Harness Racing once more returned to the ‘Mecca of Welsh trotting’ at Penybont on Saturday.

Conditions were perfect, a lovely summer afternoon to watch some inspiring performances with the track in superb condition.

The format of races for the afternoon was somewhat different from usual with three heats allowing horses to progress to three different finals, this somewhat reminiscent of racing years ago.

The first heat was for the lower grade open horses in which the front runner Ayr Ontario (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) with daughter Louisa Barton on board dominated proceedings and came home ahead of Half Penny (Lloyd, New Radnor) on his first run in open company while Cardigan Boy (Gale, Gorslas) was third and Alibis Dream (Lloyd, Gladestry) was fourth.

The second heat saw another front runner, the impatient Howdoyalikemenow with owner, trainer Martin Roberts from Dinmore, making all the running to secure victory over Evenwood Thumps Up (Lewis, Llanbister) while Maximus Lad (Fran Morgan from Knighton’s new recruit) ran well to claim third and Lakeview Meg (Lewis, Llanbister) was fourth.

The final heat featured the premier horses, with the spoils going, as expected to Dernol Yankee belonging to Edward Wozencraft from Llangurig and driven as usual by his trainer Andrew Hardwick of Brecon, in second place was Easy Company driven by his young owner Elin Bevan from Llanddewi while Happy Hands (Lloyd, Painscastle) was third and the back marker Ontop Shouder Cuda (Bevan, Llanddewi) on a trail of 60 yards was fourth.

The Baby Novice race followed in which the impressive Rattlesnake Rosie owned, trained and driven by David Arrowsmith from Bronllys was first past the post just beating Bethany (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey) by the narrowest of margins, while Disgwilfa Gem (Mason, Huntington) was third.

The combined Baby Novice and Novice race resulted in Ellavafella providing a comfortable win for the Bevan family from Maesmynis with Andrew Bevan doing the steering, in second was the fittingly named Olympics (Mills, Llanddewi) with Beg For Mercy (Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn) in third.

The Nursery race followed, a race to introduce youngsters to racing. It was last week’s joint winner Zulu Warrior (Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn) who won from a much improved Ithon Papa (Peters, Upper Longwood) with Woodstone Miranda (Hughes, New Radnor) in third.

After a leisurely interval, the finals provided the climax to the afternoon’s entertainment.

The first final was a consolation final but nevertheless provided the tightest finish of the afternoon as only the camera could separate the three horses as they headed across the line at the front.

The winner was Lakeside Pan who had travelled from the Cardigan coast and so made the journey worthwhile for the Elder family from New Quay, second was Ayrosmith the somewhat erratic but seriously talented horse belonging to the Williams-Pugh family from Brecon while No Stoppin (Greenway, Michaelchurch Eskley) having led all the way was just relegated to third.

The second final was for the second and third prize winners from the heats.

In this race the horses on the gate had an 80-yard advantage over the back marker Ontop Shoulder Cuda but Lynn Boxhall who piloted this amazing horse for the Bevan family from Llanddewi allowed him to make up the ground in his own time and on the final straight when she asked him, he flew over the winning line to secure a memorable win ahead of Cardigan Boy (Gale, Gorslas) who lost nothing in defeat with Alibis Dream (Lloyd, Gladestry) in third.

There was a Baby Novice and Novice consolation race next this gave Ithon Prince driven by owner David Duggan from Howey a second chance as he had made some mistakes in his first race, this time they came home in front with Ayr Fella and Liam Middleton from Llandrindod in second.

The final race of the day was the much anticipated clash of the titans as the top horses lined up.

Dernol Yankee (Wozencraft, Llangurig) has enjoyed a super season and again he ran a terrific race to give his trainer, driver Andrew Hardwick first prize, in front of the front running Howdoyalikemenow (Roberts, Dinmore) with little Half Penny (Lloyd, New Radnor) acquitting himself well in third.

Next week is the final race meeting of the season, when the races will be held at Broadheath Common, Presteigne on Saturday, 11 September starting at 1.30pm.