There’s been plenty of families that have found success in the sporting arena.
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The Ellas, the Waughs and the Danihers are a few that come to mind but one family you may not be familiar with is the Branns.
They don’t play cricket, rugby or Aussie rules.
The Branns are of the canine variety and have made their mark on the local greyhound racing scene.
The litter of eight greyhounds are owned and trained by Tony and Robyn Atkins at their Moore Creek property and run primarily at Gunnedah, Grafton and Maitland.
The octet are out of Trident Tia by Magic Sprite and have all won a race. Collectively they have racked up 42 wins and 75 placings.
“To get every dog in the litter winning – it’s pretty good, pretty special,” Tony said.
“It’s just rewarding – breeding them, training them, breaking them in,” Robyn added.
Following success at the Gunnedah track, two of the Brann litter will head to Wentworth Park today.
Snipper Brann and Brett Brann will make the trip following last-start wins at Gunnedah on Saturday.
Brett has locked down a start in the Ladbrokes Cash Out Stakes while Snipper is the second reserve in the Wentworthpark.com.au Stks.
The Atkins’ have tasted success at Wentworth Park – with five wins at the Glebe track before and Tony said a run at Gunnedah was the perfect preparation.
“Gunnedah’s a very good track for educating for Wentworth Park, it’s a very similar size,” Atkins said of the two sand tracks.
Tony also gave Brett every chance of winning.
“He's in the middle box but that won't worry him. He likes the middle to the outside,” Tony said.
“He’s 15-1 on The Dogs site – they class him as an outsider – but I think he’ll go alright. He won’t embarrass himself.”
There looks to be no slowing the Atkins down for the time being.
The husband and wife team have two more litters at their property and home of 11 years.
Both litters – one set of four and another of seven greyhounds – are around 12 months old and won’t likely race for another year.
“These [eight Brann greyhounds] have done alright but I think these two [litters] will be better,” Tony said.
The two sets of litters will receive top notch care from the Atkins, like all their dogs, and will also be Branns.
What’s the significance of Brann, you ask?
“It’s my maiden name,” Robyn said.
Following the Wentworth Park trip, the Atkins’ will head back to Gunnedah for another meeting on Sunday as the Gunnedah Greyhound Racing Club will holds their first TAB meeting for the year.
