The second in a series of three meetings at Kirkland took place last night in glorious weather conditions.
As a result the hound trailing community was out in force with the number of runners increased from Saturday at Low Place.
Forty hounds contested the senior trail and it was the in-form Winterfell who came with a bit of a lead to win for Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough.
Coming home in second was the Napier family’s Foxparke Beep Beep who seems to be coming into good form at the minute. Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington’s Cautious finished in third place.
The win for Winterfell takes him to six points in the championship table, two points clear of his nearest rival Huntsman’s Quantum.
So far this season Winterfell has been consistent and injury free which puts him in a good place over the next couple of months as the major trail season gets in to gear with the Bitch Produce trail taking place on the June 3 and the Dog produce trail taking place on the July 1.
There will also be the International Trail scheduled to take place on the June 24 at Sewing Shield’s which is up in the Border Area and will provide open running which Winterfell performs well on.
There were 32 hounds slipped in the puppy race which equates to the bulk of puppies running this season.
All the top hounds were entered and it had all the makings of a good race. As they came i to sight the favourites were there and any hound in the first six had the chance to win.
Embrace, who is the current Puppy Championship leader was there, but at the first meeting at Kirkland he got wrong on the trail and was out of the race but last night he was bang up with the leaders.
However, on the finish it was Silver Dream who came through to win for Darren and Julie McMaster with Embrace only managing second for Laura Steele, Andrew and Joel Bulman and Ian Rumney.
Nicola McMaster and David Todhunter’s Rodney Raider finished in third place with the Napier’s picking up fourth and sixth place with Foxparke Fair Lady and Foxparke Dealer. Local hound Glamorous Ava only managed to finish fifth.
The first three hounds from the same litter are running well and proving to be consistent regardless of the venue and type of running.
The litter breed by Nicola McMaster out of Silver Dusk and Miterdale Copper are all running well, and other hounds to look out for out of the same litter are Artist and Artisan both with new owners but both showing promise also.
Sarah Jane, Maverick, Hey Mac and Miterdale Dust are from the same litter and have all had tickets and are showing potential.
The last race of the night was the Open Restricted, and again there was a good field of thirty two hounds.
It was a fairly open race betting wise but it was Nicola McMaster’s other hound Martha who came with a lead and held on to win from Tom and Sarah Bell’s Ron. They travel up from Yorkshire to run their hounds, and they also train Winterfell for Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough.
David Clifford’s hound Eden Romina finished in third place.
Racing returns to Kirkland for the final event of this series of three on Wednesday night. First slip is 6.30pm.
The HTA offer a warm welcome to anyone who wants to experience hound trailing first hand. Just head towards the village of Kirkland and then follow the signs.
HTA secretary Fiona Dixon said: “You not only get excellent trailing but the venue offers some of the most spectacular views across Ennerdale and the surrounding area.”
Kirkland – May 15
- Hounds – 1. Winterfell; 2. Foxparke Beep Beep; 3. Cautious; 4. Silver Streak; 5. Miterdale Duchess; 6. Busy Again. 40 ran, time 27.51.
- Pups – 1. Silver Dream; 2. Embrace; 3. Rodney Raider; 4. Foxparke Fair Lady; 5. Glamorous Ava; 6. Foxparke Dealer. 32 ran, time 19.37.
- Open Restricted – 1. Martha; 2. Ron; 3. Eden Romina; 4. Cracking Spirit; 5. Thorn Pop; 6. Tommy’s Dream. 32 ran, time 20.17.
