Saturday saw the first HTA Championship trail of the season staged at Low Place, Eskdale after the completion of the trials.
The trails, organised by the Steele family on behalf of the Low Place Supporters Committee, raise money for a variety of local good causes. It was a fine day to get the proceedings off to a good start for 2024.
The senior hounds were first to be slipped with nine runners. Last year’s senior championship runner-up Miterdale Duchess was back out running and had a reasonable record around Low Place.
Huntsman’s Quantum was also competing and last year won two out of the three races at Low Place while a third entrant, Cautious, had a reasonable record round
As they showed on the fell to drop down there were two hounds clear and they had a good lead from the following pack.
As they came into the last field it was neck and neck approaching the line but it was Isla Hetherington and Stephen Riley’s Cautious that just got up by half a length to win from Denise Bland, Jim and Alan Little’s Huntsman’s Quantum.
There was a considerable gap before any of the other hounds showed and eventually it was Howgil Lil for Ian Bell followed by Denis Pear and Jackie Gill’s Miterdale Duchess and Sophie Steele’s Miterdale Honesty who completed.
The last ticket went to Roy Laidler and Sophie Steele’s Kirkhead Rebel with the hound now being kennelled with Sophie at Low Place.
Next to slip were the open pups with 12 runners but the in-form trials youngster Huntsman’s Time was not among them.
Denise Bland did, though. have two of her other hounds running Huntsman’s Tramp and Huntsman’s Trust despite neither having shown themselves very much during
As the hounds showed on the top to drop down it was a tighter affair than the senior hounds with all six hounds showing together. As they came into the last field two had gained a lead as they had dropped in.
When they came to the line the leading hound ran wide and crossed the line behind the judges and ending up only getting second with Miterdale Rumble coming in straight and winning the race for Sophie Steele.
The second hound was Huntsman’s Tramp for Denise and Jenny Bland, Graeme Little and Lisa Crosby. Their other hound Huntsman’s Trust finished in third place with Classmate for Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough taking fourth.
James and Ava McClelland’s Baroness Ava was fifth with Sophie Steele’s other hound Miterdale Rumble finishing in sixth place.
Next up were the open maidens with a much bigger slip of 27 hounds and like the seniors, when they showed there were two hounds with a lead.
There was also a similar finish as in the open pups when one hound ran wide and crossed behind the judges.
The winning hound was Ruby, making it a double win for Isla Hetherington and Stephen Riley. Off-Spring took second for Stuart and Jacob Jeynes, and this is a hound which has improved significantly from last year so well done to the team for sticking with and bringing it on for this season.
Finishing in third place was Kinnsisde Jacko followed home by Huntsman’s Rally for Glenis and Raymond Farren. Roy Laidler’s Cuckoo Lane finished in fifth place with Huntsman’s Quirk getting the last ticket for Denise Bland’s team.
Last to slip was the All-In race with another good field of 18 hounds and as they came onto the finish it was local hound Miterdale Dusk who brought them home.
There was a surprise second ticket for Black Eyed Shadow for the Lyon, Parkin and McClean kennel. Black Eyed Shadow has transferred back into the HTA from the Yorkshire Association.
Another local hound Miterdale Dainty finished in third place with Denise’s hound Missriff finishing in fourth followed home by Kinniside Bobby and then finally Ned’s Gain for the Moore and Thompson kennel.
Action moved from the fell to fields and moss running today as the first of six trails at Oulton. It’s another four card meeting with action kicking off at 2pm.
March 30 – Low Place
- Hounds – 1. Cautious; 2. Huntsman’s Quantum; 3. Howgill Lil; 4. Miterdale Duchess; 5. Miterdale Honesty; 6. Kirkhead Rebel. 9 ran , time 26.56.
- Pups – 1. Miterdale Rambler; 2. Huntsman’s Tramp; 3. Huntsman’s Trust; 4. Classmate; 5. Baroness Ava; 6. Miterdale Rumble. 12 ran, time 26.20.
- Open Maiden – 1. Ruby; 2. Off-Spring; 3. Kinniside Jacko; 4. Huntsman’s Rally; 5. Cuckoo Lane; 6. Huntsman’s Quirk. 27 ran, time 18.21.
- All-In – 1. Miterdale Dusk; 2. Black Eyed Shadow; 3. Miterdale Dainty; 4. Missriff; 5. Kinniside Bobby; 6. Ned’s Gain. 18 ran, time 17.56
