Senior title challengers Silver Dream and Sportsman clashed again at Fellside on Thursday – but neither added to their winning records.
Fellside isn’t the best trail for viewing but when the hounds returned to the finish it was a good race with four hounds just a couple of yards clear from the rest.
As they worked their way up the hill towards the line it was Millie’s Lass for George McGimpsey and Gillian and Millie Telford who was taking on the current challenger for the championship title Sportsman for Willie and Craig Mark.
They had a great battle up the hill but it was Millie’s Lass who just denied Sportsman the win. If he had taken the honours he would have tied with Silver Dream at the top of the table.
Millie’s Lad for George and Gillian finished in third place with current table topper Silver Dream only finishing fourth.
The table remains the same with Silver Dream just one point ahead of Sportsman with everything still to play for in the last month of the season.
Mel ran on well to claim fifth place for Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier with Busy Again just off the pace finishing in sixth place for Alan Blacklock and Carol Harrison.
The Pups were next with a slip of 14 and Tucker, from the Silver Dream kennel, needed a win to close the gap between himself and long-time leader Delta Fortune who was sitting seven points clear.
Tucker, for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton and Busy Rascal for Alan Blacklock and Carol Harrison were sent off the joint favourites. Once they showed on the finish two hounds had broken clear and were racing neck and neck up the hill.
They were the two main fancies but it was Busy Rascal who just got up for the win.
Les Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Stephen Walker’s Maggie finished well in third place with a gap to fourth where Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham’s Zoya finished well.
Les and Graham Reid’s Minnie finished in fifth place with Graham Reid’s Brown Sugar claiming sixth ticket.
The last race of the night was the Open Maidens.
This grade competition has more or less been decided with Malcolm Holmes’ Senor leading with a comfortable 69 points from kennel mate Senorita who has 57.
Both hounds were running but as the hounds returned to the finish it was Tracy, Derrick and Carolyn Hill’s Maggie Moon who showed in front from Senorita and Senor and just hung on for the win with Senorita in second place and Senor in third.
George Burgon and Carol Tunstall’s Mr Mally finished in fourth place with Sarah Harper’s Delta Scribble in fifth and Malcolm Holmes’ other hound Sir Robert taking sixth.
Over in the west at Cock How there was another three race meeting, so a busy night for trails enthusiasts.
Anyone wanting to have a look round the venue for the HRA October Trails on October 4 would have chosen to travel to Cock How.
The seniors got things started with a slip of 12 hounds.
As they showed on the finish there were two hounds well clear Countess Ava for James and Ava McClellan and Huntsman’s Rebel for Denise and Jenny Bland and Graham Little.
As they neared the line Countess Ava just managed to keep a couple of yards distance between herself and Huntsman’s Rebel to take the win for James and Ava.
Huntsman’s Rebel claimed second place with Hey Mac finishing in third for Neil and Gillian Brown.
Thorn Soul for Colin Satterthwaite finished in fourth place with James and Ava’s other hound Baroness Ava taking fifth.
The last ticket went to Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington’s Ruby.
Nine pups were slipped with Jenny’s Chance sent off the favourite.
When they showed on the finish two were well clear and as they neared the line it was Denise and Jenny Bland and Graham Little’s Huntsman’s Unite who won easily from Let It Be for Ruth and Charlie Dixon. Jenny’s Chance for Denise and Jenny Bland and Graham Little finished in third a good distance behind with Nellie’s Joy for Jonty and Evie Moor finishing in fouth place.
Heartside for Stuart and Jacob Jeynes finished well in fifth place with the final ticket going to Raymond and Glenis and Denise Bland’s Miss Becky who has had a slow start to the season but looks as though she is coming good now.
Huntsman’s Unite has been pipped to the line over the last few weeks by kennel mate Jenny’s Chance who is a much improved hound as the season has progressed resulting in Huntsman’s Unite dropping out of the runners-up position in the puppy championship table.
Tucker, who also has been an improving hound over the season, particularly on the finish, is now sitting in runners up position and is two points clear of Huntsman’s Unite but still seven points behind current leader Delta Fortune.
The Open Maidens were next with a slip of 12.
It was an open race but it was veteran Reebok who showed on the finish and came home to win nicely for Brian Graham.
Thorn Thunder for Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow, another improving hound, finished well to take second place with Stuart and Jacob Jeynes other hound Off Spring finishing in third.
Local hound Nellie’s Pride finished in fourth place for Jonty and Evie Moor with Laura Steel, Andrew Bulman and Gary Woodend’s Affirmation claiming fifth ticket.
Thorn Bee for Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow took the last ticket in sixth place.
There was also an all-in trail which was won by Laura Steel, Andrew Bulman and Ian Rumney’s Embrace, who beat home John Lyon’s Black Eyed Shadow in second place and Julie Birkenshaw’s Bretton in third place, with Brian Graham’s Young Harry in fourth.
James and Ava McClellan’s Duchess Ava was fifth and Brian Graham’s other hound Eleanor’s Lass took the last ticket.
September 25 – Cock How
- Hounds – 1. Countess Ava; 2. Huntsman’s Rebel; 3. Hey Mac; 4. Thorn Soul; 5. Baroness Ava; 6. Ruby. 12 ran, time 33.02.
- Pups – 1. Huntsman’s Unite; 2. Let It Be; 3. Jenny’s Chance; 4. Nellie’s Joy; 5. Heartside; 6. Miss Becky. 9 ran, time 19.51.
- Open Maiden – 1. Reebok; 2. Thorn Thunder; 3. Off Spring; 4. Nellie’s Pride; 5. Affirmation; 6. Thorn Bee. 12 ran, time 20.34.
- All In – 1. Embrace; 2. Black Eyed Shadow; 3. Bretton; 4. Young Harry; 5. Duchess Ava; 6. Eleanor’s Lass. 14 ran, time 19.46.
Fellside
- Hounds – 1. Millie’s Lass; 2. Sportsman; 3. Millie’s Lad; 4. Silver Dream; 5. Mel; 6. Busy Again. 12 ran, time 28.00.
- Pups – 1. Busy Rascal; 2. Tucker; 3. Maggie; 4. Zoya; 5. Minnie; 6. Brown Sugar. 14 ran, time 19.43.
- Open Maiden – 1. Maggie Moon; 2. Senorita; 3. Senor; 4. Mr Mally; 5. Delta Scribble; 6. Sir Robert. 12 ran, time 20.27.
