19 May 2008 South Durham - Mordon
Lord Gee: the first leg of Oliver Greenall's double at the meeting
The Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point season came to a close on Saturday with the South Durham meeting at Mordon where, despite good to firm ground, 42 runners contested the 7 races.
Oliver Greenall, who was crowned Men's Area Champion, took his seasonal tally to 42 with a double. His first win was on Lord Gee, in the Confined, who led from the 5th fence and readily drew clear from the 3rd last to beat Shanteen Lass by 8 lengths. His double came courtesy of North Island who made all the running to win the Men's Open. Greenall was seen at his strongest when challenged by the eventual runner-up, Flying Spur, at the last, but the pair stayed on best to win by 1 length
Sir Alf, ridden by Chris Dawson and trained on the track by owner Maria Myco, won the Members race for the 5th year in a row when staying on to resist the persistent challenge of Abandon Ship by 1 length to record his 7th course win.
Delfinia, who had finished a short head 2nd to the useful Granoski Gala in a hot Ladies' Open at Mosshouses last week, was allowed to go off at the generous odds of 10-1 and was a popular winner of the Ladies' Open, under Claire Metcalfe, for local owner/trainer Elaine Smith. Delfinia quickened 4 lengths clear with 2 to jump, and then had to repel the strong late finish of Be The Tops, ridden by Emma Dwyer, to win by ½ a length.
Alisons Treasure, who got of the mark at the last Mordon meeting when winning the Cleveland Members race, won his 2nd race of the season with an easy win in the Restricted. Andrew Glass held up the winner at the rear of the field until the 14th fence, made good headway to lead at the 17th fence, and quickly drew clear of the field to come home on the bridle to win by an easy 8 lengths.
The first division of the Maiden was won by Caroline Blakiston on her Sergio Coimbra, who she owns in partnership with Sam Streatfield. She made much of the running and was one of three jumping the last fence in line, but Sergio Coimbra stayed on the better to beat the favourite Knoxhill Archie by 2 lengths. This was the winning jockey's first winner on only her third completion.
High Moor, who had been an eye-catching 2nd on his last run in a Witton Castle Maiden, made all the running to win division 2 of the Maiden for jockey Ian Smith, and give trainer Lynne Ward her first winner of the season for owner Geoff Parkinson who bought the winning 6 year old as a foal.
