Action at the weekend moved back to Wardhall for the second of three trails at the venue.
With forecasted high temperatures in the afternoon the trail was moved to first thing in the morning when the temperature was cooler and more comfortable for the dogs.
Even so there was just a small turnout for the senior hounds with only four runners but it was the course specialist Miterdale Duchess who set out as favourite.
She didn’t disappoint either, coming home with a good lead over the second hound Huntsman’s Rally for Glenis and Raymond Farren.
The win for Miterdale Duchess takes her one point closer to Winterfell and she is now only four points behind him. Denis Pear and Jackie Gill were very pleased with her performance and said that she copes very well with the warm weather.
There was only a small field of runners for the pups as Silver Dream started out as favourite. There was no table leader Rodney Raider as he was being rested after his longer than expected run on Thursday.
As they came on to the finish Mel had a slight lead over the rest but seemed to disappear in the bottoms and when they showed again it was Foxparke Honk Honk looking to repeat her win on Monday.
As they climbed up the hill she came away to win for the Napier and Butler kennel with Mel finishing in second and Artist in third.
There was a bigger field in the open non-winners race with 16 taking part. The Foxparke kennel had five runners and were hopeful of get a couple of tickets.
Foxparke Fair Lady and Foxparke Dealer were favourites as they set off but when they came back on to the finish it was Anne Raey’s Red Baaeed who was in front. As they crossed the last road the lead was taken up by Foxparke Fair Lady and Red Baaeed seemed to have put himself out of the race.
But he came back to take up the lead again before fading enough on the uphill finish to let Foxparke Fair Lady come through again to and get up to beat Thorn Bear owned by Martin and Molly Burrow’s.
Red Baaeed finished in third place followed by three more from the Foxparke kennel, Foxparke Sidekick, Foxparke Dealer and Foxparke Brum Brum. This win for the Napier and Butler kennel gave them a double on the day.
The last race of the day was for the open restricted race and it was Tania Satterthwaite’s Swamp Fox and Sam Crow who came on the finish to win to give her a one-two on the day.
Maverick for the McMaster’s finished in third with Thorn Pop finishing in fourth place for Colin Satterthwaite.
The hounds ran well in the cooler conditions knocking time off all races as trailing moves to Potters Park on Monday.
This is the first of the Trilogy Trails which have been organised by the Festival Committee and the first race is slipped at 6pm.
June 17 – Wardhall
- Hounds – 1. Miterdale Duchess; 2. Huntsman’s Rally; 3. Barncroft Spirit. 4 ran, time 30 42.
- Pups – 1. Foxparke Honk Honk; 2. Mel; 3. Artist; 4. Mietrdale Diamond; 5. Kinniside Miracle; 6. Silver Dream. 7 ran, time 18.49.
- Open Non-Winners – 1. Foxparke Fair Lady; 2. Thorn Bear; 3. Red Baaeed; 4. Foxparke Sidekick; 5. Foxparke Dealer; 6. Foxparke Brum Brum. 16 ran, time 18.12.
- Open Restricted – 1. Swamp Fox; 2. Sam Crow; 3. Maverick; 4. Thorn Pop; 5. Blue Diamond; 6. Foxparke Lady Ava. 12 ran. time 17.15.
