Sir Alf wins again at South Durham meet

With 20 fences to jump, the Members race kicked off with five entries. What A Cheek led the field and, second time around, Diamond Monroe under Oliver Greenall was keeping him company.

Odds-on favourite and last year's winner Sir Alf headed for home and, despite a late challenge from Diamond Monroe, Chris Dawson managed to get Sir Alf home to win yet again with Joe Di Capo back in third.

A disappointing field of three started the Confined Hunts race, with Quango leading for much of the race. All still held every chance until approaching the final bend when Forty Shakes slipped up, taking Quango down with him.

This left Jackie Coward alone on Strongtrooper to get a somewhat lucky victory.

In the Men's Open, Journey set a hot pace under Nigel Smith and settled in front.

The chasing pack was led by Paul Frank on Queenies Girl and, as they swung out on to the final circuit, Journey had come back to his rivals. At the line, it was Journey who won by eight lengths from Queenies Girl with Buddy Girie in third.

Miorbhail led the Ladies Open on the first circuit with the rest of the six starters closely grouped behind. Wynyard Dancer did not look to be having a going day and received a reminder from Tina Jackson as they made their way out on to the final circuit.

Approaching the final bend, Tina's mount joined her rivals Legendary Line and Heather Lad. At the line, Wynyard Dancer crossed in front of Heather Lad with Legendary Line and Serena Brotherton in third.

It was an action-packed Restricted race, with Hattie leading a field of five. Both Noggler and Bankersdraft fell at the second, leaving three standing. Hattie continued to stretch her lead with Ben Woodhouse on Up The Kyber in pursuit.

Approaching the bend, the two loose horses collided with Hattie, knocking Philip Cornforth out of the saddle. With the field now down to two, Carew gave chase to take up the running and win ahead of the only other finisher, Up the Kyber.

The final race, the Open Maiden, saw ten runners going to post and was to provide one of the closest finishes of the day. Heading for home, Shamore was joined by Oaklands Ted and, with six horses all coming down the final hill together, it was anyone's race at the last fence.

At the line, Oaklands Ted gave Tina Jackson her second win of the day with Brown's Beck and Michael Morley second and long-time leader Rosdari third.

No Info takes Bilsdale prize

MIXED weather was on the cards for the Bilsdale point to point at Easingwold on May 7, held by kind permission of Mr and Mrs M Blacker, Mr and Mrs J Doyle and Mrs E Abbott.

The first of six races was the Open Maiden, with nine runners going to post. With a closely-grouped field, Rare Presence led the way from King Shaddi, who was to unfortunate to slip on the bend, unseating his rider.

Clive Mulhall took up the lead on the favourite No Info and a break of three made for home. No Info and Kappillan matched stride for stride, but the former proved the stronger with Rare Presence finishing in third.

The Confined Hunts race had the same number of runners, with Miorbhail taking the lead and Call Me Jack in hot pursuit. Their lead was cut back on the final circuit and, when they reappeared into view, it was Kings Boy and Oliver Greenall out in front with Shirostran catching him with every stride.

Kings Boy cleared the last and sprinted for home to run out a ready winner from Shirostran, ridden by Ben Woodhouse, with Noggler running in third.

The Easingwold Men's Open had a poor turnout of five, led by Journey, ridden by Nigel Smith. Astral Prince gave chase and Journey's energy was beginning to drain at the last. He was caught on the line by Civil Gent, with Nigel Tutty and Astral Prince third.

The Ladies Open followed, with six horses. As they made out into the country for the final time, Heather Lad under Annabelle Armitage held the lead from Charlotte Brown on the favourite, both pulling well clear of the field. Jumping the last together, it was Heather Lad who just headed off Hadeqa at the line, with the veteran of the party Silver Groom in third.

Race five the Members Restricted had nine runners, with Toms Man setting the pace. He was quickly joined by Philip Cornforth on board Hattie and the pair led out into the country. The placings remained unaltered until approaching the final bend when Paul Frank and Queenies Girl made their challenge along with Colonel Ludlow.

It was to be Queenies Girl's day at last after putting up some previous game performances as she battled on to the line to win from Chris Cundall on Colonel Ludlow and a tired Hattie in third.

The final race, another Maiden, gave local trainer/owners the Fife family a much-deserved win with Chanteuse. A blanket still covered the field approaching the final bend, where the clear leader was nearly taken out by a loose horse. With horses falling by the wayside, Chanteuse and Iron Trooper made a break.

With both tired horses powering up the uphill finish, Chanteuse under Philip Kinsella just managed to hang on from Iron Trooper and Coverdale back in third.

Success for Brown clan at York and Ainsty

UNDER the warm April sunshine, the joint York and Ainsty Hunts point to point was held at Easingwold by kind permission of Mr and Mrs M Blacker, Mrs E Abbott and Mr J Doyle.

With the official going declared good to firm, the seven-race card commenced with the Members race, which saw Philip Cornforth and Hattie give the jockey's father, John, a nice win, with Dinan in second place ahead of Chanteuse.

The Open Maiden saw 16 going to post. Malton, made favourite, was ridden in mid-division with No Info covering his every move. All the time Noggler, ridden by Serena Brotherton, was creeping up the inside.

Along the back side, Noggler raced into the lead. Clearing the last fence, she never looked like getting caught and powered up the uphill finish with Thorney Issue in second and No Info third.

The Ladies Open was to provide Michael Brown with a quick double when last year's winner Hadeqa gave his daughter Charlotte her first ever win.

Legendary Line and Serena Brotherton took the lead four out with Heather Lad turning the screw, but it was Hadeqa who was quickening with every stride. With a line of horses jumping the last, Charlotte got away the quickest to win with second going to Legendary Line and Strongtrooper finishing third.

The Men's Open followed and, as they disappeared from view, Mademist Sam gained the lead. But Guy Brewer had pressed the button on Civil Gent and it was a three-horse race approaching the last. Despite being hard pressed by Diamond Munro and Oliver Greenall, Civil Gent was not going to be denied and held on to win, with the long-time leader Mademist Sam third.

The Restricted race was to provide Shirostran with another win for the season. The final circuit saw Bankers Draft out in front as Oliver Greenall began to get a tune out of the favourite, Duggleby.

With Magic Route booted along by Tina Jackson, Shirostran hit the front coming to the last and crossed the line a three-length winner from the fast finishing Willywonthe and Magic Route in third.

The Confined race provided another family celebration, this time for Tina Jackson. The field was led by Jimmy Blues and Ikdam Melody until they disappeared from sight. Tina had Wynard Dancer in a handy position and Kings Boy sat mid-division.

Jimmy Blues began to lose his position and Tina set off in hot pursuit. At the last, the race was between the two ladies and it was Tina who got the better jump, finishing in front of Ikdam Melody and Kings Boy.

The final race, the Open Maiden, had a very open field, but disaster struck at the second with Bracken Run unseating his rider and taking Rare Presence with him.

The remaining pack was led by Supreme Optimist, with the field well strung out. When they reappeared into view, Guy Armitage and Landlord Lad were now in front. Nigel Tutty was getting a good tune out of Alfietwofourtwo and was keeping him in his sights.

It appeared by now to be a two-horse race and, as they cleared the last, Tutty pushed for home. But Armitage was not going to be denied and, in a ding dong battle for the line, Landlord Lad held on by a whisker with Primitive Quay some way behind in third.

Published: 03/06/2005