There was an early start for trailing enthusiasts on Sunday with the first race at Grasmere Sports going off at 11am.
The open pups were slipped, the first of four races on the card but there was only a small field of eight runners.
They lined up in the main ring for the slip, with many spectators excited to be seeing the hounds close up.
As they set off Money Talks, who had won the course look round earlier in the month, was favourite in the bookies ring at 6/4.
As they showed on the top of the fell to come back down to the field Andy Horn who was on the loud speaker gave everyone a running commentary of the hounds and directed the crowd to where the hounds could be seen.
As the hounds came down the hill before crossing the road the crowd was asked to be quiet to allow the hounds to be able to hear their handlers call them.
As they crossed the road it was a good race between the favourite Money Talks for Graham Reid and Denise Bland’s Huntsman’s Sunshine, as they were neck and neck for a while.
It was Money Talks who just came away as they crossed the line and the win earned Graham the lion’s share of the £160 prize money plus the Michael Pattinson Centenary Cup. It certainly was Money Talks!
Next up was the Open Restricted trail with 11 runners. They too started in the main ring with a couple of hounds deciding rather than run the trail they would have a look around the sports field with one even going in the main pavilion to see what was happening. The remaining hounds were soon out of sight and running the trail.
As they came back into sight there were three hounds with a slight lead and it was a good race to line with Missriff for Denise Bland getting there for the win with a yard between her and the second hound Ron who had ran well for Tom and Sarah Bell from Yorkshire.
Christine Brownlee’s Malia finished well in third followed home by Isla Hetherington and Stephen Riley’s Ruby. Isla and her family had broken off a holiday to come to the sports and allow her to attend to her hounds Ruby and Cautious who would be running in the senior race. Now there’s dedication for you.
The win for Missriff earned her the £60 first place prize money as well as the Ken Bunting Memorial Helm Crag Cup.
Next to race were the Veterans, again with 11 runners and Huntsman’s Major was favourite as they started the race.
As they showed on the top it was Roy Laidler’s hound Cuckoo Lane who was in the lead followed closely by Forlorn Spring. As they navigated their way down the hill and crossed the road they were together with nothing separating them.
Almost at the line it looked as though Cuckoo Lane had just managed to get his nose in front and after the judge had referred to the camera it was confirmed that Roy’s charge, to his obvious delight, had won it.
Forlorn Spring had ran a cracking race for Stuart Jeynes given that he has never been over the trail before. He earned another five points to add to his tally and gives him an eighteen point lead in the Veteran Points Competition.
Whilst everyone was waiting for the Senior hounds to run it was time for the Puppy Show to take place.
Former champion trainer Victor Brownlee kindly agreed to be the judge for the day and his eye was drawn to one of the bitch pups and dog pups from the litter that had been bred by Carol and Stanley Jackson by Charisma and Cuckoo Lane. The overall winner of the two was Tony Irving’s Leo.
The final race of the day was the senior hounds who were competing for a share of £320 prize money as well as the Myles Higgin-Birkett Trophy.
There were twelve runners with the expected fancied hounds involved, including table leader Winterfell, Huntsman’s Quantum and Miterdale Duchess.
The question was could Winterfell redeem himself after the look round race where he made a slight mistake at the gate coming down which let Huntsman’s Quantum take the win.
As the punters watched the hounds on the far fell Winterfell was dominating the race but could he keep it going until he came onto the finish.
As they came back into sight at the top of the fell Winterfell had slipped back to second place and Huntsman’s Quantum had gained a slight advantage.
Winterfell just couldn’t catch up as they dropped down even when Huntsman’s Quantum started to fade slightly on the finish as there was still too big of a gap to make up and he had to settle for second place.
Connections for Huntsman’s Quantum were well pleased with his performance on a course which he obviously loves. All in all, the day had gone really well. There were more dogs running this year which gave the general public an excellent view of the sport.
The outcome of the £200 cash for points competition was won jointly by Money Talk’s and Huntsman’s Quantum with Winterfell in third place. Many thanks go to South Lakes, Grasmere Sports and to Andy Horn’s Criffel Vue private Hire for donating the prize money.
The Chris Swainson Memorial Cup for the best young handler was also given out and it was a tie between last years winner Sophie Steele and Ellie Napier, so well done to both of them.
The Sports Manager Deborah Black had been over the moon with the day’s events and the feedback that she had received on the day from many people regarding the hound trailing.
She made a point of thanking the South Lakes Area Committee for organizing things on the day, the trailers, Stanley Jackson, Danny Lyon, John Griesdale and Alan Irving and Andy Horn for doing the running commentary on the day which the general public had found very helpful.
Whilst there was excitement at Grasmere there was also excitement in Ireland as a number of the HTA dogs had travelled over to run in the Donal O’Mahoney Trail.
James McClelland had travelled with Glamorous Ava; Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham had taken Not Now Zola and Hunter’s Zodiac and Neil and Gillian Brown had made the trip with Hey Mac and Dundee.
The race this year was taking place at Blarney and was being hosted by Cork City and County Harrier Association. James’ hound Glamorous Ava ran in the Open Puppy race and came home first much to the delight of the traveling HTA contingency. Well done to him and the little hound.
The others who visited saw Hunter’s Zodiac finish in sixth place, with Hey Mac eighth, Zola in her grade finishing 12th and Dundee finishing in 17th.
Action returns to the west of the county this week with the Ennerdale Show taking place on Wednesday with another four-card meeting. First trail slipping at 1pm.
Then there are two trail meetings on the Thursday both at opposite ends of the county one taking place at Lowick and the other taking place at Sewing Shield along the Military Road, so plenty of choice for everyone this week for running their hounds.
August 27 – Grasmere Sports
- Pups – 1. Money Talks; 2. Huntsman’s Sunshine; 3. Miterdale Diamond; 4. Huntsman’s Star; 5. Mel; 6. Miterdale Dust. 8 ran, time 17.40.
- Open Restricted – Missriff; 2. Ron; 3. Malia; 4. Ruby; 5. Foxpark Sassy Girl; 6. Thorn Rose. 11 ran, time 17.45.
- Veterans – 1. Cuckoo Lane; 2. Forlorn Spring; 3. Foxparke Jiggly Puff; 4. Monsoon; 5. Foxparke Shackalackaboomboom; 6. Cracking Spirit. 11 ran, time 18.08.
- Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Quantum; 2.Winterfell; 3. Kinniside Bobby; 4. Overwater Eddie; 5. Cautious; 6. Miterdale Dusk. 12 ran, time 31.18.
