Hunter’s Flame moves closer to championship at meet in memory of Michael Renney

Hunter’s Flame winner of the Senior Hounds at Millstone Moor pictured with Caroline Graham and family members of the late Michael Renney. Carol, Michael’s wife and daughters Tracy and Becca and grand children Kate, Joshua and Hallie.

Hunter’s Flame has moved to within two of the lead in the HTA Seniors championship.

Caroline Graham’s title challenger won at Millstone Moor in a trail which included the six leading hounds.

At the halfway point table leader Duchess Ava was lying second with Hunter’s Flame in fourth but as they came up from the bottoms and started to climb to the top of Millstone Moor any number of hounds had a chance to come away from the pack.

As the reached the penultimate field Miterdale Duchess had the lead, which she maintained all the way up the hill.

Close behind was Hunter’s Flame with Martha before a slight gap to Miterdale Dusk and Apache.

Fly Me To The Moon winner of the Open Maiden race at Millstone Moor pictured with Oliver, Eleanor and Harry.

It was neck and neck between Miterdale Duchess and Hunter’s Flame approaching the line but when they hit the line there was a nose in it.

Hunter’s Flame took the honours while table leader Duchess Ava had apparently misjudged the last wall but finished fast up the hill to earn sixth place for James McClelland.

The meeting at Millstone Moor was held in memory of Michael Renney, of Cockermouth, a long-standing supporter of hound-trailing.

Silver Dancer winner of the Open Restricted race at Millstone Moor pictured with Nicola McMaster and the late Michael Renney’s family members.

He was an active member of the Cockermouth and Workington Area as well as the Cockermouth Supporters Club and was the bookmakers representative on the executive committee.

It proved to be a great day’s racing, highlighted by the brilliant senior trail, with plenty of dogs, a really good atmosphere and some exciting finishes.

In the open pups table leader and champion elect Huntsman’s Rebel had the lead at half-way and coming into sight had a small advantage.

She came up the high well to maintain her lead and score her 28^th win, putting her 16 clear of Ned’s Gain.

The Napiers’ Foxparke Beep Beep finished strongly to take second ahead of Nicola McMaster’s Silver Streak. Beep Beep is now 18 behind the table leader.

Huntsman’s Rebel winner of the Open Pups and the Eric Walker cup pictured with Jenny Bland, Graeme Little and members of the late Michael Renny’s family, daughters Tracy and Becca as well as grand children Kate, Joshua and Hallie.

The open maidens trail was contested by 21 hounds and they produced an exciting finish with several having a chance at the last gate.

Fly Me To the Moon, owned by the Chisholm family, held on to win from Tony Jackson’s Kinniside Dan and Tania Satterthwaite’s Samcro.

The meeting ended with the open restricted and it was Nicola McMaster’s Silver Dancer who led in the field of 25 runners.

She came with a good lead but Tracy Hill’s Milo Moon was catching-up all the while before the line came just in time for the Dearham hound.

September 17 – Millstone Moor

Hounds – 1. Hunter’s Flame 2. Miterdale Duchess 3. Martha 4. Miterdale Dusk 5. Apache; 6. Duchess Ava. 15 ran, time 27.15.
Pups – 1. Huntsman’s Rebel; 2. Foxparke Beep Beep; 3. Silver Streak; 4. Foxparke Mysteriously; 5. Lady Million; 6. Thorn Thunder. 21 ran, time 17.06.
Open Maiden – 1. Fly Me To The Moon; 2. Kinniside Dan; 3. Samcro; 4. Thorn Rose; 5. Foxparke Shackalackaboomboom; 6. Foxparke Who Gives A Toss. 21 ran, time 17.56.
Open Restricted – 1. Silver Dancer; 2. Milo Moon; 3. Thorn Snap; 4. Oakbank Izzy; 5. Miterdale Honesty; 6. Foxparke Lady Ava. 25 ran, time 17.42.