Tuesday saw the second of the Oulton trails take place with another good turnout and plenty of hounds.
Alan Blacklock, with Busy Again, was looking for a repeat of his success at the weekend but the little hound would have to motor on as there was plenty of competition.
Fourteen seniors were slipped and as they came into view at the bottom of the field there were two hounds together.
They raced neck and neck up the field but there was no sign of Busy Again. It was last year’s puppy champion Rodney Raider and Strawberry Mick who were battling it out up the climb to the finish.
Rodney Raider just put in a last minute push to cross the line in front for David Todhunter and Nicola McMaster. Graham Reid’s Strawberry Mick had to settle for second place.
Fast on their heels was Cracking Artist who came from behind to finish in third place for Bill and Pat Mellon and Robert and Tina Airey. The little hound finished exceptionally well but just couldn’t catch the first two.
Embrace was next for Laura Steele, Andrew Bulman and Ian Rumney, with Silver Streak and Sliver Dream finishing in fifth and sixth place for the McMaster and Abraham kennel.
Busy Again finished in seventh place, slightly disappointing following her impressive win at the weekend.
Rodney Raider must have been cracking on as the time was two minutes faster than on Sunday.
The pups were next to slip and like Alan Blacklock, Denise Bland and her team were looking for a repeat win.
There was a good slip of 29 runners so it was not going to be a walk in the park for Huntsman’s Time, and she would have to do the business to beat the local hounds.
When they showed in the bottoms there were a few dogs together but Huntsman’s Time was among them and as they came up the hill she managed to hold on to first place when they crossed the line.
She was only a couple of yards in front of local hound Thorn Sass and Thorn Soul for team Burrows who finished in second and third place.
Millie’s Lass for George McGimpsey and Gillian and Millie Telford is running consistently and getting tickets but the top tickets just seem to be escaping her at the minute, but she is showing promise finishing in fourth place.
Thornton finished in fifth place with little Minnie Million for Brian and Joy Lister taking sixth.
The last race of the night was the Open Restricted trail with a slip of 16 hounds.
Again it was another tight affair with two hounds showing together at the bottom of the hill. Shaun and Donna Hetherington’s Tesla, who had been unlucky on Sunday taking second ticket in the Open Maiden race and Brian and Joy Lister’s other hound Dream Catcher showed first.
It was nip and tuck all the way up the long climb but it was Tesla who got the upper hand and managed to cross the line to take first ticket followed by Dream Catcher in second.
Local hounds Thorn Gift and Thorn Pop were third and fourth for Colin Satterthwaite with Paul Airey and Joanne Hodgson’s Meadow Artisan taking fifth place and Splendid Mikey earning the last ticket.
Action moves to Cobra Castle on Thursday night for another three card meeting. It’s different running with a bit of fields and fell which might suit Denise’s team again, although Huntsman’s Time seems to be able to run any terrain at the moment and is certainly the one to catch in the open puppies to date.
April 2 – Oulton
- Hounds – 1. Rodney Raider; 2. Strawberry Mick; 3. Cracking Artist; 4. Embrace 5;. Silver Streak; 6. Silver Dream. 14 ran, time 30.33.
- Pups – 1. Huntsman’s Time; 2. Thorn Sass; 3. Thorn Soul; 4. Millie’s Lass; 5. Thornton; 6. Minnie Million. 29 ran, time 16.46.
- Open Restricted 1. Tesla; 2. Dream Catcher; 3. Thorn Gift; 4. Thorn Pop; 5. Meadow Artisan; 6. Splendid Mikey. 24 ran, time 16.54.
