http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?r=3178846|title=2012|publisher=Greyhound Data}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gbgb.org.uk/resultsRace.aspx?id=805775|title=result|publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain|access-date=24 November 2017|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917122225/http://www.gbgb.org.uk/resultsRace.aspx?id=805775|url-status=dead}}

He currently runs out of Henlow Stadium which he joined in August 2018,{{cite web|url=http://greyhoundstar.co.uk/wallis-joins-henlow/|title=Wallis Joins Henlow|date=16 August 2018 |publisher=Greyhound Star}} from his Lakenheath Kennels. Previously he was attached to Walthamstow Stadium until it closed and then Harlow Stadium until July 2010 when he left for Yarmouth Stadium, in order for his greyhounds being schooled behind a Swaffham hare.{{cite news|title=Remember When - July 2010|year=2012|newspaper=Greyhound Star}} He then joined Towcester Greyhound Stadium when it opened in 2014 and stayed there until it closed during 2018.

Major wins in 2019 included the TV Trophy, Regency, Champion Stakes and Kent St Leger and the following year in 2020 he won the Cesarewitch (held for the first time in eight years).{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/racing/results/?raceClass=OR&raceType=race|title=Open Race Calendar|website=Greyhound Board of Great Britain}} By the end of 2020 his eight year reign as trainer of the year came to an end at the hands of his former pupil Patrick Janssens. However during the year he still secured the prestigious Cesarewitch and a second successive TV Trophy, both won by Aayamza Royale.{{cite web |title= 19 Dec, Meeting Hove |url= https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=368911&raceId=698599 |publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |accessdate=19 December 2020}} Aayamza Royale (a black bitch) was then voted the 2020 Greyhound of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/gbgb-greyhound-of-the-year-2020-award-winners/|title=GBGB Greyhound of the Year 2020 Award Winners|date=17 February 2021 |publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain|access-date=24 February 2021}}

In January 2021, he won the Essex Vase for a record fifth time{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=369944&raceId=708092|title=2021 Coral Essex Vase|publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |access-date=23 January 2021}} and in May, Aayamza Royal became the fourth greyhound to win the TV Trophy twice, setting a record of fours wins for Wallis in the process.{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=373616&raceId=742260|title=LADBROKES TV TROPHY 2021 FINAL|publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain|access-date=23 May 2021}} Wallis duly secured a 12th and 13th Greyhound Trainer of the Year title at the end of 2021 & 2022 respectively.{{cite web|url=https://greyhoundstar.co.uk/winning-finishing-second-janssens/|title=Winning is Finishing Second for Janssens|date=22 December 2021 |publisher=Greyhound Star|access-date=24 December 2021}}

Wallis joined Mildenhall Stadium known as Suffolk Downs in 2023 and went on to win a 14th trainer's title after recording 1591 points.{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/trainer-of-the-year-final-standings-2023/ |title=Trainer of the Year final standings 2023 |website=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |date=3 January 2024 |access-date=25 January 2024}} Wallis duly won a 15th title by the end of 2024, helped by three category one wins during one evening alone on 14 December.{{cite web|url=https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/bury-st-edmunds/sport/country-s-leading-trainer-enjoys-an-hour-to-remember-9396741/ |title=Mark Wallis wins three Category One finals in less than hour thanks to New Destiny, Garfiney Blaze and Proper Heiress |website=Suffolk News |access-date=2 February 2025 }}

After changing his track attachment status to private, Wallis continued his domination of into 2025, winning both the Cesarewitch and Blue Riband in January, the former with Garfiney Blaze again. This was followed by the TV Trophy{{cite web|url=https://www.sisracing.tv/record-breaker-mongys-wild-is-fifth-tv-trophy-winner-for-wallis/ |title=Record-breaker Mongys Wild is fifth TV Trophy winner for Wallis |website=SIS Racing |access-date=29 March 2025}} and Golden Sprint in March{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=424016&raceId=1102315 |title=The Greyhound Racing UK Blue Riband Final |website=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |access-date=2 February 2025 }} and a fifth Trainers Championship, held at Perry Barr on 29 March.{{cite web|url=https://greyhoundnewsuk.com/article/mark-wallis-lands-a-fifth-pgr-trainers-judgement-night-win |website=Greyhound News UK |title=Mark Wallis lands a fifth PGR Trainers Judgement Night win |access-date=2 April 2025 }} New Destiny won the Grand Prix and Proper Heiress won the Juvenile in April.{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=428373&raceId=1122638 |title=Arena Racing Company Grand Prix Final |website=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |access-date=19 April 2025}}

Wallis has won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year a record 15 times (2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and the Trainers Championship five times in 2006, 2010, 2018, 2022 and 2025.{{cite web|url=https://greyhoundstar.co.uk/mark-wallis-8/|title=Mark Wallis: 21 Years in Judgement|date=3 May 2022 |publisher=Greyhound Star|access-date=4 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sittingbourne/sport/wait-for-cesarewitch-success-goes-on-319281/ |title=Garfiney Blaze retains £12,500 Arena Racing Company Cesarewitch crown at Central Park Stadium with local hope Head Count finishing sixth |website=Kent Online |access-date=2 February 2025 }}

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Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:British greyhound racing trainers