International Trails 2015 at Wintershields.
Seniors 1 Gonzofast 2 Denton Return 3 Overwater Arnie 4 Tidy 5 Text 6 Dawn 7 Washington . 30 Ran. Time 26.46.
Senior Maidens 1 Deepdale Frank 2 Tommy’s Legacy 3 Delta Spice 4 Huntsman’s Jewel 5 Border Glory 6 Ozzy The Lad 7 High Stile . 50 Ran. Time 27.35.
Pups 1 Persian Sky 2 Arizona 3 Persian Bay 4 Thorn Dancer 5 Jenny’s Delight. 6 Fire Bolt 7 Daisy Dream.
Pup Maidens 1 Remember Me 2 Venus 3 Chinook 4 Meadow Josie 5 Kinniside Joe 6 Delta Dream 7 Artist. 31 Ran Time 21 50.
Open Restricted 1 Shamballa 2 Night Vision 3 Splendid Zac 4 Cartier 5 Keystone 6 Tyler Moon 7 Fire Tree . 50 Ran Time 18.47.
Veterans 1 Tagget 2 Spring Roamer 3 Eagle Heart 4 Thorn Girl 5 Lotto 6 Border River 7 Dairy Diamond 18 Ran Time 19.28
Report . Well where do we start- I have been saying for a time now we don’t advertise and place directional signs to show people where we are and not take the attitude everybody knows where to go.
Well now you know how it is when your ‘lost’. Somebody removed the signs from a critical point of the way but at points leading up to this point a lack of signage was evident. The HTA secretary who put the directions on the website got lost and Gerard was last seen heading towards Newcastle. I put on the web ‘follow the signs’ except there wasn’t any . All I can do is apologise on behalf of the International committee.
Next: one of our junior members was told she wasn’t allowed to catch her hound,how she was told is a different matter, but the HTA’s policy on children is ‘ they are the responsibility of their parents and they are not only responsible for them but they will decide if the finish is suitable for their children to participate in.
The venue itself ,it’s a good job it wasn’t wet, also the system – numbering of hounds and starting procedure ,change perhaps!
Once again apologise for the PA this time it flattened the battery . Back to the supplier otherwise I’m giving it to Gordon Tinnion for Xmas.
Now for the trails and I suppose an apt headline is .Gonsofast they couldn’t catch me.
The senior trail and Border hounds were 1.2.4 and five in the shape of Gonzofast who held off the determined challenge of ‘Denton’to win by a couple of lengths, Overwater Arnie led the HTA challenge with a close third with the Telford pair Tidy and Text next.
The senior maidens and once again the Borders repelled all challengers when 20/1 shot Deepdale Frank bt the unlucky favourite Tommy’s Legacy ,who tumbled on the downhill section of the undulating finish, Delta Spice was third for the home team.
The juniors , and here the HTA held a strong hand and so it proved when they took six of the seven tickets . Mike Watson;’s Persian Sky held off the determined challenge of favourite Arizona to win by two lengths, the unlucky hound was Thorn Dancer who threw away a winning chance by running wide. Fire Bolt in sixth was the Borders only ticket.
Les and Jeanette ,stalwarts of the non-winners trails in October, readily deserved their success in the puppy maidens. ‘Remember Me ( aka Jazz Band) see video.despite veering left at the tape , had enough in hand to see off a bunch of hounds led in by Venus ,the remainder were neck and shoulders behind and it was an expected clean sweep for the HTA . The minor placings took some sorting out but things were in ‘Ructions ‘capable hands.
The Open Restricted and after a delay the hounds made a mess of the start with some dozen hounds striking towards the senior trail . all but three of these hounds ran the old dog trail . Little Messi was one of the three that struck after the main bunch but was well behind. The irony is that- Sugar Ray was entered in the short trail instead of the maidens due to lack of preparation , only to watch him disappear around the corner on a trip to Spaedadam and back. In the proper race his full relation Shamballa got up on the line to beat Night Vision with Splendid Zac in third.
Last but least – the veterans and last to be shouted out Tagget, former International winner, was first home in front of Spring roamer and Eagle Heart for the Borders.
Honours even at three apiece .
THANKS go to the farmers and sponsors all helpers, and to yourselves for supporting this event , all those hounds that gave their best ,congratulations to the winners and commiserations to the losers. And by the way how come out of all those who attended our lad and myself both had flat batteries.
