TAGGET landed the 2010 Bitch Produce Stakes at Gaisgill on Saturday – her 11th win of the season.
 
It was a first Bitch Produce success for Bassenthwaite trainer Brian Graham, who owns her in partnership with pal Les McTear.
 
In fact Tagget is called after the former Aspatria rugby union captain whose nickname has been Tagget for a while.
 
Back in 1995 Brian trained Malc’s Choice to win the Dog Produce but this was his first success in the female equivalent.
 
“I did think we had a good chance with Tagget as I think she’s a handy bitch. She is back on song after being under the weather a wee bit. The vet actually said she was suffering from tonsillitis.
 
“I like her because she can drive a trail and she can also finish and they reckon she came from fourth spot on Saturday to win the Produce trail.
 
“If she can stay clear of injuries I think she has the potential to go all the way and challenge strongly for the title, but there’s still a long way to go,” he said.
 
The feature race attracted just 22 runners, but it was a classy affair, with the winner, Tagget, having three lengths to spare over Westgate Gypsy, Tiagress and Enoch, who were very close together at the line.
 
Tagget was bred by Graham and Julia Burkinshaw out of their bitch Bretton, sired by Dairy One.
 
Brian said: “It was a nice boost for Julia because she’s had a rough time with her leg. She broke it out on the fells last year but it hadn’t healed and she had to go into hospital for another operation.”
 
Bretton is actually with Brian at Bassenthwaite but sadly former champion Dairy One had to be put to sleep recently following an illness.
 
The perfect weather and a wonderful setting at Gaisgill made the meeting a big success, and those who stayed away missed a great afternoon's trailing.
 
The gate was a little lower than expected, but there was still a good and appreciative crowd, and a reasonable profit for the HTA.
 
HTA secretary Margaret Baxter said: “All credit must go to Russell Dawson and his team for the smooth running of events, and thanks go to him and to all who helped on the day, especially Amy Hewson, Norma Reay and Ann Bell in the tent, Pat Tomlinson for selling the raffle tickets, starter Ian Bell, timekeeper John Pattinson, judge Barry Laidler and cameraman Bill Huddart, the trailers Les Warwick, Duncan Chisholm and Kevin Swanton, and the catchers.
 
“We are very grateful to the farmers and landowners for letting us use their land and I would also like to thank all those who helped manhandle the tent up and down.”
 
The Wilson and Westmoreland partners got proceedings off to a good start when Habana, the 2008 puppy champion had her first win of the season in the senior trail, beating Desire and Westgate Kyza by about five lengths.
 
There was a bit of a hiccup in the senior maiden trail when more than half of the 39 runners took a wrong turning somewhere and either came back or were miles behind.
 
Those that got round made a good race of it, the winner being Emma Blenkharn and Robert Reid's Sparrowmire Jill (formerly Halcyon), nicely ahead of Ramblin' Rose and Small Print.
 
There was a great finish to the open puppy trail, with the McCartney and Byers partners' Night Spirit getting up right on the tape to pip Poker-Face and Jackie Boy for his fourth success.
 
The open restricted trail had a big entry of 63, and it was won nicely by Yvonne Wilson's Bonny Lass, beating Lofty. Dairy Singer overtook Halloween close to the line for third place.
 
HTA Chairman Barry Laidler presented the prizes for the first two trails, and Les Warwick did the honours for the other three.
 
There were 8 correct entries for the Annual Quiz - Pat Black, Len Birkett, Ann Holmes, Claire Shaw, Barry Laidler, Ann Bell, Kate Airey and Dot Wilding. Len Birkett and Ann Bell were drawn out of the hat for 1st and 2nd, but really everybody was a winner, and all will receive a free copy of next year's Annual.
 
Carole Jackson won the prize for the Tipster competition on the Produce trail, with Lynn Pawley and David Clifford as runner-up. All three had the same total, but Carole was the only one who took Tagget as the winner.
 
 After the Bitch Produce the HTA major trail points stands thus: Tagget 12, Altanic 11, Dairy Singer, Desire and Night Spirit 10, Huntsman's Dazzler, Small Print, Tiagress and Westgate Gypsy 9, Habana 8.
 
The next leg is at Snow Hill on 7th August, and the final one on 2nd October in the Whitehaven Area.
 
There hasn’t been much trailing this last week, apart from the stand-out Bitch Produce meeting.
 
However at Wath Brow last Wednesday there were three trails, although they could muster only 27 runners between them.
 
Cinnabar has had her problems in previous tries over the course and distance but this time it was her rivals who faltered on the finish.
 
