Last night saw the first of the series of trails at Millstone Moor as the season draws to a close at the end of the month.
Running conditions for the hounds were perfect and the seniors got things underway with a slip of 12 runners.
Silver Streak and Foxparke Beep Beep were joint favourites at 6/4 and at the half way point the hounds were cracking on and making good time.
As they headed away from the field down towards Bridekirk it was hard to tell what was in front.
It seemed no time at all until the hounds had rounded the trail at the bottom of Bridekirk and were back on their way towards the finish.
As they came into the penultimate field it was a good race between the three leading hounds as Foxparke Beep Beep, Busy Again and Silver Streak were all in with a chance.
When they cleared the last gate Foxparke Beep Beep seemed to be slow at getting over which gave Busy Again a couple of yards.
As they both came up the field it was neck and neck but Alan Blacklock’s hound Busy Again takes some beating on the finish and the little hound just did enough to keep in front.
Foxparke Beep Beep was trying her best for owners Ellie and Robyn Napier to get up but was just a length or so short, probably the difference of being able to clear the gate at the bottom. But it was a really good finish by both hounds.
Alan was over the moon with how the little bitch had ran, and it made up for him getting his car stuck in the mud on the field, although he was soon pushed out.
Silver Streak finished well in third place for Nicola and Darren McMaster, Sadie Wilson and Phil Graham.
Glamorous Ava ran well in the longer trail for James McClelland with Cracking Last One Two finishing in fifth for Bill Melon and Co and Barncroft Express finished sixth for Alan O’Fee.
The time of the race was an indication of just how good the running conditions were as it was 25.58. probably one of the faster times round the trail.
Next to slip were the open pups with fourteen runners. Rodney Raider and Silver Dream were both joint favourites and as the hounds came back onto the finish it was another good race between the two favourites along with Mel for Les and Graham Reid.
All three hounds battled up the finish but it was Rodney Raider who crossed the line by half a length from Silver Dream in second followed by Mel who was a neck behind.
Foxparke Side Kick finished well in fourth place, She is a much improved little dog, both in her running capability and her level of confidence on the slipping line.
Graham Reid’s other hound Money Talks finished in fifth with Bill Melon’s other hound Artist taking sixth.
The last race of the night was for the open restricted race with 10 runners.
Thorn Pop was the favourite in the bookies ring and she would be looking for points again to take her in front of the Open Restricted points competition.
As the hounds showed in the bottom it was Milo Moon, who had looked impressive on the slipping line who came with a slight lead.
He didn’t hold back as they climbed up to the finish and won nicely for the Tracey, Carolyn and Derek Hill.
Thorn Pop was right where owner Colin Satterthwaite wanted her in second place gaining another five points which takes her to three points clear of Maverick who is now runner-up place having sat at the top for the last few months.
Thorn Gift finished in third place with no acrobatics like her display on the finish at the HTA trails on Saturday.
Denise Bland’s Missriff finished well in fourth followed by Foxparke Sassy Girl in fifth while Nicola and John Lyon’s Black Eyed Mist finished sixth.
Action moves to the weekend with an action-packed programme with plenty of selection for those dogs still running. There’s Alwinton Show and Wasdale Show on the Saturday and Seaton on the Sunday.
All details of the trails available from houndtrailingassociation.com
October 11 – Millstone Moor
- Hounds – 1. Busy Again; 2. Foxparke Beep Beep; 3. Silver Streak; 4. Glamorous Ava; 5. Cracking  Last One Two; 6. Barncroft Express. 12 ran, time 25.58.
- Pups – 1. Rodney Raider; 2. Silver Dream; 3. Mel; 4. Foxparke Side Kick; 5. Money Talks; 6. Artist. 14 ran, time 16.34.
- Open Restricted – 1. Milo Moon; 2. Thorn Pop; 3. Thorn Gift; 4. Missriff; 5. Foxparke Sassy Girl; 6. Black Eyed Mist. 10 ran, time 16.41.
