Sunday saw the last in the series of trial trails held at Kirkbride/Oulton organised by Colin Satterthwaite on behalf of the Oulton Supporters group.
This final outing at Oulton gave the opportunity for the pups to run the full trail and given that there will be six championship trails there it was a good opportunity for the youngsters to have a look round the course.
Subsequently there was an excellent turn-out with 38 pups taking part and as they showed on the long climb up to the finish it was Denise and Jenny Bland’s, Graeme Little and Lisa Crosby’s Huntsman’s Time who came with a good lead.
It was a reminder that this Irish-bred pup can master, not only the fell running but also fields and dykes.
Thorn Soul for Martin, Molly, Teddy Burrow and Sarah Jackson was finishing fast up the hill but she was just a couple of yards short of catching Huntsman’s Time. Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham’s Zeta finished in third place.
Next to slip were the seniors with another really good slip of 35 hounds and as they showed in the bottoms it was Winterfell last year’s senior champion who came with a nice lead for Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough.
He maintained this lead up the long climb to the finishing line and won with about ten yards in hand.
It was a slightly closer affair for second and third with Silver Dream getting past for Darren and Julie McMaster and Anthony Skelton with Foxparke Fairlady finishing third for Nicola, Robyn, Ellie and Grace Napier, Brook Butler and Glenis Farren.
Last to run were the All-Ins, again with an excellent slip of 36 hounds and as they showed it was Alan Blacklock’s Busy Again who dug deep to maintain her lead and cross the line in first place.
Finishing well in second place was Cracking Artist, formerly known simply as Artist, for Bill and Pat Mellon and Robert and Tina Airey. Reigning puppy champion Rodney Raider took third for Nicola McMaster and David Todhunter.
The general consensus was it had been a good day, setting up things nicely for the next series of championship trails to be held there once the season gets underway at the weekend.
Low Place is up first on the Saturday with a four card meeting, followed on the Sunday by Oulton again with a four card meeting.
March 24 – Oulton
- Pups – 1. Huntsman’s Time; 2. Thorn Soul; 3. Zeta. 38 ran, time 19.31.
- Hounds – 1. Winterfell; 2. Silver Dream; 3. Foxparke Fairlady. 35 ran, time 16.57.
- All-In – 1. Busy Again; 2. Cracking Artist; 3. Rodney Raider. 36 ran, time 17.05.
