International event for hounds this weekend

It’s one of the big days in the hound trailing calendar tomorrow – the annual International event which this year is being staged at Spadeadam.

In particular, this is the meeting where the Irish bring over their dogs to compete with the best of the HTA, which now also incorporates the Border Association.

The Yorkshire Association have also been involved over the years but numbers have dwindled, although the HTA’s own reigning senior champion Winterfell is kennelled in Yorkshire with the Bell family.

The Irish contingent will be coming over as the newly formed Irish Border Hound Trailing Association are sending over a number of hounds.

Association chairman Mark Connolly will be bringing over his hound, formerly known as Sweet Dreams when it ran in the HTA, and he will be running it in the senior trail.

Mark will also be bringing Phillip McGlone’s Buzz Lightyear aka Huntsman’s Star over for the open restricted race.

Aidan and Niall McCaffrey’s Ballyhoe Boy, who has ticketed in the two major puppy trails of the year so far in Ireland, will run in the open pups with his sister Ballyhoe Girl opting for the puppy maiden race.

The prize money on offer is over £2,000, spread over six races and the top amount of £510 will be for the seniors, along with the Joe Millar Memorial trophy.

The open puppy race will be for £410 and the Tom Barclay Memorial trophy, with all the other four races having prize money of £310.

Spadeadam will provide a mixture of open moorland and some fields and dykes with good viewing of the hounds running as they circumnavigate the course around the trail field before returning to a long up-hill finish.

Last year, the event took place at Sewing Shields along Hadrian’s Wall, with open moorland it provided the ideal conditions for the dogs to run.

There was a good following from Ireland and excitement is building up for another excellent day.

The first trail starts at 1pm and on-field catering and bookmakers will be available.

Chairman of the International Committee Andy Horn confirmed today that there were good entries in all races and the venue would offer good viewing of the hounds as they completed the course.

The open running should suit the majority of hounds giving everyone an opportunity to get in on the action.

Andy also thanked all those who had sponsored the trails and to the committee for all their hard work in making sure everything was organised for the day.