The last of the HTA’s major trails was staged at Helton and despite the forecast the weather was kind, with only one really bad shower.
The entertainment was excellent, though, with some good racing and exciting finishes as the season reaches its final month.
A good crowd saw 15 seniors slipped for the opener and they included all the leading contenders for the championship which made it a very competitive race.
Any number of hounds were in with a chance as they raced up the hill but it was Jenny’s Quest and Kirkhead Rebel who forged clear. In the end it was Jenny’s Quest, currently being trained by Lisa and Edward Crosby who crossed the line two yards in front of her rival owned by Roy Laidler.
Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough’s Winterfell was third and Brian Graham’s Reebok was fourth with table leader Duchess Ava finishing in the middle of the pack.
That win for Jenny’s Quest puts her just one point behind James McLelland’s bitch so very much all to play for over the last month.
There were 12 runners for the senior maidens and again there was an exciting finish with plenty in with a chance. In the end it was Tony Jackson and Ian Rudd’s Kinniside Jacko who came out of the pack to win, finishing three or four yards in front of Brian and Joy Lister’s Imagine who was slowing down as he came to the finishing line.
The open pups was also very competitive with the favourite Huntsman’s Rebel looking for her 30th win of the season.
Again all the dogs were together as they came down the gill with Huntsman’s Rebel right there at the front.
However when they came back into sight it was really wide open until Ned’s Gain really powered up the hill with Silver Streak in hot pursuit but that was the way they finished.
The win takes Ned’s Gain two clear of Foxparke Beep Beep in the battle for runners-up spot behind the clear table leader Huntsman’s Rebel who could only manage sixth on this occasion.
The puppy maiden followed the same pattern with the majority of the 17 runners coming on the finish together, Malcolm and Ann Holmes’ Sweet Dreams just got up to win from Geoff and Gillian Higgins’ Lucky Lottie with Martin, Joanna and Molly Burrows’ Thorn Thunder in third place – and only a yard between all three.
The final race for open restricted had the biggest field of 25 runners and once again they were all in with a chance as the lot of them came down the last gill together.
It was Denise Bland’s Huntsman’s Quirk who broke away and crossed the line first from Nicola and Darren McMaster’s Silver Streak.
October 1 – HTA October Trails
- Hounds – 1. Jenny’s Quest; 2. Kirkhead Rebel; 3. Winterfell; 4. Reebok; 5. Summer Spirit; 6. Miterdale Duchess. 15 ran, time 32.01.
- Maidens – 1. Kinniside Jacko; 2. Imagine’ 3. Overwater Eddie; 4. Foxparke Joey Elliot; 5. Persian Gold; 6. Black Edition. 12 ran, time 33.38.
- Pups – 1. Ned’s Gain; 2. Silver Streak; 3. Eagle Girl; 4. Apache Raider; 5. Busy Again; 6. Huntsman’s Rebel. 17 ran, time 21.34.
- Puppy Maiden – 1. Sweet Dreams; 2. Lucky Lottie; 3. Thorn Thunder; 4. Huntsman’s Ruby; 5. Dundee; 6. Kinniside Bobby. 15 ran, time 21.36.
- Open Restricted – 1. Huntsman’s Quirk; 2. Silver Dancer; 3. Overwater Louie; 4. Bretton; 5. Thorn Pop; 6. Sir Robert. 25 ran, time 21.09.
