Saturday saw the annual foxhound show at Lorton and as part of the event there are four hound trails among the attractions.
The senior hounds were first to slip with nine runners and Cautious, for Isla Hetherington and Stephen Riley, was the odds on favourite having come into form over the last couple of weeks.
The fell running would suit the little hound, more so than Stephen who was due to run the trail but had to give his apologies as he wasn’t feeling too well.
The hounds run out towards Lanthwaite Green before turning and heading back towards Lorton, and then climbing up out of Hope Beck onto Swinnside before dropping back down again.
As the hounds showed coming back through the fell it was Cautious who had established a good lead with the little hound running on well. Miterdale Duchess, who was 5/4 without Cautious, was in second place and Miterdale Honesty and Glamorous Ava were not too far behind.
It was a very warm, muggy afternoon with rain threatening to come in from up the valley but it remained dry for the senior hounds.
Once on the finish Cautious came in to win easy, much to the delight of Isla who was top handler for the day. Miterdale Duchess for Denis Pear and Jackie Gill finished well in second although some distance behind, followed by a valiant run by Miterdale Honesty for Sophie and Kate Steele.
Foxparke Fair Lady finished in fourth with the fancied Glamorous Ava taking fifth ticket and Foxparke Mysteriously in sixth.
The pups were next to slip with fourteen runners and the top hounds Thornton and Huntsman’s Time possibly being rested or opting to run today at Shap.
In the bookies ring they were backing Baroness Ava without her kennel mate Countess Ava who was the odds on favourite. James and Ava McClelland were absent, on holiday so the hounds were in the capable hands of Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham.
Sonny Bill, who has steadily been improving over the last few weeks, was evens and as they dropped in from the top of Swinnside he was heading up the race.
However, there were plenty of hounds together as they disappeared, and once out of sight it takes them a little time to run through the bottoms before showing on the finish.
As they came through the last gate Sonny Bill had two or three lengths on the rest but the other hounds were in close contention.
As they approached the line Baroness Ava was finishing fast and came through to nearly steal the win from Sonny Bill but he held on for the win by a short head.
Denise Bland and Co’s Huntsman’s Trust was half a length behind and took third place. James’s other hound Countess Ava finished in fourth place with Minnie Million for Joy and Brian Lister finishing in fifth. It was close for sixth place with the decision going to Thorn Soul for Martin, Joanna, Molly and Teddy Burrows.
The open maiden race was next with a good slip of 28 hounds. As they climbed up to join onto the senior trail some hounds were further right than they should have been and instead of going left went right and hit the senior trail the opposite way round. There were only seven hounds that went the right way.
It proved to be a good race between these seven hounds with the fancied dogs out of the race. As they came back on the finish it was Blue Diamond, who is now a veteran, who led the way and crossed the line in first place for Erin and Brian Rowlandson.
Not too far behind was Tania Satterthwaite’s Paddy The Plasterer in second place followed closely by Foxparke Bugga Boo for the Foxparke kennel.
There was a gap to the fourth hound which was Hawkswood, another veteran hound, with Tremor for Willie and Gillian Todd in fifth place. The last ticket was claimed by Twilight Mist who had finished really well for Gary Woodend.
The last race of the day was the open restricted race with 11 runners. As they dropped off the top it was Joy and Brian Lister’s Dream Catcher and Sophie Steele’s Kinniside Bobby who seemed to be heading up the race.
However, when they showed on the finish it was James Irving’s Overwater Eddie who some may have missed up on the fell who came with a lead and crossed the line easily to take the win.
It was a surprise win for the hound although it had been 6/4 in the bookies ring without Huntsman’s Sparkle. Kinniside Bobby for Sophie came in second place and ran well with Dream Catcher, who had been 2/1, in third place.
The Foxparke Team were in luck again and bagged another ticket with Foxparke Sassy Girl who finished in fourth place and they also claimed sixth ticket with Foxparke Mo Farren. Tania Satterthwaite bagged her second ticket of the day with Swamp Fox who finished in fifth place.
There were no major changes to the Championship tables with none of the top hounds running. Fortunes might change today, however, at the first trail at Shap this season.
July 20 – Lorton Hound Show
Hounds – 1. Cautious; 2. Miterdale Duchess; 3. Miterdale Honesty; 4. Foxparke Fair Lady; 5. Glamorous Ava; 6. Foxparke Mysteriously. 9 ran, time 34.40.
Pups – 1. Sonny Bill; 2. Baroness Ava; 3. Huntsman’s Trust; 4. Countess Ava; 5. Minnie Million; 6. Thorn Soul. 14 ran, time 19.44.
Open Maiden – 1. Blue Diamond; 2. Paddy The Plasterer; 3. Foxparke Bugga Boo; 4. Hawkswood; 5. Tremor; 6. Twilight Mist. 28 ran, time 20.05.
Open Restricted – 1. Overwater Eddie; 2. Kinniside Bobby; 3. Dream Catcher; 4. Foxparke Sassy Girl; 5. Swamp Fox; 6. Foxparke Mo Farren. 11 ran, time 18.14.
