Friday night saw the first of two trial trails at Kirkland when the weather was dry but bitterly cold.
The pups had a good slip of 20 and the running was a little more open fell which suits some dogs better than others.
As they showed on the finish three seemed to have a lead over the rest of the pack and as they approached the line Foxparke Toot Toot just got clear by a couple of yards to take the win for Robyn, Ellie and Gracie Napier and Brook Butler.
Brain and Erin Rawlinson’s Blue Striker finished well in second place and remains one of the most consistent hounds running at the moment with three tickets out of four.
Countess Ava has also been consistent and finished not far behind in third place to give her four out of four tickets. The trial trail was about the equivalent of a full puppy trail just passing 15 minutes.
The senior hounds were next to slip and it was a good night for James and Ava McClelland with their hound Duchess Ava crossing the line in first place by a short head, beating Foxparke Honk Honk and then Foxparke Fairlady with really only a yard between all three hounds.
Last to go were the All-In runners with a slightly smaller field of 10 hounds. As they showed on the finish it was Les and Graham Reid’s Strawberry Mick who finished well and who crossed the line 10-15 yards clear of James and Ava McClelland’s Glamourous Ava.
Off-Spring was about 50 yards behind and crossed the line in third place for Stuart and Jacob Jeynes and is another who seems to be gaining in confidence and is running well at the moment.
Action moves to Kirkbride tomorrow down near the Airfields, with a different type of running again. The first trial sets off at 2pm.
For details of April’s fixtures when the Championship season starts they are available on the official web page houndtrailingassociation.com
March 8 – Kirkland
- Pups – 1. Foxparke Toot Toot; 2. Blue Striker; 3. Countess Ava. 20 ran, time 15.47.
- Hounds – 1. Duchess Ava; 2. Foxparke Honk Honk; 3. Foxparke Fairlady. 18 ran, 13.22.
- All-In – 1. Strawberry Mick; 2. Glamourous Ava; 3. Off-Spring. 13 ran, time 14.14.
