Dimple Wells Cricket Ground, Queen’s Terrace, Dimple Wells Rd, Ossett WF5 8JT
Ossett is a market town in West Yorkshire, situated two miles west of Wakefield, and yet within one mile of junction 40 of the M1.
The first signs of Greyhound Racing in Ossett appeared in The Greyhound Owner of June 1965, announcing that events would take place at The Dimplewells Cricket Ground. A grand opening meeting was expected to take place on the 28th of June 1965, after more than fifty greyhounds had already qualified through earlier spot grading trial sessions.
All six dog races were to be run over a 270-yard-long course, starting from a level break. Presumably, Races were run around two bends, with the greyhounds more than likely chasing a Ball Type Hare being dragged along by a hand operated winch.
Further adverts appeared two years later in The Greyhound Owner, but this time the distance had increased to 300 yards, offering a much longer galloping circuit with no sharp bends, with as many as six Bookmakers expected to attend.
These meetings were no doubt promoted under the temporary license scheme agreed by The Council, with The Dimplewells track never reaching the standard of a more recognised greyhound stadium. Little information is found regarding the positioning of were the track lay, it is presumed that only part of the cricket field was used, possibly on its northern edge in full view of The Pavilion.
The cricket ground at Dimplewells still remains today, located roughly half a mile south of Ossett’s town centre.
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