Thursday night saw a return to Spadeadam for the latest HTA meeting which followed the International Trails there on Saturday.
There was a good slip of 14 hounds in the senior race and as they returned on the finish there were four hounds in with a chance of taking the first ticket.
In the end it was Alan Blacklock and daughter Carol ‘s Busy Again, the 2/1 favourite, who got up to take the win from a fast finishing Sportsman for Willie and Daphne Marks.
Silver Dream was close behind in third place for the Dearham kennel of Joe Abram and Nicola McMaster who also had Sarah Jane in fourth.
David Clifford’s Eden Rayna was fifth with Lady Million getting in on the action by taking the last ticket for Joy and Brian Lister.
The third win of the season for Busy Again moves her up to fourth place in the championship table just sitting behind last year’s champion Winterfell who wasn’t running, and neither was table leader Rodney Raider.
The pups were next with a good slip of 20 and Thornton, sent off at 2/5, was looking to pull a win back after the impressive performance from Huntsman’s Time running solo on Wednesday night.
As the pups came back onto the finish it was a good race with lots in with a chance of winning. but as they got closer three had a slight lead.
Minnie Million was finishing well and looked like she was going to spoil the party by getting first ticket but Thornton just put in an extra stride and got to the line by half a length to take the win.
Blue Striker was also finishing well and claimed third ticket for Erin and Brian Rowlandson.
There was a gap to fourth which was Millie’s Lass for George McGimpsy and Gillian and Millie Telford with Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough’s Snowfell finishing well to get fifth ticket.
Malcolm Holme’s Senorita managed to get up to claim sixth ticket.
The open maidens were next with the weather conditions deteriorating and there were 23 taking part.
As they showed on the finish three hounds had a slight advantage and it was Ashley Horn and Sarah White’s Flightline who came through to win narrowly from Carol Logan and George Burgon’s Tallulah.
Paul Airey and Joanne Hodgson’s Meadow Artisan finished in third place and then there was a gap to the fourth hound Eden Romina for David Clifford.
The last two tickets were claimed by Carol and George Burgon’s Overwater Hunter and Marti Borthwick and Co’s Castle Callant.
Action moves back up along the Hadrian’s Wall this afternoon when there is the chance of a look around the Sewing Shields trail in preparation for the forthcoming Bitch Produce trail which will take place on Saturday July 13.
The first trail today will slip at 1pm.
June 27 – Spadeadam
- Hounds – 1. Busy Again; 2. Sportsman; 3. Silver Dream; 4. Sarah Jane; 5. Eden Rayna; 6. Lady Million. 14 ran, Time 27.03.
- Pups – 1. Thornton; 2. Minnie Million; 3. Blue Striker; 4. Millie’s Lass; 5. Snowfell; 6. Senorita. 20 ran, time 20.51.
- Open Maiden – 1. Flightline; 2. Tallulah; 3. Meadow Artisan; 4. Eden Romina; 5. Overwater Hunter; 6. Castle Callant. 23 ran, time 19.54.
- All-In – 1. Inspect; 2. Border Reign; 3. Sir Robert; 4. Splendid Lily; 5. Dream Catcher; 6. Lucky Chance. 7 ran, time 20.19.
