LESS than a length covered the three semi-final winners of the Bet St George Gymcrack at Sheffield and the stage is set for Sunday’s £17,500-to-the-winner final.

Quickest in the semis was John Flaherty’s Copney Queen who set the fastest time in the heats and repeated the dose in the third semi with another brilliant front-running performance as the June 2024 daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Drumcove Rozy made all to win impressively by seven and a half lengths from Romeo Arran (Patrick Janssens) in 28.79sec (normal).

Jimmy Fenwick has won both runnings of the Gymcrack since its switch to Sheffield, with Wicky Ned (2024) and Elusivenomore (2025), and will send out another finalist after his Arc Northern Puppy Derby champion Woltemade sealed his place in the 500m decider and a chance and a notable big-race double with a superb effort off the front in the first semi-final.

Soon in the clear, the Newcastle tracker, a May 23 son of Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Minton, crossed the line five and a half lengths clear of local hope Harton Whirlwind (Rose Draper) in 28.85sec (normal).

Another Sheffield-based runner Annadown Shadow also produced a runaway effort when landing the second semi-final as the up-and-coming youngster, trained by Sean Parker, paced up into the lead and was never headed on his way to a five and a half lengths success over Droopys Typical (Susan Watson). The September 24 son of Grangeview Ten and Annadown Cutie posted 28.81sec (normal).

Rob Crawford will be trackside on Sunday, interviewing connections across the afternoon card, and is looking forward to the Category One decider.

“It’s a great race and another stellar renewal of the Gymcrack, now sponsored by Bet St George,” he said, adding: “Fair play to Jimmy Fenwick who has a chance to keep his 100 per cent record in the Gymcrack since it moved to Sheffield with Woltemade, who has grown throughout the competition.

“John Flaherty’s Copney Queen has done nothing wrong at all and has been fastest on the clock in both rounds, while Sean Parker’s Annadown Shadow, who has also grown through the event.

“The most eagerly awaited outcome from the semis was the photo-finish for second in the second semi where Susan Watson’s Doncaster raider Droopys Typical got the better of Mark Wallis’s Forgottotellya by the shortest of margins.

“The home-bred pair of Romeo Arran, for Nicola and David Firmager and trained by Patrick Janssens, and Harton Whirlwind, for Michaela and Simon Kneafsey and trainer Rose Draper, complete the field and are definitely worthy of their places.

“All have played their part in a great puppy competition. There’s always something of the unknown where pups are concerned, but you do realise you are getting old when you commentate on youngsters like Harton Whirlwind having also seen – and commentated on – both parents in Distant Podge and Black Racket!”

*Trap draw for Sunday’s Bet St George Gymcrack Final – 500m Sheffield, Sunday: 1 Harton Whirlwind, 2 Romeo Arran, 3 Annadown Shadow, 4 Droopys Typical, 5 Copney Queen (m), 6 Woltemade (m).