DESPITE another excellent week for Middleham handler Mark Johnston, he was still one short of his 1,000th winner on British soil as we went to press.

His eight wins in the week were scattered country-wide, with old favourite Star Rage obliging at Thirsk, while Attache won at Redcar the same evening and Happy Change was successful at Windsor to give Johnston his 100th winner this season.

At Yarmouth, Branston Fizz meant the David Abell-Star Rage silks were again to the fore. Epsom saw an excellent win by Riberac, with the ultra-consistent Xellance scoring at Warwick.

At Newcastle, there was a Kingsley House double, Kind Regards and Lots Of Love both putting their best foot forward.

Johnston has entries today at Epsom and Haydock so if he didn't hit the thousand mark yesterday, he will very soon.

Tim Easterby reached his seasonal 50 at Ripon when Samadilla gave leading jockey Kevin Darley another notch on his belt. His brother-in-law Richard Fahey and uncle Mick Easterby also continued fine form during the week.

Also from the Malton area, Brian Rothwell has much to celebrate. His wife Vicky gave birth to their first baby on Monday and he had good juvenile wins with Fenwicks Pride (Ripon) and Princess Emily (York). David Nicholls won at York, too, adding another at Musselburgh.

Middleham trainers on form included Chris Fairhurst and Patrick Haslam, with jumps wins for Micky Hammond, Ann Duffield and Ferdy Murphy. John Weymes had his first winner since taking over from his father Ernie last February when White Star Lady landed the spoils at Musselburgh.

But the racing town was rocked on Tuesday by the news - after weeks of rumours - that Guy Reed, patron of Spigot Lodge, has sold the famed stables to Karl Burke. Chris Thornton, assistant to the late Sam Hall and trainer at Spigot since 1977, is looking for a suitable yard of about 30 boxes.

ALL THE WINNERS

National Hunt (jumps) meetings are indicated by NH, all-weather flat, by AW. Other meetings are all flat meetings, turf. Evening meetings marked by an asterix *. Hb = Homebred by owner.

Thursday last week. - York: Peartree House (trained by David Nicholls, at Sessay; owned by G Vettraino & Fayzad Thoroughbreds), ridden by Jamie Mackay.

Musselburgh: White Star Lady (John Weymes, Coverham; White Star Racing), Robert Winston; Manzoni (Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Bodfari Stud Ltd), Paul Hanagan; Lady Bear (Richard Fahey, Butterwick; A & K Lingerie), Robert Winston; Sihafi (David Nicholls; John Gilbertson), Clare Roche.

Friday. - Newmarket: Siena Star (Les Eyre, Hambleton; R Peel, J H A Hopkinson, J M H Binney), J P Spencer.

Thirsk: Smart Dancer (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; Bernard Hathaway), Jason Weaver; Star Rage (Mark Johnston, Middleham; J David Abell), Jason Weaver; Northern Svengali (David Barron, Maunby; Timothy Cox), Lynsey Hanna.

Newcastle*: Kestral (Tim Etherington, Norton; The R and R Partnership), Royston ffrench; Eastern Prophets (Michael Dods, Piercebridge; Graham and Barbara Spencer), Michael Fenton.

Saturday. - Goodwood: Surprised (Richard Fahey; Hb, D R Brotherton), Seb Sanders.

Newmarket: Amaranth (Les Eyre; M Gleason), Miss Diana Jones.

Beverley: Beyond The Clouds (John Wainwright, Kennythorpe; P Charalambous), Robert Winston; Esyoueffcee (Mick Easterby; M P Burke), John Carroll.

Cartmel NH: Pats Cross (Micky Hammond, Middleham; James Byrne), Brian Harding; Xaipete (Norman Mason, Crook), Richard Guest.

Redcar*: Tomthevic (John Quinn, Settrington; Derrick Bloy), Ollie Pears; House Of Dreams (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; J & M Leisure/Unos Restaurants), Tony Culhane; Attache (Mark Johnston; Hb, J R Good), Kevin Darley; Double Blade (Mary Reveley; The Mary Reveley Racing Club), Tony Culhane.

Windsor *: Happy Change (Mark Johnston; The Winning Line), Michael Hills.

Sunday. - Beverley: Nod's Nephew (Julie Camacho, Norton; Hb, Brian Nordon), Jason Weaver; Notation (David Chapman, Stillington; trainer), Claire Bryan; First Back (Chris Fairhurst, Middleham; Twinacre Nurseries), Tyrone Williams.

Yarmouth: Branston Fizz (Mark Johnston; J David Abell), Royston ffrench.

Monday. - Epsom: Riberac (Mark Johnston; Hb, Mr & Mrs G Middlebrook), Joe Fanning.

Warwick: Xellance (Mark Johnston; T T Bloodstocks), Keith Dalgleish.

Newcastle: Kind Regards (Mark Johnston; Maktoum Al Maktoum), John Reid; Lots Of Love (Mark Johnston; M Doyle), Michael Roberts; Fazzani (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; S A B Dinsmore), Tony Beech; Boldly Goes (Chris Fairhurst; Hb, G H & S Leggott), Ray Cochrane.

Ripon: Strong Presence (Tom Tate, Tadcaster; trainer), Terry Lucas; Altay (Richarad Fahey; Hb, John T Robson), Royston ffrench.

Cartmel NH: Charming Admiral (Ann Duffield, Constable Burton; The Old Spice Girls), Richard McGrath; Melody Lady (Ferdy Murphy, West Witton; R Sunter), J P McNamara.

Tuesday. - Ripon: Fenwicks Pride (Brian Rothwell, Musley Bank; J H Tattersall), Michael Fenton; Samadilla (Tim Easterby; W T Whittle), Kevin Darley.

Wednesday. - York: Princess Emily (Brian Rothwell; Mrs Julie Mitchell), Dean Mernagh; Middlethorpe (Mick Easterby; Hb with trainer, J H Quickfall & A G Black), Paul Hanagan