Shannon Brown announced as GBGB Kennelhand of the Year

THE GBGB has announced that Shannon Brown has been named Kennelhand of the Year 2025.

Shannon, who has recently turned 20, works alongside her father Paul Rutherford at Newcastle and was nominated for this award due to her unrelenting passion for the sport.

Shannon’s dedication to the breed throughout their lives, from birth to retirement, impressed the Kennelhand of the Year panel of Duncan Gibson, GBGB’s Senior Stipendiary Steward, Owners' Representative Tony Brealey, Trainers’ Representative Peter Harnden, Louise Warr, GBGB’s Racing Operations Executive and 2024’s Kennelhand of the Year Kaitlyn Linley.

Commenting on Shannon’s win, Duncan Gibson said: “Kennelhands are the backbone of this sport. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to greyhounds is always admirable, and is why it is so difficult to select a winner.

“Shannon has, however, shown the panel that not only is she an outstanding kennelhand, but is one who consistently demonstrates her passion, care, and lifelong commitment to the sport and the greyhounds in her care, and that is why she is kennelhand of the year.”

Reflecting on what this award means to her, Shannon said: “I’m very pleased and genuinely surprised by the nomination. I started working in the kennel with my father from a young age, and it’s always been a passion of mine, so this means a lot.”

Kennelhands are an integral part of our sport and the panel were inundated with a host of worthy nominations for this award including runner-ups Claire Butler, Abby Race and Kaitlyn Petch.

Kayley Worships, Craig Calvert, Casey Hatch, Sonny Milbanks, Sophie Barrett, Willow Austin-King and Liz Mazey were also nominated.