The final of the three meetings held at Cleamire provided a four card programme for the enthusiasts with a total of 53 hounds running.
The senior trail had a dozen contestants but there was no Winterfell or Kirkhead Rebel running as they continued to rest after the weekend racing.
Huntsman’s Rebel, last year’s puppy champion, was back after being off for three weeks with a should injury so it was interesting to see how she would cope with the warm night and the hard ground.
Miterdale Duchess, a course specialist, went off favourite but it was Young Harry, owned by Brian Graham that led most of the way outside.
As they turned to come on the long finish back to the trail field he must have got wrong somewhere as it was Huntsman’s Rebel who came with a light lead from Huntsman’s Quartz.
The lack of running for Huntsman’s Rebel was perhaps telling as Huntsman’s Quartz took up the lead and won by a good few yards for Ian Donaldson and Stephen Donaldson.
Huntsman’s Rebel finished a respectable second place and owner Denise Bland would have been pleased with her performance. The favourite Miterdale Duchess finished in sixth place.
The time of the race was the fastest over the three meetings with Huntsman’s Quartz taking nearly three minutes off the previous best.
The puppy race saw thirteen slipped with the favourite Rodney Raider looking for his 10th win of the season.
As they came in to sight it was Rodney Raider and Artist who were racing each other neck and neck but as they got nearer the line the big stride of Rodney Raider was too much for Bill Mellon’s smaller bitch and Rodney Raider just came away from her to cross the line.
Ashley Horn’s Flightline was a respectable third place with Maverick finishing in fourth place.
The win takes Rodney Raider clear in the puppy championship on 10 points with his nearest rival kennel mate Silver Dream only on seven points.
The open maiden race was next and it was James Irving’s Overwater Eddie who led the race most of the way round and just held on to beat Glenis and Raymond Farren’s Miss Riff who is still on holiday with Denise Bland, so the change of kennel must be suiting her.
The final race of the night was for the veterans and it was Bill Mellon’s other hound Cracking Spirit who managed to hang on to beat Stuart Jeyne’s Forlorn Spring by a couple of lengths.
Although finishing in second place the five points extended his lead in the Veteran Points competition and he is now nine points clear of his nearest rival Hawkswood owned by Denis Pear and Jackie Gill.
Action moves to north of Carlisle on Saturday to the Twice Brewed Show which takes place just off the Military Road on the way to Newcastle.
The show hosts the trails and there will be five races with the first slipping at 1pm. It is always a good day out with lots of activities taking place as part of the show, as well as the hound trails.
June 7 – Cleamire
- Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Quartz; 2. Huntsman’s Rebel; 3. Reebok; 4. Bretton; 5. Young Harry; 6. Miterdale Duchess. 12 ran, time 27.20.
- Pups – 1. Rodney Raider; 2. Artist; 3. Flightline; 4. Maverick; 5. Foxparke Honk Honk; 6. Foxparke Dealer. 13 ran, time 17.32.
- Open Maiden – 1. Overwater Eddie; 2. Miss Riff; 3. Eleanor’s Lass; 4. Miss Stanhope; 5. Go Go Frankie; 6. Tommy’s Dream. 16 ran, time 17.36.
- Veterans – 1. Cracking Spirit; 2. Forlorn Spring; 3. Buster Moon; 4. Cuckoo Lane; 5. Insider; 6. Foxparke Jiggly Puff. 12 ran, time 17.41.
