The first of the trilogy trails organised by the new-look festival committee was well supported ay Potters Park last night.
Changing weather conditions helped with a cooler night and it was a little softer under foot. The numbers of runners in all races was up with everyone seeking to gather points over the three events with a view to taking home a share of the excellent prize money on offer.
The senior trail saw 24 slipped and as they came up the finish it was Denis Pear and Jackie Gill’s Miterdale Duchess who was in front and went on to win and take her eighth senior championship race.
This takes her to just three points behind the current table leader Winterfell who was running but seemed to get wrong outside and put himself out of the race, finishing just outside the ticketing hounds.
The warmer weather has suited the smaller bitch and she has been running well.
Jonty and Evie Moore and Jack Thompson’s Ned’s Gain finished in second place, so it was good to see this hound showing some of his old form, with Willie and Daphne Mark’s Summer Spirit in third and Caroline Graham’s Hunter’s Flame in fourth.
In the open puppy race there were 33 runners so it was a really good turn-out of hounds with all the top ticketing youngsters running.
As they came to the road it was Rodney Raider and Silver Dream who were together with a slight lead. However, as they neared the line it was the fast finishing Thorn Gift for Colin Satterthwaite who got up to win from Rodney Raider.
The in-form Foxparke Honk Honk finished in third place with Sarah Jane finishing in fourth place. The win for Thorn Gift was her first in the championship.
The open restricted race also saw a good field of hounds take part with the largest slip of the night involving 35 contenders.
As the hounds came back onto the finish it was local hound Apache Raider who came on to win the race for Debbie and Lana McGee, with David Clifford’s Eden Rayna finishing in second place. Joseph Abraham’s and Sadie Wilson Maverick finished in third place.
This third place was enough to take Maverick to the top of the Open Restricted points table with thirty seven points one more than Thorn Pop.
The last race of the night saw thirteen veterans competing and it was Denis Pear and Jackie Gill’s other hound Hawskwood who came away from the rest of the field to win nicely and give them a double win on the night.
Hawkswood held on to beat the fast finishing Monsoon who was closing as they came up the finish. The current Veteran points leader Forlorn Spring finished in third which extends his current lead to seven points.
The next Triology trail will take place on the 8th July, also at Potters Park.
Action moves to Wardhall on Wednesday night with the first race slipping at 6.30pm.
This will be the final event prior to the International Trails which will be taking place on Saturday at Sewingshields which is along the Military Road heading towards Newcastle.
On the day there will be trailing enthusiasts coming from other Associations, including the Yorkshire Association and from Ireland to run their hounds.
June 19 – Potters Park
- Hounds – 1. Miterdale Duchess; 2. Ned’s Gain; 3. Summer Spirit; 4. Hunter’s Flame ;5. Foxparke Mysteriously; 6. Huntsman’s Rebel. 24 ran, time 34.14.
- Pups – 1. Thorn Gift; 2. Rodney Raider; 3. Foxparke Honk Honk; 4. Sarah Jane; 5. Silver Dream; 6. Mel. 33 ran, time 21.31.
- Open Restricted – 1. Apache Raider; 2. Eden Rayna; 3. Maverick; 4. Malia; 5. Ron; 6. Foxparke Sassy Girl. 35 ran, time 21.28.
- Veterans – 1. Hawkswood; 2. Monsoon; 3. Forlorn Spring; 4. Cracking Spirit; 5. Foxparke Jiggly Puff; 6. Amber Bay. 13 ran, time 21.21.
