There was a good crowd at the traditional Rydal Sheep Dog Trials yesterday with a three-card meeting for the hound enthusiasts.
The bank overlooking the trials and the finish of the trails was packed with visitors, who enjoyed a lovely sunny afternoon.
The first trail was for the senior hounds with seven runners. Last year it was Sophie Steele’s Miterdale Dusk who took the honours and he was back out this year in a bid for a repeat win.
Also in the field was Winterfell trying to extend his lead in the championship table as well as the in-form Huntsman’s Quantum and Miterdale Duchess, so even though there were only seven runners it was a competitive race.
Those hounds have proved their worth around the local scene so a good competitive race was in prospect.
As they came onto the finish it was Winterfell who had a slight lead from Huntsman’s Quantum but the table leader then eased away and crossed the line comfortably to win the race. Huntsman’s Quantum finished well in second for the Little family.
The win takes Winterfell to 16 points in the Championship table now five points clear of his nearest rival Miterdale Duchess.
Rex The Rocket, owned by the Irving family from Seaton, was unlucky and should have finished in third place but ran off slightly on the finish to let Miterdale Duchess take the third ticket.
Rex The Rocket finished fourth with Sophie Steele’s 2022 winner Miterdale Dusk finishing in fifth place and the last ticket of the six going to Graham Reid’s Strawberry Mick.
The Open Puppy race had a reasonable slip of 16 hounds which was a nice increase on last year’s entry.
As they showed on the finish it was Denise Bland’s Huntsman’s Star who came with a lead but she was passed on the finish by the fast-finishing Glamorous Ava for James and Ava McClelland.
Their little hound has excelled over the last few weeks having won at Ambleside Sports, second at Grasmere and fourth at Ings, so she obviously likes the running conditions around that area.
Artisan finished well in second place for Paul Airey and Joanne Hodgson and in the end Huntsman’s Star had to settle for third. Sarah Jane, for Nicola McMaster and Sadie Wilson, showed the way to her more successful kennel mates yesterday to take fourth place.
Although table leader Rodney Raider and Silver Dream were running they didn’t feature in the tickets.
The third race was for the Open Restricted race again with a reasonable number of hounds involved.
As they came onto the finish it was Denise Bland’s Huntsman’s Major who came with a nice lead to win.
Tony, Marlene, Connor and Carter Irving were having a good day with their other hound Bob finishing well in second place, improving on last year’s performance where he finished in fifth place.
Bob was then followed home by Ron for the Bell family. It gave them a first and a third place to make their long trip up from Yorkshire worthwhile.
The Steele family took home fourth with Miterdale Honesty and fifth with Kinniside Bobby, while Zac and Jake Green were sixth with Green Flyer.
Action moves to the weekend with Rusland Show on Saturday when a four card meeting has each trail worth £40.
The family of the late Jean Metcalf have donated the Jean Metcalf Memorial Challenge Shield which will be won by the hound with the most points at Rusland trails. Jean was an active member of the hound trailing community in the south of the county for many years.
The first slip at Rusland Show takes place at 1.30pm and then on Sunday, Wythop stages the first of two four card meetings with the Senior and the Open Puppy races being run for the Nasher Memorial Trophies and the Open Maiden and Open Restricted races being run for the Maurice Bewley Memorial Trophies.
Both ‘Nasher’ and Maurice contributed to hound trailing for many years in their local areas. First slip on Sunday at Wythop is at 1pm. As always catering and on field booking making available.
August 17 – Rydal Sheep Dog Trials
- Hounds – 1. Winterfell 2. Huntsman’s Quantum; 3. Miterdale Duchess; 4. Rex The Rocket; 5. Miterdale Dusk; 6. Strawberry Mick. 7 ran, time 32.02.
- Pups – 1. Glamorous Ava; 2. Artisan; 3. Huntsman’s Star; 4. Sarah Jane; 5. Miterdale Diamond; 6. Huntsman’s Sunshine. 16 ran, time 16.24.
- Open Restricted – 1. Huntsman’s Major; 2. Bob; 3. Ron; 4. Miterdale Honesty; 5. Kinniside Bobby; 6. Green Flyer. 13 ran, time 16.15.
