Spectators agog as juniors race for glory in Almeley
The second joint meeting between Mid Wales & Border Counties trotting and Wales & West took place at Almeley last weekend.
The weather was glorious and the races were organised in groups, with Mid Wales kicking off the afternoon.
The Mid Wales Nursery race was won by Brywins Awesome under the gentle guidance of Lynn Boxhall for owner and trainer Andrew Hardwick, from Brecon.
The Mid Wales Grade B saw the lofty Made in Wales (Hawkes, Llanddewi) and Ollie Preece surge over the line.
In the Mid Wales Grade A race, the sometimes wayward Habberley Playboy (Johns & Gittins, Shrewsbury), with trainer Mathew Tromans in the seat, led past the winning post.
In the Wales & West Series, Shanana Hanover (Cook), driven by trainer Michael O’Mahony, claimed first prize.
The Wales & West Maiden gave a first win for Lanehouse Boy, owned and trained by the Alman family from Gladestry and driven as usual by Gareth Price.
The next Wales & West race was a Maiden & Novice race, where the Novice Aurum Alert (Strikland, Westerleigh) and driver Jed Strickland were victorious.
In the first Mid Wales Novice race, even the camera could not separate Ayr Fella, with owner Robin Lloyd at the controls, and Wellfield Wally, with Andrew Bevan from Builth, so a dead heat was declared.
The second Mid Wales Novice gave the reliable Turn the Paige (Miles, Merthyr) another win, piloted as usual by Janet Thomas.
The first Mid Wales Baby Novice race provided another inspirational win for the youngster Beg For Mercy, with owner Mathew Tromans from Newcastle Emlyn on board.
The Wales & West Novice was the next race on the card, when the well-named The Dark Destroyer, driven by owner-trainer Patrick Morris from Leominster, took victory.
Ithon Nitro, with his owner Huw Thomas from Ammanford on board, stormed home in the Wales & West Grade 1.
In the Wales & West Grade 1 & 2 race, Dulais Daniel, with his owner Steven Williams from Pencader, came home in front of Kindly Holly (Strickland, Westerleigh).
In the Mid Wales second Baby Novice race, it was the progressive Garth Vader (Williams, Brecon), driven by trainer Andrew Hardwick, who was first past the post.
The Mid Wales Dash had a full complement of nine runners and it was the striking Ayr Ontario (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey), with daughter Louisa Barton at the controls, who broke from the bunch to claim victory.
Six juniors lined up for the Mid Wales Juniors race, one of the most popular – though heart-stopping – of the afternoon.
It was the leading junior Ellie Tromans who urged on Habberley Playboy (Gittins & Johns, Shrewsbury) to victory.
Mid Wales racing is well-known for the saddle races and this week the ladies provided another thriller, with Brywins Jo Jo (Jones, Ammanford) and Mel Langford claiming a narrow win.
In the Wales & West Grade 2 & 3 race, the home-bred Mattison dictated the race for owner, trainer Gareth Price from Merthyr Cynog to win.
Ring of Fire, with owner Robert Richards from Hereford, took the glory in the next Wales & West race, which was for Grades 4 to 7.
Ontop Mcardle (Meredith), with trainer Rhun Wilson in the seat, took the Wales & West Top Grade race.
The final race of the day was the Charlie Blisset Memorial Trot, when Spot du Mouchel, belonging to Breconshire owner Roy Price from Erwood and driven by trainer Joss Edwards, took top honours.
Next week is the final week of the season when Mid Wales holds its traditional charity meeting, with races for low prize money but high prestige. The meeting at Almeley is on September 23 starting at 1.30pm.