The last of the series of trails at Wythop was held on Saturday with fine weather and a good crowd with all proceeds given to local charities.
The afternoon got underway with the senior hounds where Foxparke Beep Beep was looking to repeat her impressive win last time round the course.
She set off as favourite in the bookies ring and at the first road crossing was bang up with the leading hounds.
As they came back on to the top of the fell she was still there but as they dropped down she over shot slightly and had to double back on her self which gave the advantage to Lady Million and Dundee.
As they came through the last gate she was only a bad third but finished really well to pass Dundee and get second place.
Lady Million had just got too far in front of her for ‘Bubbles’ to catch her but the winner also finished really well for Joy and Brian Lister, making it her third senior championship win of the season.
Neil and Gillian Brown were pleased with how Dundee had ran finishing in third place. Strawberry Mick finished in fourth place for Graham Reid who was pleased with his performance with two wins and a fourth in just over a week.
Joy and Brian’s other hound Dream Catcher finished well in fifth place with the Foxparke team bagging another ticket with Foxparke Mysteriously finishing in sixth place.
Next to the slip were the Open Pups with a field of just nine hounds. Kennel-mates Mel and Money Talks were joint favourites in the bookies ring and as they showed on the top there were plenty of hounds in with a chance.
But once they came through the last gate two of the hounds had gained a slight lead Sarah Jane and Mel. Both hounds finished really well but Les and Graham Reid’s Mel just couldn’t catch her and Sarah Jane crossed the line in front by a couple of lengths for Nicola McMaster and Sadie Wilson.
They were followed home by the fast finishing Hey Mac who had ran a cracking race for Neil and Gillian Brown to finish in third place.
Graham Reid’s other hound Money Talks finished a respectable fourth place followed closely by Carol and Stanley Jackson’s Croft Lass. There was a gap to the sixth hound which was the McMaster’s other hound Maverick.
The open maidens were next to be slipped and there was a field of 15 runners. The Foxparke kennel had several runners so would be the ones to watch.
As they came into sight on the top two hounds had a slight lead and according to the pundits were Foxparke Whoosh and Samcro.
Would Foxparke Whoosh stay on to take the win as she tends to ease up once she knows she has nearly finished? As they came through the last gate they were neck and neck and on the run to the line, but this time little Foxparke Whoosh held on and crossed the line in first place much to Gracie’s delight.
Samcro for Tania Satterthwaite was second and then there was a gap to the next hounds all three being from the same kennel, Foxparke Dealer, Foxparke Danny Elliot and Foxparke Rumour. The last ticket of the race went to Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgina Bryden’s Eagle Star.
The last race of the day was for the open restricted race with 18 runners and Thorn Pop was looking to gain further points to catch Maverick who heads up the Open Restricted points competition.
Maverick was finished in the competition a few weeks ago having won his quota in this grade and Thorn Pop has just been chipping away at the lead ever since.
The in-form Red Baaeed was also running as well as the local hound Trinket who was the favourite in the bookies ring.
As they showed on the top it was Thorn Pop and Red Baaeed who were in front and they were both still there as they came through the last gate.
As they crossed the line Thorn Pop just got up by a short head to take the win for Colin Satterthwaite giving him another six points in the Open Restricted points competition but also taking away one of his permitted wins. The difference now between the top two dogs is down to just 10 points.
Anne Reay was well pleased with her hound finishing in second place and he seems to have really got a new lease of life. Perhaps it was the extra dinner that belonged to his kennel mate that he had the day before that made the difference.
Donna Bingham and Alex Steele’s Oakbank Izzy finished in third place followed home by the favourite Trinket who finished fourth. The last two tickets of the day went to Carolyn, Tracey and Derek Hill’s Milo Moon and Sarah Harper’s Delta Style.
The final meeting was sponsored by Lindsay and Sons Butchers from Cockermouth, and promoter Ricky Deacon thanked everyone who had contributed to the funds and who had helped put on the trails.
The trails are in the Borders at Carret Rigg this afternoon and next week there are just two trails. Tuesday sees a return to Dearham for the second in the series being held there with Thursday staging the last trail to be held this year at Fellside.
September 23 – Wythop
- Hounds – 1. Lady Million; 2. Foxparke Beep Beep; 3. Dundee; 4. Strawberry Mick; 5. Dream Catcher; 6. Foxparke Mysteriously. 16 ran, time 27.19.
- Pups – 1. Sarah Jane; 2. Mel; 3. Hey Mac; 4. Money Talks; 5. Croft Lass; 6. Maverick. 9 ran, time 17.50.
- Open Maidens – 1. Foxparke Whoosh; 2. Samcro; 3. Foxparke Dealer; 4. Foxparke Danny Elliot; 5. Foxparke Rumour; 6. Eagle Star. 15 ran, time 18.27.
- Open Restricted – 1. Thorn Pop; 2. Red Baaeed; 3. Oakbank Izzy; 4. Trinket; 5. Milo Moon; 6. Delta Style. 18 ran, time 17.55.
