Last night’s trails at Fellside were the last this year and following the stormy weather the previous night running conditions were much improved.
The senior hounds got things underway with a good slip of 18 hounds.
As they came back on to the finish and climbed up towards the finish it was a good race between Huntsman’s Rebel and Summer Spirit.
In the end Summer Spirit just couldn’t get in front and Huntsman’s Rebel crossed the line in first with a yard or so to spare.
The win for Denise Bland, Graeme Little, Alan and Jim Little was her 12th of the season and takes her to just three points behind Miterdale Duchess in second place in the Championship race.
Huntsman’s Rebel will be one to watch next weekend at the HTA October Trails.
Busy Again for Alan Blacklock finished well in third and has certainly come back in form. Strawberry Mick was fourth for Graham Reid with the consistent Lady Million in fifth place for Joy and Brian Lister. Linda Neale and the Bryden’s Eagle Love finished in sixth place.
Next to slip were the open pups with the majority of the top hounds running. Rodney Raider was favourite with Embrace not far behind in the bookies ring.
As they came back on to the finish and climbed up the hill Rodney Raider and Sarah Jane were the two hounds in front. Championship leader, Rodney Raider with his big stride, just did enough to keep in front and cross the line in first place.
Sarah Jane finished in second, making it another one two for the Dearham kennel of Joe Abram and Nicola McMaster.
Second favourite Embrace finished in third place for Andrew and Joel Buman, Laura Steele and Ian Rumney in what was a great finish by all three hounds who are obviously at the top of their game at the moment.
Paul Airey and Joanne Hodgson’s Artisan finished really well in fourth place and has certainly improved over these last few weeks having recovered from a number of minor injuries, with Les and Graham Reid’s Mel finishing in fifth and Huntsman’s Sparkle overcoming her reluctance to finish her races was sixth for the Hills.
All six ticketing hounds coming from the two top litters of the season Silver Dusk/Miterdale Copper and Jenny’s Aura/ Foxparke Billy Elliot.
The last race of the night was the open restricted trail with 16 runners. As the hounds showed and were climbing back up to the finish it was a great race with the majority of the slipped hounds showing on the finish.
In front was Brian Graham and Eleanor Chisholm’s Eleanor’s Lass who was battling it out with Denise Bland’s Missriff.
In the end Missriff just couldn’t get past her and Eleanor’s Lass took the win. Flightline for Ashley Horn and Sarah White finished well in third place and also seems to be coming ointo good form having won over the longer distance last weekend.
Christopher Henderson’s kennel bagged the fourth ticket and the sixth ticket with Light Up and Shine On with Colin Satterthwaite taking the last ticket of the night with Thorn Gift.
Action moves to the weekend with a five-card meeting at Eskdale Show with the first trail slipping at 2pm. Then the last trail this year in the series of trails at Dearham with the trail times being moved from 1pm to 11.30am so an earlier start on Sunday.
September 28 – Fellside
- Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Rebel; 2. Summer Spirit; 3. Busy Again; 4. Strawberry Mick; 5. Lady Million; 6. Eagle Love. 18 ran, time 26.37.
- Pups – 1. Rodney Raider; 2. Sarah Jane; 3. Embrace; 4. Artisan; 5. Mel; 6. Huntsman’s Sparkle. 19 ran, time 18.37.
- Open Restricted – 1. Eleanor’s Lass; 2. Missriff; 3. Flightline; 4. Light Up; 5. Thorn Gift; 6. Shine On. 16 ran, Time 19.54.
