The return to Walton for a four-grade meeting saw 48 hounds contesting the races on offer.
The Seniors went first with a slip of 15 as Willie and Craig Mark’s Sportsman and Denise and Jenny Bland and Ella and Kyle Gallacher’s Jenny’s Chance were sent off as joint favourites.
Sportsman made his usual speedy start and had George Burgon and Carole Tunstall’s Mr Mally and Denise and Jenny Bland’s Huntsman’s Time for company.
Reports came in from the road crossing that Jenny’s Chance was leading from kennel mate Huntsman’s Time and Sarah White and Elsie Horn’s Flightline was with them.
However, passing the field Sportsman had gone back to the front with Jenny’s Chance and the pair were racing on nicely until they showed on the finish.
They had a great race to the line before Sportsman grabbed the win by half a length from Jenny’s Chance with Brian, Joy and Cathy Lister’s Minnie Million in third.
Mr Mally finished fourth ahead of George McGimpsey, Gillian and Millie Telford’s Millie’s Lass and early leader Huntsman’s Time.
The Open Pups had 11 slipped and Duncan, Amy, Oliver, Liam, Eleanor Chisholm, Harry Turner and Brian Graham’s Let Me Try Again was sent off favourite and was the first to lead.
Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s Is It It was up there as well but going past the field Let Me Try Again was still leading but had gained a handy advantage over the Dixon’s other hound What Is It.
Once onto the finish the pair were together and another great race eventually saw Let Me Try Again claim his third puppy victory of the season.
What Is It was second and Paul Airey, Joanna, Sophie and Lauren Hodgson’s Meadow Rose took third. George McGimpsey, Gillian, Millie and Charlie Telford’s Charlie’s Dream finished in fourth ahead of Is It It and Martin and Molly Burrow, Ian Freyne, Ger and Jennifer Kenneally’s Thorn Daisy.
The Open Restricted had a line-up of 13 with Lee, Hayley, Joey and George Wall, Sandra Mordue and Ted Strorrow’s Denton Phantom away well.
Sarah White and Elsie Horn’s Malfunction went with him but going past the field Denton Phantom was still leading but now from Jenny Horn’s Spring Return and Malfunction.
Once onto the finish Denton Phantom went clear and scored an easy win much to the delight of Joey Wall, who had laid the course on the night and was very pleased his hound had won.
Spring Return finished second while Willie and Craig Mark’s Summer Spirit was third.
Malfunction, Denise and Jenny Bland’s Huntsman’s Quirk and George Burgon and Carole Tunstall’s Overwater Hunter took the minor tickets.
The All-In attracted nine runners and was won by Senor ahead of Let It Be and Meadow Artisan.
Tracey, Carolyn and Derrick Hill’s Maggie Moon finished in fourth from Jenny Horn and Ronnie Ridley’s Spring Ribbon and Denise and Jenny Blands Huntsman’s Unite.
Monday June 7- Walton
- Hounds – 1. Sportsman; 2. Jenny’s Chance; 3. Minnie Million; 4. Mr Mally; 5. Millie’s Lass; 6. Huntsman’s Time. 15 ran, time 27.19.
- Pups – 1. Let Me Try Again; 2. What Is It; 3. Meadow Rose; 4. Charlie’s Dream; 5. Is It It; 6. Thorn Daisy. 11 ran, time 21.19.
- Open Restricted – 1. Denton Phantom; 2. Spring Return; 3. Summer Spirit; 4. Malfunction; 5. Huntsman’s Quirk; 6. Overwater Hunter. 13 ran, time 21.06.
- All In – 1. Senor; 2. Let It Be; 3. Meadow Artisan; 4. Maggie Moon; 5. Spring Ribbon; 6. Huntsman’s Unite. 9 ran, time 20.59.
