After a couple of days of heavy rain, trailing returned to Bridekirk last night.
The rain dried up as the evening progressed so running conditions could not have been more perfect for the hounds.
After the dry hard conditions last Monday evening the ground underfoot was softer and made it easier going for the hounds.
First to get things underway were the senior hounds with a field of 16.
The current leading pair in the championship table were missing, both out with minor injuries which left the field open to other hounds to come through and show their worth.
Silver Streak was running and after finishing fourth last time was expected to improve, given her record over the course.
The winner from last time, Thorn Gift was also running and obviously looking to make it a double.
Once slipped, reports were coming in that the hounds were cracking on and making good time.
Maverick, Sarah Jane and Mel were in the front bunch as they ran past the trail field through the bottoms on their way up to Millstone Moor.
As they showed on the finish there were five dogs together, all of them in with a chance of winning.
As they came nearer it was clear that the Dearham kennel of Joe Abram and Nicola McMaster had three hounds in the first four.
With speed of foot it was Silver Streak, and no mistaking her this time, who came on to win by a couple of lengths.
It was tight between the next three hounds with the long stride of Maverick just getting up to take second place followed by Sarah Jane while the fast finishing Busy Again took fourth place for Alan Blacklock.
The Dearham kennel had more success with Silver Dream taking fifth place and the last ticket went to Les and Graham Reid’s Mel.
Silver Streak is owned by Darren McMaster, Anthony Skelton, Sadie Wilson and Phil Graham and was earning her first win of the season.
The hounds managed to knock two minutes off the time compared to the week before, an indication of how perfect the running conditions were for the hounds.
As the evening progressed the open pups were next to slip with a reasonable field of 18.
Huntsman’s Time was again the odds-on favourite in the bookies ring. There was no Countess Ava this time so Huntsman’s Time had an increased opportunity to achieve the elusive win that she has just missed out on over the last two trails at Bridekirk.
As they showed on the finish there were two hounds together running neck-and-neck and they had a good lead over the pursuing hounds.
It was Huntsman’s Time for Denise and Jenny Bland, Graeme Little and Lisa Crosby, along with Sonny Bill owned by Laura Steele, Andrew Bulman and Billy Birkett.
As they approached the line it was a great race between the two hounds with nothing separating them as they ran side by side and stride for stride.
As they came to line they crossed together and the judge had to refer to the camera.
After many viewings of the camera the judge gave a dead heat unable to separate the two on the line.
In third place was Thornton for Darren McMaster, Anthony Skelton and Sadie Wilson. Having improved over the last few weeks he will be one of the favourites to win this year’s Dog Produce race next weekend at Potters Park, along with the much improved Sonny Bill.
In fourth place was Millie’s Lass, owned by George McGimpsey along with daughter and granddaughter Gillian and Millie Telford.
Graham Reid’s Good Enough finished in fifth place with Brian and Joy Lister’s Minnie Million taking sixth.
As with the senior hounds the open pups also knocked two minutes off the running time compared to the week before.
The open maiden race was next with a slip of 25 hounds and as they came back into sight one hound had established a good lead and was running on well.
It was Thorn Thunder for Martin, Joanna, Molly and Teddy Burrows who finished well to take the winning ticket.
That victory extends her lead in the Open Maiden points competition and she is now five points clear of her nearest rival Huntsman’s Rally.
Tania Satterthwaite’s hound Paddy the Plasterer finished well in second place with Huntsman’s Rally for Glenis and Raymond Farren finishing in third.
The Foxparke kennel took two of the remaining tickets, fourth with Foxparke Sassy Girl and sixth with Foxparke Side Kick. The Green boys Zack and Jake had the fifth with Green Queen.
Action moves to Saturday with trails taking place at Steel Rigg with the first race getting underway at 1pm.
Just a reminder that the trails planned for Greenholme on the Sunday have now been cancelled so the next trails will be on the Bank Holiday Monday with a return to Bridekirk for the last in the series there.
All details of the trails can be found on the Hound Trailing Association website houndtrailingassociation.com
May 13 – Bridekirk
- Hounds – 1. Silver Streak; 2. Maverick; 3. Sarah Jane; 4. Busy Again; 5. Silver Dream; 6. Mel. 16 ran, time 26.24.
- Pups – 1. Dead heat – Sonny Bill and Huntsman’s Time; 3. Thornton; 4. Millie’s Lass; 5. Good Enough; 6. Minnie Million. 18 ran, time 17.43.
- Open Maiden – 1. Thorn Thunder; 2. Paddy The Plasterer; 3. Huntsman’s Rally; 4. Foxparke Majesty; 5. Green Queen; 6. Foxparke Joey Elliot. 25 ran, time 18.36.
- All-In – 1. Embrace; 2. Foxparke Side Kick; 3. Rex The Rocket; 4. Foxparke Sassy Girl; 5. Missriff; 6. Foxparke Mysteriously. 13 ran, time 17.25.
