Bank Holiday Monday produced another warm day for hound trailing enthusiasts – and the chance of a look round the course for the big weekend trails.
It’s the Bitch Produce Stakes at Bridekirk on Saturday and yesterday’s trails were an opportunity for the hounds to see what awaits them at the weekend.
However, the warm weather did cause a dilemma for hound owners, whether to run their hounds or leave them until next week in order to keep them sound and injury free.
Monday’s trails today were for the Mitchell’s Auction Trophies and as it turned out the number of runners weren’t too bad.
The first race of the day was for the senior hounds and there were 20 hounds entered although the Championship leader Winterfell was not among them. The owners decided to rest him following quite a long trail at the weekend which he won.
At the top of the bookies board were Cautious and Silver Streak with the latter having won three times as a puppy round the shorter course. It would be interesting to see how she would fare over the longer senior trail.
Duchess Ava was also running but as yet this season hasn’t shown the same winning form as she did as a puppy.
As the hounds went through in front of everyone at the half-way point it was the two Miterdale hounds who were in front with the rest of the hounds following.
As they came back onto the finish it was Duchess Ava and what everyone thought was Silver Streak. The two hounds battled it out over the long finish and there was only half a yard separating them as they crossed the line with Duchess Ava getting the verdict for James and Ava McClelland.
What everyone thought was Silver Streak actually turned out to be Huntsman’s Rally. Both hounds are white and look remarkably the same but both had obviously taken a dip in a muddy water pool and were even harder to distinguish. It was a surprise second place for Glenis and Raymond Farren.
There was also a special prize for the first senior maiden to finish which was Foxparke Mysteriously who finished in fifth place. She won £10 plus the Senior Maiden Trophy which had kindly been sponsored by Billy Birkett.
There was a good turn-out of pups with 22 runners and all the top dogs were taking part so it had built up to a good race. Rodney Raider was favourite with Silver Dream, while Mel and Embrace close behind on the bookies board.
As the hounds came onto the finish there was half a dozen hounds with a slight lead over the rest of them and as they neared the line two hounds had a slight advantage.
Hitting the line it was hard to separate them and the judge had to refer to the camera, After careful checking he gave the result as a dead heat between Rodney Raider for Nicola McMaster and David Todhunter and Mel for Graham Reid. Artist for Bill Melon was a close third.
The bookies seemed to be pleased with the dead heat as they had obviously taking quite a few bets on the two hounds.
A slightly smaller field of puppy maidens were entered for their trail when it was Nicola McMaster and Sadie Wilson’s Sarah Jane who just got up to beat Miterdale Dust for Sophie Steele with there just being half a length in it. It completed a double for Nicola.
Graham Reid’s Money Talks finished in third place, some distance behind, before the rest of the runners came in.
The last race of the day saw the most runners with 27 taking part for the open restricted grade and a number of hounds featured at the top of the bookies board.
Maverick and Martha were featured heavily. However, when the hounds came on to the finish it was a good race as they headed towards the finishing line where Sandra Mordue, Ted Storrow, Megan Telford and Lee Wall’s Denton Shamrock held on to the lead and crossed the line in first place.
Maverick finished in second place for Joseph Abraham and Sadie Wilson with Swamp Fox finishing in third place for Tania Satterthwaite.
The second of three meetings at Cleamire takes place on Wednesday with the first race slipping at 6.00pm before all eyes move to the weekend with the first of the Produce Stakes taking place.
With increased prize money and trophies for each race plus rosettes all the races are sponsored by local organisations including GA Wilson Plastering Contractors, Holmen Iggesund, TPH Plant Hire, L Skelton and Son, Lonsdale Building and Joinery and the Cockermouth Supporters Club.
HTA secretary Fiona Dixon said: “It’s a very big thank you to everyone for supporting the hound trails and of course to all the farmers who allow the trails to be run over their land.
“On Saturday there will be on-field catering provided by Alex Kerb Side Kitchen, a beer tent provided by Melbreak Fox Hounds and as always on field book making for anyone who fancies a bet on one of the hounds.
“Anyone wanting to attend head towards the village of Bridekirk and then towards the church. Directly opposite the church there is a lane that cuts up between the farm which will be signposted. Follow the lane and you will come to the trail field.”
May 29 – Bridekirk
- Hounds – 1. Duchess Ava; 2. Huntsman’s Rally; 3. Miterdale Dusk; 4. Foxparke Beep Beep; 5. Foxparke Mysteriously; 6. Kinniside Bobby. 20 ran, time 28.47.
- Pups – Dead Heat – 1. Rodney Raider and Mel; 3. Artist; 4. Thorn Gift; 5. Silver Dream; 6. Foxparke Sidekick. 22 ran, time 20.08.
- Puppy Maiden – 1. Sarah Jane; 2. Miterdale Dust; 3. Money Talks; 4. Hey Mac; 5. Miterdale Dainty; 6. Maggie Moon. 15 ran, time 21.12.
- Open Restricted – 1. Denton Shamrock; 2. Maverick; 3. Swamp Fox; 4. Thorn Pop; 5. Martha; 6. Meadow Maggie. 27 ran, time 18.28.