THE ever-popular Ceredigion Festival of Harness Racing, which was well supported by competitors from across the UK and Ireland, took place over the weekend with a fantastic card of 29 races on offer.

Day one proved to be lucrative for local connections, and the first of these successes came in race seven when Alan Jones and My Buddy held off the late challenge of Rhyds Nightlife, who also has local ties, being owned by Dewi Lloyd –Davies, Tregaron. Mike Evans of Penuwch also trained the winner of race 12, with Enez Leman, owned by his father Will.

Saturday’s main event saw eight pacers take to the track for the £4,000 Travis Perkins final. The draw is crucial in these top events, and with impressive heat winner Springhill Catch drawing pole position, he started as the bookmakers’ favourite.

After faltering on the first turn, however, his chances looked to be over, running too keenly thereafter. This left David Bevan, with Mahogany Oleg, dictating the pace in front. Around the final bend many horses were in contention, but it was the locally owned Rhyds Nightlife and My Buddy who broke from the pack to battle down the straight in a thrilling finish, with My Buddy getting there by a nose.

Day two was another good day for Alan Jones, who took the win with Velvet Penlan. Meanwhile American Mistress provided another local winner for owner Gwenan Thomas, from Llanwnnen.

Before the major Group One Llety Parc Classic final on Sunday the crowds were undecided on who the winner would be.

Eight quality pacers took to the track for the £6,000 first prize, with four starting on the gate and four off a 20 yard trail. However, turning for home, the race was put to bed by William ‘Rocker’ Laidler and Springhill Glory in an impressive 2.03.7.

This was team Laidler’s fifth win of the weekend, with others winners coming from Springhill Glory in his heat, Valseur Du Cygne notching up her sixth consecutive victory, Merington Movinup a class performer in the three year old colts race and Teatime Preacher, who was a comfortable winner of the grade one.

Others who enjoyed a successful weekend were Gary Wakefield, who had three drives and won on all three of them (American Graffiti, Wellfield Dreamer and Artemis). Michael O’Mahony notched up four winners, three from his own yard, Lyons Bullet, Lanehouse Stan and Coalford Insignia and Enez Leman for trainer Mike Evans. James Haythornthwaite also scored three wins over the weekend for three different trainers, including Its My Check for mother Theresa, JM’s Macy Hallstar for Joanne Cairns and Oakwood Enchanted for John Gill.

Once again promoters must be commended on their professionally run event.

Over £50,000 prize money was paid out over the weekend. The sun shone, the crowds cheered and Ceredigion Trotting Club put on another spectacular show.