After a break in trailing following the May Day Trails at Helton, the number of runners was up for the resumption of the HTA programme with people keen to get a run with their hounds.
Lowther Park, Cold Fell staffed the meeting and the Senior trail saw 37 hounds slipped with the favourite Winterfell being taken on by his brother Kirkhead Rebel.
Miterdale Duchess was another of the fancied hounds after recent runs but there was a surprise runner in Huntsman’s Rebel last year’s puppy champion who had not been seen much so far.
The trail itself was a new one, the same running as Cold Fell but just a different way round and it proved to be a long trail in comparison taking the senior houndd over 36 mins to complete it.
When the hounds showed it was Denise Bland’s Huntsman’s Rebel who demonstrated just what a good hound she is by coming home to take her first win of the 2023 season.
The two litter brothers Winterfell and Kirkhead Rebel were there, finishing second and fourth with Brian and Joy Lister’s Lady Million separating them.
In the puppy race there was a good entry of 33 and it wat Bill Mellon and Co’s Artist that came with a lead and held on to cross the line from the Napier’s Foxparke Side Kick and Denise Bland’s pup Huntsman’s Sunshine in third place.
The Open Maiden race had 37 hounds slipped and it was Brian Graham’s Young Harry that took first place. Young Harry showed promise as a pup but then didn’t run much last year. He may be coming back into good form for Brian and he beat home Martin and Molly Burrows’ Thorn Thunder.
The last race of the day was the Open Restricted race and it was Donna and Shaun Hetherington’s Tesla who is in really good order at the moment, coming home first to extend his lead in the Open Restricted Points Competition to 27 with the remaining pack on 11 points.
Tesla beat home Geoff Higgins’ Lucky Charm and Julie Birkinshaw’s Bretton.
The next action is back at Lowther Park on Monday afternoon with a four card race with the first slip at 1pm
May 6 2023 – Lowther Park, Cold Fell
Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Rebel; 2. Winterfell; 3. Lady Million; 4. Kirkhead Rebel; . Miterdale Duchess; 6. Miterdale Dusk. 37 ran, time 36.20.
Pups – 1. Artist; 2. Foxparke Side Kick; 3. Huntsman’s Sunshine; 4. Foxparke Brum Brum; 5. Hunter’s Zodiac; 6. Thorn Bear. 33 ran, time 20.20.
Open Maiden – 1. Young Harry; 2. Thorn Thunder; 3. Milo Moon; 4. Foxparke Mo Farren; 5. Foxparke Who Gives A Toss; 6. Foxparke Buggar Boo. 37 ran, time 20.02.
Open Restricted – 1. Tesla; 2. Lucky Charm; 3. Bretton; 4. Blue Diamond; 5. Explore; 6. Hawkswood. 29 ran, time 19.52.
