DAVID BEVAN DOUBLES UP AT LEOMINSTER.

A surprisingly large crowd enjoyed the action at Leominster Harness races under BHRC rules despite the unfortunate clash with the Liberty and Livelihood march in London.
Twenty-five year old David Bevan is on course to take his first area driver's title, and added another double to his tally. He galvanised Scoot Along Rosie to just head Symlog Strawberry (Karen Lowes) in the first race, then the breath-taking I Am Still The Man cruised to his fourth successive victory in the fastest time of the day to graduate to open handicap company.
It was a day with a high feel-good factor, with the crowd showing appreciation for some popular performances.
Sennybridge breeder, Brian Davies thundered clear to take the 'Golden Oldies' event for senior drivers with his star-spangled Medina Hanover, while Pandy-based Pete Collins and Max Factor dominated the race for veteran horses.
Perversely, the race for Non-winners this season was one of the fastest, and Sum Fella (Alan Jones) gave the Hardwick family reason to celebrate when he repelled JJ Kedo (Dylan Lloyd-Jones) and Past Caring (Andrew Rees). But Past Caring refused to be beaten in his second appearance on the card, steaming up the run-in in a mile and a quarter division to wrest victory from Highbrooks Cobra (Mark Pritchard) and Sourbrook Stanley (Glyn Slade-Jones).
Glyn was consoled by a visit to the winner's circle for the novice event with Sunset Dancer, who is owned and trained by Pete Lloyd, the official start car driver.
The longest-priced winner of the meeting was Bill Boughton's tough mare, Billsgoldnandshake (Stella Havard) who had lost her confidence after a crashing fall at Pembridge in July. She sped around the outside to seize an early lead and stayed on dourly to delight her connections.
Roy Wilson rarely has a winner-less day, and the three year-old Bell's Image kept his name on the score-sheets, taking one division of the maiden. Raider Megan Taff won the other division with Not For Me, then made it a double when Gangster battled to the wire in the Novice/Improver a neck clear of JR's Replica (David Bevan).
The splendid sunlit afternoon was rounded off with a fabulously fast success for Glyn Davies' Home At Last (Huw Evans) in the Mike Strickland Memorial mile and a quarter race.
Next fixtures: Ammanford, Sunday 2 p.m and Grand Finale, Leominster, Sunday October 6th 1 p.m


RESULTS. GOING: Firm.
SYMLOG PRINCE NOVICE GRADES NON-WINNERS RACE
1 Scoot Along Rosie (David Bevan); 2 Symlog Strawberry (Karen Lowes); 3 Today's Lady (Jamie Davies).
2:13.9. Neck, 1/2L. 7 ran. Owned by Mrs N Williams, trained by David Bevan, Maesmynis.
THE GOLDEN OLDIES OPEN HANDICAP MILE FOR DRIVERS AGED 50+.
1 Medina Hanover (Brian Davies) 40 yds: 2 Bobby Dazzle (Tudor Jones) 10 yds; 3 Scoots Messenger (Pete Collins) 40 yds.
2:12.6. 3L, 5L. 7 ran. Owned & trained by Brian Davies,Sennybridge.
EDWARD LAYTON MIDNIGHT MOWERS MAIDEN MILE DIV 1
1 Bells Image (Roy Wilson); 2 Radnor Beauty (Mark Pritchard); 3 Disraeli Baby (Brett Strickland)
2:20.2. 1/2L, 5L. 7 ran. Owned by E Evans, trained by Mair Wilson, Llanbister.
DIV 2
1 Not For Me (Megan Taff); 2 Coalford Cammie ( Sara Mould); 3 Red Andy (Andrew Rees).
2:20.2. 1/2L, 5L. 7 ran. Owned by S Fletcher, trained by Dave Taff, North Wales.

THE WWHRA 2002 SUPPORTERS  NON-WINNERS OPEN HANDICAP MILE
1 Sum Fella (Alan Jones); 2 Past Caring (Andrew Rees); 3 JJ Kedo (Dylan Lloyd-Jones) 10 yds
SARA DAVIES CAN'T SAY NO NOVICE DIV
1 Sunset Dancer (Glyn Slade-Jones); 2 Symlog Strawberry (Patrick Morris); 3 John Albert (Roy Wilson).
2:12.3. 1L, 5L. 8 ran. Owned & trained by Pete Lloyd, Kington.
NORTHSIDE SERVICE STATION OLD'N'GOLDIES OPEN HANDICAP FOR HORSES 9 YRS+
1 Max Factor (Pete Collins) 10 yds; 2 Look Sharpe (Terry Laventure); 3 Billy Baron (Cliff Beaumont-Dowse)
2:12.7. 2L, 5L. 4 ran. Owned & trained by Pete Collins, Pandy.
GORGEOUS GORDON LYONS NOVICE/IMPROVER
1 Gangster (Megan Taff) 10 yds; 2 J R's Replica (David Bevan); 3 Peaks Pastime (Sara Mould)
2:14.2. neck, 6L. 7 ran. Owned by A O'Sullivan, trained by Dave Taff, North Wales.
BRECON & RADNOR EXPRESS IMPROVER
1 Billsgoldnandshake (Stella Havard); 2 Charmagers Girl (Gary Wakefield); 3 Christabelle (Alan Westwood).
2:15.5. 11/2L, 21/2L. 7 ran. Owned by Bill Boughton, trained by Stella Havard, Dinmore.
THANKS BRYAN REYNOLDS INTERMEDIATE
1 I Am Still The Man (David Bevan); 2 Francois Foin (Ivor Stokle); 3 Dalis (Roy Wilson).
2:11.2. 4L, 4L. 9 ran. Owned by Mrs I Tucker, trained by David Bevan, Maesmynis.
CASTLE CARVERY (RHAYADER) MILE and a QUARTER
1 Past Caring (Andrew Rees); 2 Highbrooks Cobra (Mark Pritchard); 3 Sourbrook Stanley (Glyn Slade-Jones).
2:48.9. 3/4L, neck. 8 ran. Owned & trained by Andrew Rees, Rhayader.
MIKE STRICKLAND MEMORIAL MILE AND A QUARTER
(Handicap reduced by 20 yds)
1 Home At Last (Huw Evans); 2 Blue Rajah (Ian Lloyd) 10 yds; 3Medina Hanover (Emma Frieze) 40 yds
2:43.7. 11/4L, 1/2L. 9 ran. Owned by Glyn Davies, trained by Huw Evans, Tregaron.