Thursday night saw the last of the trails for 2023 take place at Spadeadam.
There was a three-card meeting with the senior hounds getting things off to a good start with 16 runners.
Winterfell was out running and looking to further extend his lead at the head of the Championship table.
There was no pressure on him as he has a sufficient lead not to be caught with 25 wins and a 10-point lead.
Winterfell was the bookies favourite but he had competition from Huntsman’s Rebel who was looking to try and close the gap with Miterdale Duchess who is sitting in the runners up place with only three points between the two bitches.
As the hounds crossed the last road it was Huntsman’s Rebel who was leading with Winterfell in third place.
But it wasn’t to be the Rebel’s day as at the business end of the race Winterfell took the win from his rival.
Ron ran well and finished in third place and Summer Spirit for Willie and Daphne Mark finished in fourth place.
Neil and Gillian Brown’s Dundee finished in fifth with Paul Airey and Joanne Hodgson’s Meadow Maggie taking the last ticket.
Next to race were the open pups with a smaller field of nine runners. Rodney Raider was also looking to extend his lead at the top of the table and like Winterfell he can’t be caught and will take the Puppy championship title.
Last time round Spadeadam he did what was required and won the race and he was favourite in the bookies ring.
However during the race reports were coming in that it was Huntsman’s Sparkle who had a massive lead at the last road and she came on the finish to win clear of any other hounds.
Rodney Raider headed up the rest of the pups as they finished, to take second place with Maggie Moon also belonging to the Hill’s finishing in third place, with Colin Satterthwaites Thorn Gift finishing fourth.
Christopher Henderson’s Light Up was fifth while Willie and Daphne Mark’s Sportsman took the last ticket.
Perhaps the smaller crowd helped Huntsman’s Sparkle overcome her fears of finishing but despite that she was flying outside and ran a cracking race and obviously has speed to burn.
The last race of the night was the open maiden race with eight runners.
Hey Mac was the favourite with the bookies after his improved performances of late and reports from outside proved correct.
He was leading the small field as they crossed the last road and he held on to win the race for Neil and Gillian Brown and Derek and Joel Bulman.
Christopher Henderson’s other hound Shine On finished well in second place with Jenny Horn’s much improved hound Spring Remedy taking third.
Sarah Harper ‘s Delta Samba was in fourth place with Brian Shaw and Marianne Nixon’s Lucky Chance taking fifth.
The last ticket of the day went to the Hill’s Vinny Moon, so it was a good night for them with a first, a third and sixth ticket.
With just over a week left to the end of the season, action moves to Millstone Moor on Saturday with a four-card meeting with the first trail slipping at 1pm.
On Sunday the trails move back up north of Carlisle with a five-card meeting at Middle Moss.
Although the two main Championship winners have been decided there is still the runner-up places which could change and a number of the Points Competitions to be finalised.
The Open Non Winners competition is likely to be decided on Tuesday next week with the last of the class races taking place at Seaton.
The Senior Maiden, the Puppy maiden and the Veteran competitions are still very much active and a number of hounds are still in contention to take the titles.
October 19 – Spadeadam
- Hounds – 1. Winterfell; 2. Huntsman’s Rebel; 3. Ron; 4. Summer Spirit; 5. Dundee; 6. Meadow Maggie. 16 ran, time 26.24.
- Pups – 1. Huntsman’s Sparkle; 2. Rodney Raider; 3. Maggie Moon; 4. Thorn Gift; 5. Light Up; 6. Sportsman. 9 ran, time 19.56.
- Open Maiden 1. Hey Mac; 2. Shine On; 3. Spring Remedy; 4. Delta Samba; 5. Lucky Chance; 6. Vinny Moon. 8 ran, time 21.50.
