A HUGE crowd enjoyed a golden sunshine day at the Allensmore circuit for the Boughrood fixture under BHRC rules, and witnessed some exultant victories for the supporters who are the inner heartbeat of the sport.

Brett Strickland, who travels up with his family from Bristol every weekend to compete, is one of the stalwarts of the Wales & West circuits, as was his father before him. Thus it was a rousing reception that greeted the success of Brett's home-bred Disraeili Baby in a maiden division.

Dave Shellam is another who uncomplainingly devotes many hours to the 'nuts and bolts' of organising fixtures, and his brave gelding Drovers Gold had his supporters screaming as he just outgunned Take Flight (Steve Lees) to frank his ticket into open company.

The diminutive Disturbin' has a heart as big a bucket and answered Jason Podmore's every call to finish like Eurostar and just prevail in a four-way photo in the second division of the Dot James Improver-Intermediate.

Cecil Richards' eye-catching Southpark had to survive some cut-throat competition in a novice division, but Colin Bevan kept his cool to be awarded the race in the stewards room when the newly-sold Nightingale Flyer (Steve Lees) was disqualified for not giving adequate clearance.

Brian Davies' American import Briwyn's Anna has bred a foal before turning serious attentions to the circuits, and is now making up for lost time. She strolled home in the first open heat with Emma Frieze from the improving John Boy (Nina Morgan) and threw down the gauntlet for the final.

Libby Lloyd's Biotal Scoot picked up the challenge when holding I Am The Man (Sarah Mould) in the second heat, and raider Donnisthorpe Raque took no prisoners when hurtling home in the top grade heat from Home At Last (David Bevan) and Blue Rajah (Ian Lloyd). This was part of a notable treble for Megan, who was also successful with Russian Bear and Ynys Cernyw.

Emma Frieze demonstrated that she was no moonbeam-chaser in the final when smoothly asserting early authority with Briwyn's Anna. The partnership cruised clear, while there was a war at the wire for second place, the mercurial John Boy repaying Nina Morgan's infinite patience with an exhilarating run and eventually being called runner-up, with Home At Last a whisker away in third.

Next fixture: Leominster, Sunday 2 pm.

RESULTS

Going: Fast

Open Handicap, Heat 1: 1 Briwyn's Anna (Emma Frieze); 2 John Boy (Nina Morgan); 3 Bobby Dazzle (Dale Wilson) 10 yds. 2:6.9. 4L, 3L. 6 ran. Owned and trained by Brian Davies, Sennybridge.

Heat 2 (handicap reduced by 10 yds): 1 Biotal Scoot (Libby Lloyd); 2 I Am The Man (Sarah Mould); 3 Max Factor (Pete Collins) 20 yds. 2:9.3. 1/2L, 5L. 6 ran. Owned and trained by Libby Lloyd, Much Cowarne.

Heat 3 (handicap reduced by 30 yds): 1 Donnisthorpe Raque (Megan Taff); 2 Home At Last (David Bevan); 3 Blue Rajah (Ian Lloyd) 2:5.3. L, 2L. 7 ran. Owned by P Brannen, trained by Dave Taff, North Wales.

Maiden, Div 1: 1 Russian Bear (Megan Taff); 2 Kentucky Chief (Carl Davies); 3 Wellfield Carl (Pete Collins). 2:9.1. 5L, 8L. 6 ran. Owned by C Nuttal, trained by Dave Taff, North Wales.

Div 2: 1 Disraeli Baby (Brett Strickland); 2 Cerion Zoe (Steve Lees); 3 Home Decision (Heather Jones) 2:12.5. L, 3L. 7 ran. Owned by Brett and Michelle Strickland, trained by Brett Strickland, Bristol.

Novice, Div 1: 1 Southpark (Colin Bevan); 2 Cool Hand Luke (Nina Morgan); 3 Redwood (Mark Pritchard). 2:11.3. 2L, L. 6 ran. Owned and trained by Cecil Richards, Brecon. * Nightingale Flyer (Steve Lees) passed the post first, but was disqualified and placed last for not giving adequate clearance

Div 2: 1 Ynys Cernyw (Megan Taff); 2 Forest Tombo (Gary Wakefield); 3 Lakeside Warrior (Peter Preston). 2:10.1. L, L. 6 ran. Owned by Alun Jones, trained by Dave Taff, North Wales.

Improver/Intermediate, Div 1: 1 Drovers Gold (Colin Bevan); 2 Take Flight (Steve Lees); 3 Ystwyth Flyer (Sara Morgans). 2:8.3. Neck, 5L. 9 ran. Owned and trained by Dave Shellam, Callow End.

Div 2: 1 Disturbin' (Jason Podmore) 10 yds; 2 Radnor Beauty (Mark Pritchard); 3 Best Man (Gareth Price). 2:10.3. Head, neck. 7 ran. Owned by Muriel Loverock, trained by Jason Podmore, Uttoxeter.

Open Handicap Final: 1 Briwyn's Anna (Emma Frieze); 2 John Boy (Nina Morgan); 3 Home At Last (David Bevan) 4 I Am The Man (Sarah Mould). 2:6.9. 4L, Short hd. 9 ran. Owned and trained by Brian Davies, Sennybridge.