As hound trailing moves into the last month of competitive running the last of the Major HTA meetings take place tomorrow at Uldale.
It’s been a number of years since trails were held at this particular venue so it should be good open running for the hounds, and Tuesday’s look round suggests that will be the case.
The HTA promote five major trails throughout the season with each trail having prize money of £160 plus rosettes and cups.
The first one takes place on the first May Bank Holiday. This year the trail was hosted by the Carlisle and Penrith Area and was held at Helton near Penrith. Helton offers wide open running and spectacular view over the surrounding areas, ideal running for the hounds.
The senior hounds was won by Winterfell, which was an early indication of things to come as the season progressed and Winterfell took hold of the senior championship race.
The Open pups also gave a glimpse of things to come from the two stand out litters of the season Silver Dusk and Mitredale Copper and Jenny’s Aura and Foxparke Billy Elliot.
The Open pups was won by Embrace followed by Rodney Raider then Silver Dream all from the Silver Dusk and Mitredale Copper litter. Fourth, fifth and sixth being won by Mel, Glamorous Ava and Huntsman’s Sparkle, all from the Jenny’s Aura and Foxparke Billy Elliot litter.
So both current Championship holders got off to a good start at the season’s first major trail.
The Bitch Produce Stakes was the next Major HTA trail to take place, hosted by the Cockermouth and Workington Area it was held at Bridekirk.
This venue offers a different terrain for the dogs to navigate – fields and dykes but with good viewing as the hounds pass the main field and then providing one of the longest finishes in the Association for the spectators to watch as the hounds battle it out on the undulating finishing field.
Winterfell was less prominent at these trails but perhaps it wasn’t his type of running, as the season would show later on with his preference seeming to be the open running of the fell and moorland.
However the puppy races were dominated by the top litter and by the Dearham kennel od Joe Abram and Nicola McMaster with both puppy races being won by them with Silver Dream winning the Bitch Produce Stakes and Rodney Raider winning the open puppy race.
By early June Rodney Raider had notched up 10 wins and was leading the puppy championship. Winterfell was also out in the lead with nine wins in the senior championship.
The test would be to see if the Dearham kennel could make it a double in winning the Dog Produce Stakes.
These trails are traditionally held in July and were hosted again by the Cockermouth and Workington Area on behalf of the HTA but this time they were held in what was the former Keswick Area and were promoted by the Keswick Supporters group at Latrigg Top.
With spectacular views over Keswick and the surrounding areas Latrigg Top is probably one of the most scenic trails.
Latrigg Top offered a different terrain again with step fell and is one of the toughest trails to run with a very step up hill climb to the finish.
But the top litter didn’t disappoint in the Dog Produce race with the first three coming from the Silver Dusk and Miterdale Copper litter. Rodney Raider pulled it out of the bag to just get up and win the race from his sibling Embrace.
In the open pups the first three came from the other litter Jenny’s Aura and Foxparke Billy Elliot. The results show just how versatile and tough these hounds are.
The Premier Trails are held mid-summer and this year were hosted by the Carlisle and Penrith Area and promoted by the Border Supporters group at Edges Green on behalf of the HTA, a venue that was formerly part of the Border Association prior to the merger at the start of the season.
Winterfell came through to win showing his preference for the open running as did Rodney Raider to win the open pups. Not surprising that these two hounds won as they had continue to dominate throughout the season.
By August both hounds were still clear in the championship table and were four points clear of their nearest rivals.
On Saturday the senior hounds will be running for the Vaux Gold Cup which dates back to the early years when it used to be part of the International Hound Trails.
The October Trails at Uldale may also play to Winterfell and Rodney Raider’s strengths and round off what has been an excellent year for both kennels.
The Chairman of the HTA Paul Airey speaking on behalf of the Executive Committee acknowledged all the hard work that is put in to arranging the trails for these big events and thanked everyone for their efforts and contributions however small.
He also thanked all our sponsors this year which included Holmen Iggesund, Mike Fell, Keswick, Keswick Cottages, Alan McNichol, Mitchell’s Auction, TPH Plant Hire, GA Wilson Plastering, L Skelton and Son. Lonsdale Building and Joinery Ltd, Penrith and District Farmers Auction.
Last but not least he also thanked all the farmers and land owners for granting permission to run the trails as ever without their support trailing would not be able to take place.
There will be a five-card meeting on Saturday with the first trail slipping at noon.
Information for anyone wishing to come to the trails – if travelling up through Uldale village itself keep going up the hill over the cattle grid and up onto the moor and you will come to the trail field on your left hand side.
If travelling from Caldbeck village head towards Uldale and again you should come across the trail field on the side of the road. Everyone welcome and there will be refreshments and on field bookies available on the day.
