THE grand finale to the Wales & West harness racing season at Leominster raised many a heart rate, and the feelgood factor was industrial strength.

Twenty-five-year-old mechanic Alex Taylor regularly makes the long trip to Leominster from Anglesey, and the high mileage was well justified when Pirnielodge Apona cruised clear to take the opening Opportunity race.

The tussle for the area driver's crown went right to the wire, with People's Champion Jason Podmore starting the meeting with a five-winner lead over North Wales raider Megan Taff.

Megan relentlessly narrowed the advantage with a double behind Duggan's Jackpot and Life Form, and Jason breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief when the title became reality as the dust of the last race settled.

Uttoxeter-based Charlotte Carr was given a rousing reception when her maiden pacer Lakeside Diamond denied Megan Taff another winner, staving off the challenge of Talavary Ace with great spirit.

Stuart Rushton, from the same neck of the woods as Charlotte Carr, was 'over the moon' with the little lion heart, Disturbin', who dug deep to take his third race of 2005.

Paul Holland, from Stoke-on-Trent, made it a treble for Staffordshire when the handsome Cerion Des made all to take the novice event.

Hundred House farmer Jamie Davies has become popular with the crowd this season with his cool performances, and he finished on a high note with a stirring victory with Bruce Williams' Look Sharpe in the Vintage event.

It is hard to believe that Llangammarch-based driver Colin Bevan is over 50, and his performance with Nigel Pinches' Young Man to make all in the Golden Oldies belied his years. Nigel was thrilled to bits to be back in the winner's enclosure for the final race of the 2005, when Young Dennis just got his nose in front in a fabulous five-way photo, a fitting finale to a sensational season.

The last race was followed by a Fancy Dress Fund-Raiser in aid of the Air Ambulance, and demonstrated that harness racing gets in the blood early, with the offspring of drivers Ian Lloyd and Dylan Lloyd-Jones participating at less than 12 months of age.

Next Event: Fund raising Quiz at Mortimers Cross Inn, Kingsland, Friday October 14, 8 pm.

RESULTS

Going: Firm.

Novice Grade (race for horses who have not won more than one race in 2005): 1 Pirnielodge Apona (Alex Taylor) 10 yds; 2 Spring Falcon (Lee Vaughan) 10 yds; 3 Justin St George (Alan Westwood) 20 yds. 2:11.3. 2L, 2L. Owned & trained by J Taylor, Angelsey.

Open Handicap, Div 1: 1 Duggans Jackpot (Megan Taff) 10 yds; 2 Young Man (Gareth Price); 3 Blowing Gale (David Bevan). 2:9.7. L, 1L. Owned by Teifion Thomas, trained by Dave Taff, North Wales.

Div 2: 1 Disturbin' (Stuart Rushton) 10 yds; 2 Wellfield Tartan Boy (Jason Podmore) 10 yds; 3 Ynys Cernyw (Megan Taff) 10 yds. 2:9.1. 4L, hd. Owned & trained by Stuart Rushton, Staffs.

Div 3 (handicap reduced by 20 yds): 1 Young Dennis (Gareth Price); 2 Symlog Derryn Du (Patrick Morris); 3 Greenwood Beth (Jason Podmore) 30 yds. 2:8.2. Sht hd. Sht hd. Owned & trained by Nigel Pinches, Gladestry.

Vintage Mile (for horses 9 yo + over): 1 Look Sharpe (Jamie Davies) 10 yds; 2 Past Caring (Andrew Rees); 3 Jimmy Short (Megan Taff). 2:13.2. Neck, L. Owned & trained by Bruce Williams, Llandrindod Wells.

Maiden Mile: 1 Lakeside Diamond (Charlotte Carr); 2 Talavary Ace (Megan Taff); 3 Baby Sister (Bret Strickland). 2:11.4. 1L, 4L. Owned & trained by Charlotte Carr, Staffs.

Open Handicap (for drivers of 50 or over): 1 Young Man (Colin Bevan); Gottageton (Wesley Jones); 3 Hoppin' Blue (Roy Wilson); 10 yds. 2:7.4. 1L, 8L. Owned & trained by Nigel Pinches, Gladestry.

Novice/Improver: 1 Cerion Des (Paul Holland); 2 Ithon Abbey (Mark Pritchard) 10 yds; 3 Xena (Kelly Rushton). 2:12.4. Sht hd. 3 L. Owned & trained by Paul Holland, Stoke-on-Trent.

Improver/Intermediate: 1 Life Form (Megan Taff); =2 Cardi Bach (Dylan Lloyd-Jones) 30 yds & Redwood (Mark Pritchard). 2:10.3. 1L, dead heat. Owned by Shane Fletcher, trained by Dave Taff, North Wales.