For the first time this season two HTA meetings were held last night – with one venue making its debut.
West Woodburn was formerly in the Border Association and given the distance people had to travel to get there it was well supported with entries with trainers perhaps looking for a change in running from Oulton where there have been a number of meetings to start the season.
Given that the running is open moorland rather than the fields and dykes it offers variety to the competing hounds.
Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough’s Winterfell was back to winning ways to take the first trail. He won nicely from Will and Daphne Mark’s Summer Spirit.
Darren McMaster’s Rodney Raider had travelled to see how he fared on new territory and he certainly enjoyed the experience, winning nicely from Willie and Daphne’s other hound Sportsman.
That victory for Rodney Raider took him to fourth position in the Open Puppy Championship.
The Open Maiden race was won by Linda Neale, Josh, Georgia and Mark Bryden’s Eagle Rock who beat Maverick, litter mate to Rodney Raider.
This win for the Bryden’s take Eagle Rock to the top of the Open Maiden Points Championship in front of Shine On who had opted to run in the senior trail and managed to take sixth ticket.
At Oulton the battle was on again to see who could come out on top between Silver Streak and Rex The Rocket.
On this occasion it was Silver Streak who came clear of Rex The Rocket as they climbed up to the finish and maintained her speed to take the win.
Although this win takes her level with Huntsman’s Quantum at the top of the senior table she had had more second tickets than her rival who could only manage fifth ticket at West Woodburn.
The Open Puppy race at Oulton also proved to be exciting as the battle between litter mates, Embrace, Silver Dream and Sarah Jane played out.
This time there was no hesitation from Embrace and he came clear by two or three lengths to win from Sarah Jane with Silver Dream only finishing in third place.
This win takes Embrace level with Mel on four wins each but it’s Embrace who goes top of the table as he has more second tickets than his rival.
The final race of the night at Oulton was the Open Restricted race and it was Colin Satterthwaites Thorn Snap that won by two or three lengths from Debbie and Lana McGee’s Apache Raider.
Although numbers were down at Oulton the racing and the finishes were just as exciting.
April 25 – West Woodburn
- Hounds – 1. Winterfell; 2. Summer Spirit; 3. Fire Lass; 4. Kirkhead Rebel; 5. Huntsman’s Quantum; 6. Shine On. 20 ran, time 29.07.
- Pups – 1. Rodney Raider; 2. Sportsman; 3. Denton Fury; 4. Flightline; 5. Marmite; 6. Eagle Aveya. 16 ran, time 17.20.
- Open Maiden – 1. Eagle Rock; 2. Maverick; 3. Artisan; 4. Milo Moon; 5. Fly Me To The Moon; 6. Delta Spiral. 18 ran, time 16.13.
- All In – 1. Explore; 2. Inspect; 3. Martha; 4. Eagle Girl; 5. Splendid Mickey; 6. Cracking Last One Two. 11 ran, time 16.05.
April 25 – Oulton
- Hounds – 1. Silver Streak; 2. Rex The Rocket; 3. Thorn Pop; 4. Dundee; 5. Busy Again; 6. Dream Catcher. 9 ran, time 29.00.
- Pups – 1. Embrace; 2. Sarah Jane; 3. Silver Dream; 4. Thorn Gift; 5. Artist; 6. Money Talks. 11 ran, time 16.37.
- Open Restricted – 1. Thorn Snap; 2. Apache Raider; 3. Bob; 4. Miss Stanhope; 5. Blue Diamond; 6. Red Baaeed. 9 ran, time 17.04.
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