The race for the 2025 senior title in the HRA is going down to the wire with just six weeks to go.
Long-time leader Silver Dream has had her advantage cut to one point this week.
For While Sportsman was winning at Edge’s Green, Silver Dream was beaten into second place on home territory at Dearham.
There were 11 runners at Edge’s Green with Sportsman predictably sent off the favourite for Willie and Craig Mark.
As they showed on the finish it was a tight affair with the two hounds of George McGimpsey and Gillian and Millie Telford running well after their one two at the weekend at Uldale.
Both hounds nearly repeated the feat but Sportsman just got up on the line to win by a short head, making up for having failing to do so Uldale.
Mel ran a great race for Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier to finish in fourth place with Denise and Jenny Bland and Graeme Little’s Huntsman’s Time in fifth place.
Willie and Craig Mark’s other hound Summer Spirit finished in sixth place.
So it was over to you Silver Dream at Dearham where there was a turnout of 23 senior hounds.
A lot of hounds are now clear of the kennel cough and are returning to racing. The 20-plus field was something which hasn’t happened for a number of weeks.
Silver Dream was sent off as the favourite given the home turf advantage but second favourite Busy Again also has a good record round the course.
When they were slipped it was Busy Again for Alan Blacklock and daughter Carol Harrison who got off to a flying start from Baroness Ava for James and Ava McClellan and Foxparke Fairlady for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler.
Crossing the Dearham to Maryport road it was Silver Dream and Busy Again who were heading up the race and were running on well.
As they crossed the last road It was Silver Dream followed by Busy Again and then the other hound of the Napiers’ Foxparke Side Kick with Foxparke Fairlady.
Once on to the finish these four were clear and it was a great race between Silver Dream and Busy Again.
Silver Dream looked like she was going to win but Busy Again had a turn of foot and got past to win by a couple of lengths from the table leader.
Foxparke Side Kick was third ahead of Foxparke Fairlady while Malfunction ran on well for Ashley Horn and Sarah White to finish in fifth. Thorn Soul for Colin Satterthwaite took sixth.
As for the rest of the card at Edge’s Green the pups had seven runners but the hounds made a mistake and a number ended up on the old dog trail with only two completing the puppy course.
As they came onto the finish it was Zoya and Tucker racing each other well in a great battle to the line.
Tucker had the better ground and clearer running, however Zoya came back in the last few yards to win for Caroline Graham and Stephen Irving.
Tucker, out of the Dearham kennel of Silver Dream, for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton had to settle for second place.
These were the only two who completed the course.
The open maidens were last to slip with 14 and it was Sarah Harper’s Delta Scribble who crossed the line with a couple of yards to spare.
In second place was Malcolm Holmes’ Sir Robert while the Little families Huntsman’s Delight finished in third.
Overwater Louie, now running out of Andy Horn’s kennel, was fourth while the last two tickets went to Gary Woodend’s Twilight Mist and Sarah’s other hound Delta Spiral. Sportsman took the Senior trophy having won both senior races over the two meetings and Zoya took the Puppy trophy.
Meanwhile the rest of the races at Dearham after Silver Dream’s defeat saw her kennel looking to chase down long-standing table topper Delta Fortune, currently sidelined through illness.
There was a slip of 15 hounds. Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton was sent off as favourite and went out well.
Over the last road Tucker was still heading up the race with Miss Becky in second place for Glenis and Raymond Farren and Denise Bland, followed by Denise and Jenny Bland’s and Graeme Little’s Jenny’s Chance and Huntsman’s Unite.
Once on to the finish three had broken clear and it was Tucker, Busy Rascal for Alan Blacklock and Foxparke Rita’s Rose for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler.
In the end Tucker showed a good turn of foot and came away from Busy Rascal to win easily with Foxparke Rita’s Rose in third place.
Huntsman’s Unite was fourth ahead of Jenny’s Chance while the Foxparke team took sixth place with Foxparke Oink Oink.
The last race of the night was the Open Maidens with a slip of 14 hounds.
Out on the course six hounds had broken clear and were having a great race as they came onto the finish.
As they approached the line it was Peggy Sue who surged clear to win for Gillian Brown and Mickey O’Brien.
It was close for second but Tanya Satterthwaite’s Paddy the Plasterer edged in front to take second place ahead of Foxparke Dealer for the Napiers.
Spring Return for Jenny Horn was fourth and the Foxparke team bagged another ticket with Foxparke Majesty in fifth. Gary Woodend’s Twilight Mist finished in sixth place.
Update on the championships – in the Seniors Silver Dream is just one point in front of Sportsman. Delta Fortune is eight points in front of his nearest rival Tucker in the pups. Senor for Malcolm Holmes is well clear in the Open maidens from Kennel mate Senorita.
Malfunction continues to head the Open Restricted competition but Blue Striker has the chance to catch up being only six points behind.
The rest of the competitions are quite close with any number of hounds having the possibility to break clear..
Trailing resumes tomorrow in the Borders at the Teviot Head Show.
September 18 – Dearham
- Hounds – 1. Busy Again; 2. Silver Dream; 3. Foxparke Sidekick; 4. Foxparke Fairlady; 5. Malfunction; 6. Thorn Soul. 23 ran, time 29.26.
- Pups – 1. Tucker; 2.Busy Rascal; 3. Foxparke Rita’s Rose; 4. Huntsman’s Unite; 5. Jenny’s Chance; 6. Foxparke Oink Oink. 15 ran, time 17.53.
- Open maiden – 1. Peggy Sue; 2. Paddy The Plasterer; 3. Foxparke Dealer; 4. Spring Return; 5. Foxparke Majesty; 6. Twilight Mist. 14 ran, time 17.02.
September 16 – Edge’s Green
- Hounds – 1. Sportsman; 2. Millie’s Lass; 3. Millie’s Lad; 4. Mel; 5. Huntsman’s Time; 6. Summer Spirit. 11 ran, time 27.18.
- Pups – 1. Zoya; 2. Tucker. 7 ran, only two finished. Time 21.29.
- Open Maiden – 1. Delta Scribble; 2. Sir Robert; 3. Huntsman’s Delight; 4. Overwater Louie; 5. Twilight Mist; 6. Delta Spiral. 14 ran, time 18.52.
