The fourth early-season meeting at Oulton had five races and the seniors were first to slip with seventeen of them sent on their way.
It proved a good race with Strawberry Mick and kennel-mate Money Talks establishing a lead as they ran along the beck edge.
As they approached the wood several hounds had caught up to the two front hounds but they still had a good lead as they came out of the wood.
Strawberry Mick started to pull away from the others but eased up leaving three hounds with a nice advantage as he had Busy Again and Silver Streak for company.
When they came up the finish Strawberry Mick stayed on well and pulled away from the others for the win for Graham Reid.
Busy Again for Alan Blacklock had to settle for second on this occasion because usually when she gets prominently onto the finish she is very hard to beat.
Silver Streak ran a good race for Darren McMaster, Anthony Skelton, Sadie Wilson and Phil Graham to take third.
Cracking Artist for Bill and Pat Mellon and Tina and Robert Airey finished well in fourth with Sarah Jane finishing in fifth and Foxparke Beeb Beep taking the last ticket for the Napier and Butler kennel.
Strawberry Mick had been sent-off at 7/2 but the odds-on favourite Rodney Raider, last year’s puppy champion was unplaced.
Next to slip were the senior maidens with twelve of them and it proved an open race with the majority of the hounds together as they came along the beck edge and each taking a turn to head up the race.
As they approached the wood five had broken clear and it was Border Reign for Annabelle Connelly who led them out of the trees before running well up the finish to claim first place.
Black Edition for Lisa and Hollie Whitfield finished really well to beat Foxparke Dealer for second place with Foxparke Joey Elliot in fourth. Huntsman’s Quirk was fifth for Denise Bland and her team and Eagle Love finished well to claim sixth ticket for Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden and Linda Neale.
The open pups were next with Huntsman’s Time looking to make it four wins out of four and extend her lead in the puppy championship.
As the pups came into view it had developed into a cracking race between Huntsman’s Time and Minnie Million. In the end it was Minnie Million for Brian and Joy Lister who just crossed the line in first place with Huntsman’s Time looking as though she had just eased up too soon with only a short head between the pair.
Millie’s Lass finished well in third place for George McGimpsey and Gillian and Millie Telford with local hounds Thorn Soul and Thorn Sass finishing in fourth and fifth place for Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrows and co. The last ticket went to Darren McMaster, Anthony Skelton and Sadie Wilson’s Thornton.
The puppy maidens were next to slip with a good field of twenty runners and as they came back into sight it was Sonny Bill and Thorn Heart were leading. In the end Sonny Bill held on well to cross the line in first place from Thorn Heart.
This was the first win for Sonny Bill, owned by Andrew Bulman, Laura Steele and Bill Birkett. Thorn Heart, for Colin Satterthwaite, ran a good race but just couldn’t keep-up with Sonny Bill as they climbed up the hill towards the finish.
Foxparke Elliott’s Lad claimed third ticket for the Napier and Butler kennel making four tickets in total for the kennel on the day. Thorn Star for Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrows finished well in fourth place with David Clifford’s Eden Rosanna finishing fifth and We Get By for Sarah White taking the sixth ticket.
The last race of the day was the veterans with a good field of twelve hounds. As they showed on the beck edge three had established a lead with Hunter’s Flame, Zola and Eagle Star leading the trail.
All three were in with a chance as they came up the finish but Caroline Graham’s Hunter’s Flame maintained her lead to cross the line in first place, followed by Stephen Irving’s Zola in second and the Bryden and Neals Eagle Star taking third place.
Splendid Mickey was next to finish for Shaun and Donna Hetherington then Bob finished fifth for Tony, Marlene, Connor and Carter Irving with the last ticket of the day going to Stuart Smith’s Prospect Spring.
Action moves back to Cobra castle on Tuesday with a four-card meeting and another chance for the veterans to get into the action. The first trail slips at 5.45pm.
April 14 – Oulton
Hounds – 1. Strawberry Mick; 2. Busy Again; 3. Silver Streak; 4. Cracking Artist; 5. Sarah Jane; 6. Foxparke Beep Beep. 17 ran, time 31.32.
Maidens – 1. Border Reign; 2. Black Edition; 3. Foxparke Dealer; 4. Foxparke Joey Elliott; 5. Huntsman’s Quirk; 6. Eagle Love. 12 ran, time 34.38.
Puppies – 1. Minnie Million; 2. Huntsman’s Time; 3. Millie’s Lass; 4. Thorn Soul; 5. Thorn Sass; 6. Thornton. 11 ran, time 16.40.
Puppy Maidens – 1. Sonny Bill; 2. Thorn Heart; 3. Foxparke Elliott’s Lad; 4. Thorn Star; 5. Eden Rosanna; 6. We Get By. 20 ran, time 17.30.
Veterans – 1. Hunter’s Flame; 2. Zola; 3. Eagle Star; 4. Splendid Mikey; 5. Bob; 6. Prospect Spring. 12 ran, time 17.05.