Favourite Molly Malone and Cinnabar’s kennel-mate Valhalla showed well clear and it looked as though her hard luck was going to continue.
 
But this time fortune smiled. Molly Malone ran off coming down the last hill and it was Valhalla who went into the beck with a good lead over Cinnabar.

But whatever happened in the water it was Cinnabar who came out the best and raced clear to win well with Valhalla finishing second. Molly Malone straightened herself out to take third.

There were only six runners in the puppy trail and it developed into a three-way scrap with very little separating Medwyn, Justify and Da Look down the fell.

Going into the water Da Look just had a narrow lead but when they came out the other side it was Justify who had gone to the front and he ran on strongly to beat-off Da Look’s challenge by a length. Medwyn also stayed on gamely to finish a close third.

The three hounds who dominated the betting in the open restricted showed on the fellside but Linsdale handled the descent best and looked to have the race in the bag.

But Newtown Clover stuck to the task and coming out of the beck was only a length or so behind. Linsdale made the mistake of looking round for the opposition and Newtown Clover responded well to go on and win by half a length. The third market leader Mang Nix stayed on for third, well clear of the rest.

On Monday Threlkeld proved another lovely setting with perfect weather for the three trails.
 
It was a night the late Jimmy Glaister would have enjoyed and on this occasion it was the first running for the Jimmy Glaister Memorial Trophy. Appropriately it was Jimmy's favourite hound, Westgate Kyza, who ran a great race to come through for his eighth win, finishing 50 yards ahead of Huntsman's Dazzler and Huntsman's Charm.
 
Susan Glaister and daughter Sarah have their hounds looking a picture and in superb form, and the icing on the cake came in the puppy trail when Westgate Gypsy cruised home well clear of Altanic and Colourful, and she is also now on eight wins for the season.
 
There was a good entry of 40 for the open restricted trail, and several had a chance on the finish, but it was John and Carla Graham and Shannon Perry's Jordan's Tyke who led over the tape ahead of Toffee Supreme and Superseven.
 
Here’s an update on the Team Competition:
Division 1 - Misfits 109, It's Showtime 97, Troubadors 89, Chain Gang 78, Ain't Gotta Name 64, Flyin' Banshees 63.
Division 11 - Team Pimbley 58, Chain Gang 51, Princess & Pirates 42, Busy Girls 34, Shauna's Sugababes 33, Katy's Krackers 32.
 
Latest results in the Border Association have been as follows:-
 
Thursday 1st July, Edges Green.
Seniors: 1, Jackpot; 2, Castle Corrie;3, Summer Delight. 3 ran, time: 26.58.
Senior Graded: 1, Houxty Bank; 2, Lauren's Gift; 3, Sparkling Pearl; 4, Fire Dream; 5, Castle Cairn; 6, Class Act. 6 ran, time: 26.20.
Pups: 1, Gizmo; 2, Lotto; 3, Second Class; 4, Class Lass; 5, Castle Piper. 5 ran, time 18.12.
Open maiden: 1, Skylark; 2, Jedi; 3, Amber Salsa; 4, Mandesha; 5, Georgie's Girl; 6, Peter. 7 ran, time 16.33.
 
Saturday 3rd July, Copshaw Common Riding, Newcastleton.
Pups: 1, Amber Didier; 2, Spring Rambler; 3, Gizmo; 4, Eagle Heart; 5, Flanagan; 6, Delta Disco. 16 ran.
 
Sunday 4th July, Hallbankgate.
Seniors: 1, Prancer; 2, Jackpot; 3, Tune; 4, Trust; 5, Spring Dream; 6, Telltale. 9 ran, time 23.10.
Senior Graded: 1, Houxty Beck; 2, Farm Time; 3, Fire Ranger; 4, Sparkling Pearl; 5, Castle Corrie; 6, Lauren's Gift. 12 ran, time 23.34.
Pups: 1, Gizmo; 2, Delta Disco; 3, Eagle Heart; 4, Delta Diva; 5, Spring Roamer; 6, Border Pal. 11 ran, time 17.01.
Open Maidens: 1, Summer Venture; 2, Skylark; 3, Lakeland Mist; 4, Jedi; 5, Fire Cracker; 6, Georgie's Girl. 10 ran, time 16.17.

MARGARET BAXTER took the Bitch Produce day snaps of Tagget, Westgate Kyza and Habana with their connections while MAL WALKER was at Wath Brow to feature Molly Malone, Justify and Newtown Clover.

---

Bookmark with: what are these?