The HTA senior championship has joint leaders after the South Lakes Classic meeting held at Dubbs Lane, Windermere.
With pleasant conditions and a decent crowd 11 senior hounds were slipped for the opener, including several leading contenders for the title.
Into the last month of the season it’s still all to play for as long-time leader Duchess Ava has seen her advantage whittled away.
Her nearest rival Jenny’s Quest was sent off favourite but as they came in sight for the first time passing the field it was Kirkhead Rebel and Winterfell who were battling it out.
However when they showed at the top of the fell before dropping down it was Jenny’s Quest who led with Kirkhead Rebel three or four yards behind.
That was how they finished with Roy Laidler’s charge unable to get any closer before the line.
That win for Denise Bland’s hound takes her level with Duchess Ava on 10 wins each with 15 meetings in the fixture list before the end of the season.
There were only five maidens but with two experienced hounds Cuckoo Lane and Imagine it promised to be an interesting race.
As they came over the top of the hill it was Cuckoo Lane who showed in front and despite his dodgy ankles managed to finish well and hold off the second hound Thorn Thunder.
In actual fact Thorn Thunder would normally have run in a junior race for pups but connections obviously wanted to see how he would shape in a longer trail. Given he finished second to an experienced hound he didn’t do too badly.
Imagine could only finish third but that was enough to take him to the top of the senior maiden grade championship.
There were nine pups but table leader and champion elect Huntsman’s Rebel wasn’t among them.
But Ned’s Gain, second in the table and fresh from a win at the weekend was sent off favourite.
As they showed and passed the field he was in front but after a couple of jumps he dropped back to fourth as they went out of sight.
It was Glenis and Raymond Farron’s Huntsman’s Rally who showed first on the top and led them down to the finish with Malcolm and Ann Holmes’ Sweet Dreams and Brian and Joy Lister’s Lady Million in third.
The open non-winners trail had ten runners and it was Robyn Napier’s pair of Foxparke Rumour and Foxparke Jiggered who came with the lead and went on to take first and second ahead of Carol and Stanley Jackson’s Clementine.
The open restricted had the biggest field with 18 taking part and although several had appeared to be in with a chance it was Carol and Stanley Jackson’s Charisma who showed with a slight lead and she was able to hold on and beat Thorn Pop and Denton Shamrock.
Although only five contested the final veterans trail there were some top hounds involved and as they first showed Hawkswood was in front of General James by a good few yards with Miterdale Shadow in third.
General James appeared to be making up ground as they went out of sight, so when they re-appeared it was no surprise to see he had gone on from there and had a good lead.
That was maintained to the line with Hawkswood and Miterdale Shadow following him home. That win takes General James well clear in the veterans championship and the title seems to be assured.
October 3 – Dubbs Lane South Lakes Classic
- Hounds – 1. Jenny’s Quest; 2. Kirkhead Rebel; 3. Miterdale Duchess; 4. Winterfell; 5. Reebok; 6. Howgill Lil. 11 ran, time 27.07.
- Maidens – 1. Cuckoo Lane; 2. Thorn Thunder; 3. Imagine; 4. Foxparke Joey Elliot; 5. Solitaire. 5 ran, time 30.27.
- Pups – 1. Huntsman’s Rally; 2. Sweet Dreams; 3. Lady Million; 4. Ned’s Gain; 5. Miterdale Shade; 6. Eagle Love. 9 ran, time 21.09.
- Open Non-Winners – 1. Foxparke Rumour; 2. Foxparke Jiggered; 3. Clementine; 4. Meadow Maggie; 5. Black Eyed Mist; 6. Red Baaeed. 10 ran, time 24.07.
- Open Restricted – 1. Charisma; 2. Thorn Pop; 3. Denton Shamrock; 4. Bretton; 5. Oakbank Izzy; 6. Foxparke Lady Ava. 18 ran, time 21.08.
- Veterans – 1. General James; 2. Hawkswood; 3. Miterdale Shadow; 4. Foxparke Hooligan; 5. Manna. 5 ran, time 21.20.
