The October Premier trails, scheduled for Cock How at the weekend, were cancelled.
High winds from Storm Amy and the water standing on the bottom of the fell made it unsafe.
That should not be the case with the Westmorland Classic being staged at Dubbs today with a six race meeting.
Then on Tuesday it’s back to Dearham where Silver Dream could extend her one point lead over title rival Sportsman.
She had gone back in front last Thursday when winning over home territory at Dearham.
Numbers were down to 25 for the three races as many owners kept their hounds to run at the Premier trails/
Sportsman had levelled things up last Turesday so that the two leaders were on 24 wins each.
Silver Dream has had an impressive record round the Dearham course having won three out of four races only being denied a full house by Busy Again first time round.
Silver Dream for Julie and Darren McMaster and Anthony Skelton was sent off as favourite with a slip of seven hounds.
As reports came in from the roads there were three with an advantage over the remaining hounds and it was Silver Dream, Mel and Millie’s Lass who were leading.
Onto the finish Silver Dream had extended her lead and finished to claim her 25th win of the season.
There was a gap to second and it was George McGimpsey and Gillian and Millie Telford’s Millie’s Lass who had put in a really good performance given that it was her first time round the course.
Mel for Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier to finish in third place with Colin Satterthwaite’s Thorn Heart having made up some ground to finish in fourth place.
Ashley Horn and Sarah White’s Malfunction finished in fifth place with the other two hounds being picked up outside.
There were also seven runners in the pups with Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton looking to continue the 100 per cent record round the course with Tucker.
A slow starter at the beginning of the year with some issues finishing, he certainly has improved a lot and feels much more comfortable round his training ground and has finished well to win all previous four trails round the course.
He was sent off as favourite with Busy Rascal second favourite.
Reports came in from the road that all the hounds were together but once on the finish Tucker came with an impressive lead and won easily.
The gap between Tucker and Delta Fortune is closing at the top of the puppy championship with now only five points between the two.
Although Delta Fortune is back out running after illness he is still a little bit off his best form.
Busy Again for Alan Blacklock and Carole Harrison finished well in second place with Maggie for Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Stephen Walker in third.
Pied Piper for Tanya Satterthwaite finished in fourth place with Stuart Smith’s Prospect Jill in fifth place and Brown Sugar in sixth for Graham and Les Reid and Ellie Napier.
Last race of the night was for the open maiden with 11 going to the slip. Paddy The Plaster for Tanya Satterthwaite was sent off as the favourite.
Word back from the first road crossing was that they were basically all together.
Once they came into view it was looking a great race as half a dozen hounds were in with a chance.
When they came into the next but last field and then through the last gate it was Gary Woodend’s Twilight Mist who came from third place to win from Paddy The Plasterer. Jenny Horn’s Spring Return finished well to stay on for third with Tanya’s other hound Sam Cro in fourth place.
Minnie for Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Stephen Walker took fifth ticket with Gary’s other hound Sullivan’s Mist taking the last ticket of the night.
With the senior championship title close and Tucker running really well in the pups both championship titles are still up for grabs. So with many of the other points competitions still all to play for it’s going to be an exciting end to the season.
The traditional final trail is at Millstone Moor on October 31.
October 2 – Dearham
- Hounds – 1. Silver Dream; 2. Millie’s Lass; 3. Mel; 4. Thorn Heart; 5. Malfunction. 7 ran, only five finished. Time 29.05.
- Pups – 1. Tucker; 2. Busy Rascal; 3. Maggie; 4. Pied Piper; 5. Prospect Jill; 6. Brown Sugar. 7 ran, time 15.47.
- Open Maiden – 1. Twilight Mist; 2. Paddy The Plasterer; 3. Spring Return; 4. Sam Cro; 5. Minnie; 6. Sullivan’s Mist. 11 ran, time 16.42.
