Tuesday saw a return to Redmain with the venue having fewer dogs than normal.
The three trails had only 26 entries, probably a reflection on such a busy week of trails.
There were seven for the seniors to open proceedings, with Silver Dream for Darren and Julie McMaster and Anthony Skelton back running having had a short spell off. The table leader was sent off as favourite.
As they crossed the bottom road heading towards Bridekirk, it was Silver Dream and Busy Again for Alan Blacklock and Carole Harrison who were leading the race with Foxparke Sidekick and Foxparke Fairlady third and fourth for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler. They were followed by Mel and Croft Lass who were not far behind.
As they completed the bottom end of the trail, the hounds remained much the same with them all running fairly close together and the lead changing at times.
When they came into the last field it was Silver Dream and Busy Again who had a slight lead and they had a good race towards the line.
Busy Again just couldn’t quite match the reigning champion as Silver Dream crossed the line with a couple of lengths to spare.
Croft Lass had made up some ground and finished in third place with the two Foxparke hounds fourth and fifth ahead of Mel for Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier.
The win for Silver Dream is her first ticket for two weeks but with a lead of six points over Sportsman there was no additional pressure for her to run and win.
The open pups also had seven runners and Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton and Busy Rascal for Alan Blacklock and Carole Harrison were sent off as joint favourites.
As they crossed the bottom road, four hounds had established a lead – Tucker, Busy Rascal, I Am It for Ruth and Charlie Dixon and Affirmation for Laura Steele, Andrew Bulman and Gary Woodend.
These four remained together as they completed the bottom end of the trail.
Once onto the finish it looked like Tucker was going to come on and win as he and I Am It had developed a slight lead and had come away from the others.
They had a great battle up the finish but it was I Am It who dug deep and pushed on and crossed with a good yard to spare from Tucker in second place.
Busy Rascal for Alan and Carole finished in third place with Affirmation in fourth.
Maggie for Les Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Stephen Walker finished in fifth with Pied Piper for Tania Satterthwaite in sixth.
The last race of the night was the open restricted race with a slip of 12.
As they crossed the road in the bottom it was Swamp Fox for Tania Satterthwaite and Milo Moon for Carolyn, Derick and Tracy Hill followed by Sarah White’s Malfunction.
The leading group had a slight lead on the others and remained in front as they completed the Bridekirk end of the trail.
Once on to the finish there were a fair few dogs in with a chance but it was Swamp Fox and Milo Moon who were battling for first place.
In the end it was Swamp Fox, the smaller of the two hounds, who got home by half a length for the win with Milo Moon having to settle for second place.
Malfunction wasn’t too far behind in third place with George McGimpsey and Gillian and Millie Telford’s Millie’s Lad in fourth.
Lisa and Holly Whitfield’s Audacity finished fifth with a gap to sixth place where Denton Shamrock for Sandra Mordue and Lee Wall finished well to claim the last ticket of the night.
Third place for Malfunction allows him to retain his position at the top of the Open Restricted table with a lead of eight points.
The win for Swamp Fox moves him up to third place in the OR table.
August 13 – Redmain
- Hounds – 1. Silver Dream; 2. Busy Again; 3. Croft Lass; 4. Foxparke Side Kick; 5. Foxparke Fairlady; 6. Mel. 7 ran, time 27.48.
- Pups – 1. I Am It; 2. Tucker; 3. Busy Rascal; 4. Affirmation; 5. Maggie; 6. Pied Piper. 7 ran, time 19.08.
- Open Restricted – 1. Swamp Fox; 2. Milo Moon; 3. Malfunction; 4. Millie’s Lad; 5. Audacity; 6. Denton Shamrock. 12 ran, time 18.42.
