Thursday saw the second of the Buttermere trial trails and it was another wet afternoon with wind and rain but for mid-week the turn out wasn’t bad.
The pups were first to race with 12 runners, all getting away nicely from the slip and as they climbed up it was Denise and Jenny Bland, Graeme Little and Lisa Crosby’s in-form Irish bred hound Huntsman’s Time that led them up the fell.
She continued to advance her lead as they cut through the middle of the fell and when she came back onto the finish she had an extensive lead and finished well. She certainly looks the top youngster when it comes to running on the fell.
The Foxparke team were out in force and it was Nicola, Robyn, Ellie and Grace Napier and Brook Butler’s hounds who brought in the remainder with Foxparke Homeward Polly and Foxparke Toot Toot taking second and third.
The senior hounds were next to slip with a good field of 19 hounds. As they showed on the finish it turned out to be an exciting conclusion with the first three belonging to the Foxparke kennel.
Foxparke Beep Beep showed her return to form and came in well to take first place followed by Foxparke Honk Honk, one of last year’s pups who seems to have continued to mature and who is running well.
They were followed in by Foxparke Fairlady another of last year’s pups that showed promise and seems to have gained in confidence for this coming season.
Last to slip was the All-In race with 14 runners and as they came onto the finish it was Stanley and Carol Jackson’s Charisma which spoiled the Foxparke party as she crossed the line in first place with Foxparke Danny Elliot and then Foxparke Whoosh finishing second and third.
Action moves to Oulton on Sunday with the full puppy trail on offer to everyone.
With only a week to go before the Championship season starts everyone will be looking to see how their pups will perform over a slightly longer trail.
For information about hound trailing visit the web page www.houndtrailingassociation.com where you can find additional information and details of the forthcoming championship trails for April.
March 21 – Buttermere
- Pups – 1. Huntsman’s Time; 2. Foxparke Homeward Polly; 3. Foxparke Toot Toot. 12 ran, time 9.49.
- Hounds – 1. Foxparke Beep Beep; 2. Foxparke Honk Honk; 3. Foxparke Fairlady. 19 ran, time 8.29
- All-In – 1. Charisma; 2. Foxparke Danny Elliot; 3. Foxparke Whoosh. 14 ran, time 9.42.
