Sunday saw the 111th annual Gilsland Show take place just north of Brampton.
The show hosted four hound trails with the senior hounds starting proceedings with a slip of 10.
Sportsman was sent off as favourite after recent form in the Area having only been beaten once over the last few months.
At the half way point, he was leading for Willie and Daphne Mark alongside Huntsman’s Sparkle for Tracey Hill and Discover for the Lindsay sisters.
However, at the second road crossing Huntsman’s Sparkle had pulled clear and was still leading when they came to the next road with Minnie Million, Sportsman and Millie’s Lass starting to catch her.
As they showed on the finish it was Sportsman who just pulled away to cross the line in first place making it win number 13 and is now only six points behind table topper Silver Dream.
Millie’s Lass for George McGimpsey and Gillian and Millie Telford was a close second, with Minnie Million for Joy and Brian Lister not far behind in third.
Discover for the Lindsay sisters came home fourth with Huntsman’s Sparkle fifth with a gap to the sixth hound which was Peggy Sue for Gillian Brown and Mickey O’Brien.
The open pups had a slip of seven runners with Delta Fortune for Sarah and Baz Harper and Hartley Robinson sent off the favourite.
Reports came in from the first road that the majority of the hounds were altogether but by the time they got to the second road Delta Fortune and TikTok for the Lindsay sisters had gained an advantage and were pulling away.
Once on to the finish these two hounds had a good lead on the others with Delta Fortune sticking in and finishing well to win comfortably from TikTok.
That was his 19th win of the season.
Lee Wall and co’s two hounds, Denton Phantom and Denton Adonis, finished in third and fourth with Chapel Lad for Ian Fleet, Jayne Petersen and Oliver and Eleanor Chisholm in fifth followed by Heartside for Stuart and Jacob Jeynes.
The open maidens were next to slip with 13 runners. Flightline for Ashley Horn and Sarah White was sent off as thefavourite and showed early promise at the first road leading with Sir Robert for Malcolm Holmes in a close second.
As they showed on the finish they were clear of the chasing group. Both hounds ran on well and had a good battle to the line with Sir Robert just getting up to win with half a yard to spare.
Inspect for the Lindsay sisters finished well in third place followed by Castle Callant for Marti Borthwick and Co in fourth,
Delta Scribble for Sarah Harper finished in fifth place with Stuart and Jacob Jeynes Off Spring claiming the last ticket.
The final race of the day was for the Open Restricted and had a slip of 10 runners.
Millie’s Lad for George McGimpsey and Gillian and Millie Telford and Milo Moon for Tracey, Carolyn and Derek Hill led for most of the way.
Once on the finish Millie’s Lad just had the edge and crossed the line a yard or so in front of Milo Moon.
Willie and Daphne Mark’s Summer Spirit finished well to claim third ticket with Sarah White’s Malfunction taking fourth.
Joy and Brian Lister’s Dream Catcher was fifth and the last ticket of the day went to George Burgeon and Carol Tunstall’s Overwater Hunter.
Gilsland Show – August 3
- Hounds – 1. Sportsman; 2. Millie’s Lass; 3. Minnie Million; 4. Discover; 5. Huntsman’s Sparkle; 6. Peggy Sue. 10 ran, time 25.06.
- Pups – 1. Delta Fortune; 2. TikTok; 3. Denton Phantom; 4. Denton Adonis; 5. Chapel Lad; 6. Heartside. 7 ran, time 21.45.
- Open Maiden – 1. Sir Robert; 2. Flightline; 3. Inspect; 4. Castle Callant; 5. Delta Scribble; 6. Off Spring. 13 ran, time 20.30.
- Open Restricted – 1. Millie’s Lad; 2. Milo Moon; 3. Summer Spirit; 4. Malfunction; 5. Dream Catcher; 6. Overwater Hunter. 10 ran, time 21.13
