All Our Yesterdays . Ambleside ( again ) 2002

There is something rather special about a Cumbrian sports meeting , and they don’t come much better than Ambleside Sports.

The sports with is mixture of wrestling , trailing ,fell races and trade stands shows off what is unique and wholesome about our county and I think it is always an uplifting experience being there.

Five races made up the sports hound trailing programme and the best of them was the opener where HTA senior table leader Watt Next demonstrated her class with a brilliant turn of foot at the finish.

West Garth had shown with a comfortable 20 yard lead but the Brian Graham trained Bassenthwaite bitch stepped up a gear and came through to snatch a dramatic victory by half a length.

I can’t recall owner Les McTear showing the same sort of speed on the rugby field!

In the junior trail junior puppy leader Melody and one or two others came from the side suggesting they might have run on .Midnight Express ,however, made no mistake and won comfortable for John Grisedale.

Neil Brown of Seaton was celebrating after Matrix had opened his account in the two year old brigade. This son of West Garth was an easy winner from Langdale Rover and Grange Hill.

Not so happy was Peter Green of Windermere, after his Super Club threw away her winning opportunity in the open grade event.

Coming to the final gate with a massive lead Super Club suddenly veered off towards the parked cars.  Peter moved off the finishing area at which point Super Club resumed her run to the line.

But , although Peter returned to his position and Super Club crossed the line ahead of the rest , the disqualification was automatic – very unfortunate but correct .

The eventual winner was Margaret Wintrip, from Northumberland with Cracking Finish.

The other unlucky hound  was Tribute who had shown with a good lead in the maiden race. But approaching the gate she did a circle of the fell and let through three hounds to fight out the finish.

In the end it was the Sykes family from Arrad Foot , who took the honours with Vogue, a winner by half a length from Three Shires.

Results. Ssniors

1 Watt Next 2 West Garth 3 Tequila 4 Little Gossip 5 Mandela 6 Courtwin.

Maidens 1 Vogue 2 Three Shires 3 Meadow Star 4 Tribute 5 Brookside 6 Liam’s Lady.

Pups 1 Midnight Express 2 Melody 3 Dairy Line 4 Medici 5 Chieftain 6 Quandrill.

Two Year Olds 1 Matrix 2 Langdale Rover 3 Grange Hill 4 Checkout 5 Huntsmans Master 6 Dana

OG 1 Cracking Finish. 2 Huntsmans Music 3 Spotlight 4 Lady Tara 5 Eternal 6 Lady Helena