Greyhound trainer Tony Collett has been on cloud nine this week after his prize ‘pupil’, Lenson Joker, was named 2008 Greyhound of the Year.

Lenson Joker was named top dog at the Greyhound Board of Great Britain awards ceremony in London on Sunday.

"I have been training greyhounds for 32 years and this is without doubt the highlight of my career," said 52-year-old Collett from Harvel.

Three-year-old Joker, trained by Collett since he was a puppy, enjoyed a purple patch last summer, winning 12 races in a row including the Cesarewitch, the William Hill Grand Prix and the Coral Champion Stakes – collecting £35,000 in prize money in the process.

"There are greyhounds, and there are class greyhounds – and Joker definitely comes into that category," said Collett.

"He’s got an unbelieveable temperament. He never gets fazed in the traps or when he’s travelling to the track, and I think there is still more to come from him this year.

‘He’s very lightly raced because he had a toe amputated after a racing accident at Romford in December 2007.

"They reckon that usually takes three or four lengths off a dog’s speed, but it doesn’t seem to have affected him at all."

Lenson Joker is owned by Lennie Ponder, who comes from Orpington, Ralph Lawrence (Crayford) and Tony Mills (Greenwich), who were named Owners of the Year at the same ceremony.

Collett added: "They are three great guys who have all been fantastic for the sport."