Buttermere enjoyed very pleasant conditions, weather-wise, for the latest HTA meeting last night.
A warm wind and sunshine greeted the hounds and followers as opposed to the wind and rain, given that Buttermere often has its very own weather system.
The evening got underway with the senior hounds but only a small field of six perhaps reflecting the early start and the ability of hound owners to get time off work to attend.
However, it was a competitive field with Huntsman’s Rebel being the odds-on favourite at 4/5 on with the rest of the field sitting at 6/4 without.
Buttermere is probably one of the few trails where you get a good view of the hounds running the course as they navigate up and round the fell.
As they came round the front of the fell in view of the field it was Huntsman’s Rebel who had a nice lead, although she was hard to pick out.
Her tan colour blended into the landscape and with the bracken up the punters had to look closely to make sure they didn’t miss any of the hounds going through.
In close pursuit was Huntsman’s Quantum and Black Edition for Lisa Whitfield who was running a cracker of the race early on and the pair were close together in pursuit of the Rebel.
As they climbed up again before dropping down onto the finish Huntsman’s Rebel had maintained her lead and once on the flat finish came in nicely, even giving the judge and catcher who were standing on the line, a little look over to say that’s how you do it.
Next to finish was the Little’s Huntsman’s Quantum who also finished nicely and was followed home by Christine Brownlee’s Malia.
Huntsman’s Quirk, Denise Bland’s second hound finished in fourth place. Perhaps it was the fish finger that it pinched from Teddy Burrows on the slipping line that weighed it down and stopped it keeping up with its kennel mate Huntsman’s Rebel!
Black Edition finished in fifth, having dropped back a little after her impressive first half of the trail, and Joanna, Molly and Teddy Burrow’s Thorn Thunder finished in sixth place.
Next to the slip were the Open Pups with again a small field of just six hounds. Mel set off as the bookies’ favourite at even money with the rest of the field sitting at 2/1.
As they came back round in front of the field four hounds had broken away but as they dropped down the fell to the finishing field and came back into sight Graham Reid’s Money Talks had gained a lead and finished well to win.
It was a good race for second with Mel clearing the last fence in second closely followed by Croft Lass and Huntsman’s Sunshine.
On the run-in, though, it was Carol and Stanley Jackson’s Croft Lass who finished exceptionally well to take second place with Mel finishing in third for Graham and Les Reid and Denise Bland’s Huntsman’s Sunshine in fourth.
The Open Maidens were next to slip with a bigger field of 15 runners. Huntsman’s Sparkle and Ruby were joint favourites at 2/1 as they set off.
As they came back round in front of the field it was Huntsman’s Sparkle who was setting the pace and had a slight lead but as they dropped down through the heavy bracken it was difficult to make-out the hounds.
The trailer Phil Graham said that the bracken is really high this year and at points was over his head which is saying something given that Phil is quite tall.
When they came into the clear as they dropped in it was Brian Graham’s Eleanor’s Lass that was now running with Huntsman’s Sparkle. Up the finish Huntsman’s Sparkle just faded slightly and Eleanor’s Lass finished well to take the win.
Although Huntsman’s Sparkle was second, her new trainers Tracy, Derek and Carolyn Hill were pleased with her performance. Owned by Denise Bland she is now having a holiday with the Hill’s and from her performance at Buttermere seems to be settling in well.
The last race of the night was for the Open Restricted with 19 runners.
As they dropped down to the finishing field it was a good race with the majority of hounds still together.
When they got through on the finishing field it was Julie Birkenshaw’s Bretton who came away from the group of hounds to win nicely. In second place was Colin Satterthwaite’s Thorn Pop.
Action moves to Calebreak on Thursday evening with a three card meeting with the first trail slipping at 6pm. Let’s hope that the weather is kinder to them than it was last week.
Buttermere – August 22
- Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Rebel; 2. Huntsman’s Quantum; 3. Malia; 4. Huntsman’s Quirk; 5. Black Edition; 6. Thorn Thunder. 6 ran, time 32.19.
- Pups – 1. Money Talks; 2. Croft Lass; 3. Mel; 4. Huntsman’s Sunshine; 5. Thorn Gift; 6. Barncroft Silver. 6 ran, time 21.36.
- Open Maiden – 1. Eleanor’s Lass; 2. Huntsman’s Sparkle; 3. Foxparke Fair Lady; 4. Ruby; 5. Foxparke Parma Violet; 6. Eden Romina. 15 ran, time 20.44.
- Open Restricted – 1. Bretton; 2. Thorn Pop; 3. Thorn Rose; 4. Summer Spirit; 5. Dead Heat – Huntsman’s Major and Charisma. 19 ran, time 20.24.
