Last night’s trails at Bridekirk had to contend with very wet and windy weather, conditions which put off many people from attending.
However there were 12 hounds in the senior trail with Foxparke Beep Beep setting off as favourite and looking to repeat her exceptional win last time round.
Strawberry Mick and Silver Streak were also running and they were joint second favourite.
As they went through in front of the field it was difficult to make them out with the rain pelting down. Punters could make out that there were two white hounds in the lead but many were unsure which ones they were.
When the hounds came back onto the finish and approached the line out of the gloom it was Joy and Brian Lister’s Lady Million that was in front and she crossed the line a couple of lengths in front of a fast finishing Busy Again for Alan Blacklock with Foxparke beep Beep only managing third.
Silver Streak ran a good race and finished in fourth place followed home by Alan O’Fee’s Barncroft Express with the last ticket going to Neil and Gillian Brown’s Dundee.
Lady Million also won the Jimmy Crone Memorial Trophy on the night.
As the evening went on the weather improved slightly and there was 10 pups slipped.
Silver Dream was the odds-on favourite with Artist, Mel and Money Talks not far behind in the betting.
As they came back onto the finish it was a good race with Silver Dream and Artist battling it out to cross the line first. Silver Dream did her usual sprint towards the line but on this occasion Artist dug deep and also put a spurt in just before the line.
The judge had to refer to the camera to separate the hounds and the decision went to Artist by a short nose. Sarah Jane finished a close third for the Dearham kennel of Joe Abram and Nicola McMaster with Les and Graham Reid’s Mel and Money Talks finishing in fourth and fifth place.
Hey Mac finished well to get sixth place for Neil and Gillian Brown.
The win for Artist now moves her up to fourth in the puppy Championship table with nine wins and seven seconds. Artist also won the Jackie Hewitson trophy on the night.
The last race was for the open restricted with just six runners. Thorn Rose and Thorn Pop were joint favourites as they were slipped.
As the hounds came back on the finish it was a good race between four hounds who were running neck and neck approaching the line but it was Green Flyer for Jake and Zac Green who just got up to take the win, again the judge having to refer to the camera.
Jake and Zac were well chuffed with their win, beating Thorn Rose for Joanna and Martin Burrows with Thorn Pop finishing in third place.
Imagine and Dream Catcher then finished fourth and fifth for Joy and Brian Lister.
Hopefully there will be improved weather when the action moves back up into the borders with a three-card meeting at Moss Peteral tonight.
The first trail is slipped at 4.45pm and there’s a three card meeting at Dearham on Thursday with the first hounds slipping at 5pm.
September 19 – Bridekirk
- Hounds – 1. Lady Million; 2. Busy Again; 3. Foxparke Beep Beep; 4. Silver Streak; 5. Barncroft Express; 6. Dundee. 12 ran, time 26.46.
- Pups – 1. Artist; 2. Silver Dream; 3. Sarah Jane; 4. Mel; 5. Money Talks; 6. Hey Mac. 10 ran, time 17.41.
- Open Restricted – 1. Green Flyer; 2. Thorn Rose; 3. Thorn Pop; 4. Imagine; 5. Dream Catcher; 6 ran, time 18.54.