Point to point

Apr 14 2008 by Peter Burgon, The Journal

THE Mounsey-Heysham family from Rockcliffe, near Carlisle, epitomise the true amateur spirit of hunt racing and it was great to see their evergreen 17-year-old stable star Spring Double provide daughter Anna, 16, with her first winner in the PPORA Club Members’ Novice Riders’ Race in Saturday’s Morpeth fixture at Tranwell.

Always in the leading trio, he was sent on two out at the head of the home straight and maintained a relentless gallop in the heavy going to beat Hurricane Bay by ten lengths.

The winner is owned and trained by Anna’s mother Penelope and has proved to be an ideal schoolmaster since being gifted to her five years ago by her brother, Nigel Twiston-Davies.

He provided sons Toby and Ben with first wins in 2004 and also Rory in 2006 before being temporarily retired. Anna sustained a broken collar bone when he fell three out at Crossford in February but never had an anxious moment on her comeback ride and punched the air in celebration as they crossed the line.

Digger Jake initiated a short-priced double for Flotterton, near Rothbury, trainer Jimmy Walton in the second division of the 2½-mile Open Maiden. Carrying the colours of wife Claire and ridden by Catherine Walton, the six-year-old led two out and forged clear from the last to score by a distance from Moor Red.

The youngster was bred by North Tyne farmer Michael Walton and his dam, Sister Seven, holds the unique record of winning twice on the same day at Tranwell in April 1997 when he walked over in the Intermediate Race before beating Steele Justice in the Ladies’ Open.

The progressive Sacred Mountain completed the double in the hands of Alnwick land agent Tom Oates in the featured Men’s Open. He went on a mile from home and drew right away in the closing stages to win by 20 lengths from dual Kelso scorer Behavingbadly.

His next target is the prestigious Heart Of All England Hunt Cup Maiden Hunter Chase at Hexham on Saturday, May 3.

Some 31 years after partnering her first winner at Alnwick, Morpeth Hunt Joint Master Val Jackson is still going strong and lifted her career tally to 80, comprising 60 between the flags and 20 under rules, on Silver Chieftain in the three-runner Members’ Race.

The ten-year-old was left in splendid isolation when his only remaining rival, Four Natives, pulled up half a mile from home.

Belsay-based Jackson also completed a training double when my selection, Tynedale, came up trumps in the Ladies’ Open.

Given a peach of a ride by owner, Kirsty Fitzgerald the nine-year-old ex-hurdler was produced with a perfectly timed challenge to head the favourite, Luksar, on the extended run-in and secure a half-length verdict.

Results: Page 45