Sportsman was on the Mark again when he won his eighth senior race of the season at Helton on Wednesday.
He won the opening senior race when 14 were slipped and he had started favourite for Willie and Craig Mark and Billy Lindsay.
From the start Sarah and Baz Harper and the late Hartley Robinson’s Delta Fortune and Lee, Hayley, Joey and George Wall, Sandra Mordue and Ted Strorrow’s Denton Phantom were away at the front.
About two minutes later when they came back into sight for the first time the pair were still leading at the front but dropping down the back fell Sportsman had gone to the front with Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s Let It Be.
Coming off the fell and crossing the final road Let It Be and Sportsman were still battling for supremacy and they continued in that mode all the way up the line where Sportsman claimed victory ahead of Let It Be and Brian and Joy Lister’s Minnie Million.
Denise and Jenny Bland and Ella and Kyle Gallacher’s Jennys Chance finished in 4th ahead off Anna and Kerry Lindsay and Emmie McAulay’s Inspect and Stanley, Carole and Sarah Jackson, David Loan, Ricky Deacon and Donald Hodgson’s Croft Lass.
The Pups were the first of the short races with Sadie, Kessi and Graham Wilson’s Cinderella and Nicola McMaster and Barbara Telford’s Rodney Ranger being sent off as the joint favourites.
However, once they were slipped Anna and Kerry Lindsay and Janie McAuley’s Zinger was away best with Tony, Marlene, Connor and Carter Irving and Gary Woodend’s Bewley for company.
Back into view on the back fell Zinger was leading a group of six with Rodney Ranger and Paul Airey, Joanne, Lauren and Sophie Hodgson’s Meadow Rose improving.
Crossing the last road and going into the dip Zinger had earned himself a small lead, but as they came out and raced to the line it was Rodney Ranger who finished well to beat Meadow Rose with Zinger in third.
Bewley was fourth followed in by George McGimpsey, Gillian, Millie and Charlie Telford’s Charlie’s Dream and Sarah Jackson, Willie Gill, Lisa Crosby, David Loan, Ricky Deacon and John Griesdale’s Croft Mist.
The Open Non Winners had an entry of nine and once underway Linda Neale and Josh Bryden’s Eagle Grace went to the front ahead of Tracey, Derrick and Carolyn Hill’s Degsy Moon.
Crossing the final road and going into the dip Degsy Moon was leading from Ian Fleet, Katy Lyon, Josh, Eva and George Martin’s Snow Peak and the pair had a fantastic battle to the line.
In the end Snow Peak got up to claim the win from Degsy Moon and Andy and Alan Horn’s Show Boat.
Eagle Grace finished fourth ahead of Jim, Anne, Alan and Adrian Little’s Huntsman’s Delight with the final ticket going to Lisa and Holly Whitfield’s Lucky Legend.
The final race of the night was for the Open Restricted and they produced the biggest slip with 20 runners.
Christine Brownlee’s pair of Malia and Maeve got away at the front with Lee, Hayley, Joey and George Wall, Sandra Mordue and Ted Storrow’s Denton Adonis.
Crossing the road and dropping into the dip four had a handy advantage – Brian and Erin Rowlandson and the late Billy Birkett’s Blue Striker was leading from Sarah White and Elsie Horn’s Malfuntion, Maeve and Willie and Craig Mark and Jack Lindsay’s Summer Spirit.
As they raced to the line Maeve showed a good turn of foot to claim the win over Malfunction and Blue Striker.
Summer Spirit stayed on well for fourth with Malia and Denton Adonis claiming the last two tickets.
Wednesday 1st July
Helton
Seniors – 1. Sportsman; 2. Let It Be; 3. Minnie Million; 4. Jenny’s Chance; 5. Inspect; 6. Croft Lass. 14 ran, time 33.02.
Pups – 1. Rodney Ranger; 2. Meadow Rosie; 3. Zinger; 4. Bewley; 5. Charlie’s Dream; 6. Croft Mist. 9 ran, time 19.53.
Open Non Winners 1. Snow Peak; 2. Deggsey Moon; 3. Show Boat; 4. Eagle Grace; 5. Huntsman’s Delight; 6. Lucky Legend. 9 ran, time 20.50.
Open Restricted – 1. Maeve; 2. Malfunction; 3. Blue Striker; 4. Summer Spirit; 5. Malia; 6. Denton Adonis. 20 ran, time 19.30.
