The first of the Bridekirk series in the HTRA attracted 71 hounds and they contested the four grades on the card.
The Seniors had 13 for the opening race with championship leader and reigning champion Silver Dream sent off the favourite for Darren and Julie McMaster and Anthony Skelton.
Going over the brow of the hill out of sight Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier’s Mel was leading from Laura Steele, Andrew and Joel Bulman and Ian Rumney’s Embrace and Silver Dream.
Next seen dropping down the hill out of the woods Silver Dream was leading from Mel and James and Ava McClellan’s Countess Ava.
The hounds then come back into sight going along the beck edge where Mel had regained the lead in company with Silver Dream and Countess Ava.
The order had changed again when they were briefly seen going out of sight with Countess Ava now leading from Mel and Silver Dream.
Once onto the long finish Silver Dream showed how good she is on the finish as she came through strongly to win by three lengths from Countess Ava with Mel in third.
Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s I Am It finished fourth with Embrace and Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Honk Honk taking the last two tickets.
The Pups race had the biggest field of the afternoon with 26 sent on their way and punters made Thorn Daisy for Martin and Molly Burrow, Ian Freyne, Ger and Jennifer Kenneally the favourite.
Going out of sight from the slip Nicola McMaster and Barbara Telford’s Rodney Ranger was leading from Tony, Marlene, Connor and Carter Irving and Gary Woodend’s Bewley and Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington’s Fable.
The hounds then come back into sight briefly where a group of 10 had gone clear led by Thorn Daisy and littermate Rodney Ranger.
Back into sight going along the bottoms Thorn Daisy and Rodney Ranger were still showing the way from a good group of hounds being led by Cinderella.
Jumping the final fence and onto the finish Cinderella had established a small advantage but as they neared the line Fable showed a great finishing burst to grab the win by half a length.
Cinderella took second ahead of Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Neil Brady, Brooke Butler, Darren Clark and Donald Hodgson’s Foxparke Jubilee’s Jackpot.
George McGimpsey, Gillian, Millie and Charlie Telford’s Millie’s Pride finished fourth ahead of Rodney Ranger and Bewley.
The Open Maidens were next and had 19 slipped with kennel mates Nicola McMaster and Sadie Wilson’s Sarah Jane and Darren McMaster, Sadie Wilson and Anthony Skelton’s Silver Streak sent off as joint favourites.
Going out of sight Graham Reid’s Money Talks set a good pace with Sarah Jane and Silver Streak for company.
Briefly coming back into sight that was still the leading trio and then going along the bottoms Money Talks had established a 40-yard advantage on Silver Streak and then Sarah Jane.
Coming over the final fence and onto the finish the same three hounds were leading but had Joy and Brian Lister’s Minnie Million for company along with Tanya Satterthwaite’s Pied Piper.
After a great race to the line Minnie Million got home by a length from Pied Piper with Silver Streak third and Sarah Jane fourth.
Early leader Money Talks finished fifth and his kennel mate Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Steven Walker’s Minnie took the last ticket.
The final race of the day was the Veterans with a line up of 13. Once slipped and dropping out of sight Colin Satterthwaite’s Thorn Pop was leading from Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden’s Eagle Rock.
When they appeared briefly again Andy Horn and Simon Walker’s Overwater Louie was leading and was still in front going along the bottoms but close-up were Thorn Pop and Eagle Rock with a small gap to Tanya Satterthwaite’s Swamp Fox.
Once over the final fence Thorn Pop, Overwater Louie and Eagle Rock were still at the front and onto the long finish any of the three could have won.
But it was Eagle Rock who came from third to claim the win by a length from Thorn Pop with Overwater Louie in third.
George Burgon and Carole Tunstall’s Overwater Hunter finished fourth ahead of Swamp Fox and the final ticket went to Tracey, Carolyn and Derrick Hill’s Milo Moon.
May 16 – Bridekirk
- Hounds – 1. Silver Dream; 2. Countess Ava; 3. Mel; 4. I Am It; 5. Embrace; 6. Foxparke Honk Honk. 13 ran, time 26.21.
- Pups – 1. Fable; 2. Cinderella; 3. Foxparke Jubilee’s Jackpot; 4. Charlie’s Dream; 5. Rodney Ranger; 6. Bewley. 26 ran, time 20.22.
- Open Maiden – 1. Minnie Million; 2. Pied Piper; 3. Silver Streak; 4. Sarah Jane; 5. Money Talks; 6. Minnie. 19 ran, time 17.35.
- Veterans – 1. Eagle Rock; 2. Thorn Pop; 3. Overwater Louie; 4. Overwater Hunter; 5. Swamp Fox; 6. Milo Moon. 13 ran, time 18.20.
