The second in the series of HRA races at Bridekirk was held last night and the Dearham kennel of Joseph Abram and Nicola McMaster were looking for a repeat treble.
But they had to settle for a double on this occasion as Tanya Satterthwaite’s Pied Piper held on to beat their Silver Streak in a good finish to the open maidens.
A total of 71 hounds turned out on the night and there were nine in the opening senior trail.
Silver Dream was the favourite but jumping the first fence I Am It, now being trained by Gary and Misha Byers, was off to a flier in company with Laura Steele, Andrew and Joel Bulman and Ian Rumney’s Embrace.
Reports from the first road crossing confirmed that I Am It was still leading the way before the hounds were then seen dropping down out of the forest.
At this point three littermates were having a good battle at the front – Silver Dream and her kennel mate Nicola McMaster and Sadie Wilson’s Sarah Jane and Embrace.
Going along the bottoms however Silver Dream and Sarah Jane were still leading with James and Ava McClellan’s Countess Ava before a 15-yard gap to I Am It.
Once jumping the final fence and onto the finish Silver Dream and I Am It had a great race to the line with the reigning champion, as always putting in a final spurt to claim the win by a length-and-a-half for her 10th success of the season.
I Am It finished in second and the winner’s kennel mate Sarah Jane was third.
They were followed in by Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow and Sarah Jackson’s Thorn Soul with Sophie Steele, Jake and Zach Green’s Miterdale Green Queen in fifth.
The final ticket went to Cathy, Joy and Brian Lister’s Dream Catcher.
The Pups were the first of the short races with a line-up of 27 and Sadie, Kessi and Graham Wilson’s Cinderella was sent off favourite.
Tony, Marlene, Connor and Carter Irving’s Bewley went to the front alongside Nicola McMaster and Barbara Telford’s Rodney Ranger and Cinderella.
Going through the bottoms Cinderella, Bewley and Rodney Ranger were having a good race at the front with Martin and Molly Burrow, Ian Freyne, Ger and Jennifer Kenneally’s Thorn Daisy for company.
Jumping the final jump and heading down the long finish Cinderella had established an advantage over her kennel mate Rodney Ranger and she was able to go on and finished strongly to claim her fifth victory of the season and a double for Team Dearham.
Rodney Ranger was second ahead of Thorn Daisy while another of the winner’s kennel mate Joseph Abram and Claire Crone’s Silver Girl finished fourth with Bewley in fifth. George McGimpsey, Gillian, Millie and Charlie Telford’s Charlie’s Dream took the last ticket.
The Open Maidens had a line-up of 18 with Darren McMaster, Sadie Wilson and Anthony Skelton’s Silver Streak sent off as the favourite.
Once slipped and dropping out of sight, Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butlers Foxparke Danny Elliot was prominent along with Neil and Gillian Brown, Joel and Derrick Bulman’s Dundee.
Going through the bottoms Foxparke Danny Elliot was still leading but this time ahead of Silver Streak and Colin Satterthwaite’s Thorn Pop.
Jumping the final fence and onto the long finish Silver Streak was leading a group of four and looked as though she was going to come through and claim a treble for her Dearham kennel.
But the cows ran the first two off line and Tanya Satterthwaite’s Pied Piper and Thorn Pop took advantage and had a good race to the line.
Pied Piper just managing to hold on and claim his first win over fast finishing Silver Streak who did well to get back up for second.
Thorn Pop finished in third and Stanley, Carole, and Sarah Jackson, David Loan, Ricky Deacon and Donald Hodgson’s Croft Lass was fourth.
Colin Satterthwaite’s other hound Thorn Heart was fifth and the final ticket went to the winner’s littermate Stuart Jeynes’ Heartside.
The final race of the night was the All-In with a slip of 17 and going out of sight Tracey, Carolyn and Derrick Hill’s Maggie Moon was leading with Robyn, Ellie, Grace, and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Darren Clark’s Foxparke Rita’s Rose.
Going through the bottoms Christine Brownlee’s Maeve and Brian and Erin Rowlandson and the late Billy Birkett’s Blue Striker were having a good race at the front.
Coming onto the long finish a group of four had developed a lead over the rest – Blue Striker, Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Fairlady; Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Donald Hodgson’s Foxparke Oink Oink and Maeve.
It was a great race to the line with Foxparke Oink Oink, as always, finishing well to claim the win by half a length over her kennel mate Foxparke Fairlady.
Blue Striker was third from Maeve with Foxparke Rita’s Rose and Tanya Sattherthwaite’s Swamp Fox completing the tickets.
Racing resumes tomorrow, Saturday May 23, at Steel Rigg for a five grade meeting; Seniors, Senior Maidens, Pups, Open Restricted and Veterans. Seniors slip at 6pm.
Thursday May 21 – Bridekirk
- Hounds – 1. Silver Dream; 2. I Am It; 3. Sarah Jane; 4. Thorn Soul; 5. Miterdale Green Queen; 6. Dream Catcher. 9 ran, time 25.47.
- Pups – 1. Cinderella; 2. Rodney Ranger; 3. Thorn Daisy; 4. Silver Girl; 5. Bewley; 6. Charlie’s Dream. 27 ran, time 17.55.
- Open Maidens – 1. Pied Piper; 2. Silver Streak; 3. Thorn Pop; 4. Croft Lass; 5. Thorn Heart; 6. Heartside. 18 ran. time 18.20.
- All In – 1. Foxparke Oink Oink; 2. Foxparke Fairlady; 3. Blue Striker; 4. Maeve; 5. Foxparke Rita’s Rose; 6. Swamp Fox. 17 ran, time 17.50.
