Sunday saw the first turn out at Shap this season and the seniors got things off to a good start with a slip of 20 hounds.
Shap probably isn’t the best of seeing trails for the punters but as the hounds came back onto the finish all twenty of them were within 20-30 yards of each other so it was anyone’s race for the taking.
Winterfell and Huntsman’s Rebel, as predicted, were running, with the open moorland suiting them better than the fell running at Lorton the day before but table leader. Rodney Raider is still off.
Even in his absence none of the other hounds seem to be able to take advantage of him not running as the gap at the top still remains at five points.
As the hounds approached the line it was Silver Dream, kennel mate and sibling to Rodney Raider, who seems to be taking up the challenge in his absence.
She came out of the main bunch to win for Darren and Julie McMaster and Anthony Skelton, followed by her sibling Sarah Jane who finished in second place for Nicola McMaster and Sadie Wilson.
Sportsman was close behind in third place for Willie and Daphne Mark, with Winterfell a close fourth place for Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough and trainer Tom Bell. Huntsman’s Quantum for Denise Bland and the Little family finished in fifth place with Brain Graham’s Reebok in sixth.
The maiden race was next to slip and again as the hounds came back onto the finish it was anyone’s race with eight battling for honours. However, it was Neil Brown, Gillian Bulman-Brown, Derek and Joel Bulman’s Hey Mac who managed to get across the line in first place just beating a fast-finishing Meadow Maggie for Paul Airey and Joanne Hodgson.
Christine Brownlee’s Monsoon was close behind for third ticket with a gap to fourth and it was Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden’s Eagle Girl. David Clifford’s Eden Romina was fifth with George Burgon and Carol Logan’s Tallulah being awarded the last ticket.
Next to run were the open pups with everyone’s eyes on Thornton to see if he could keep chipping away at Huntsman’s Time’s lead in the puppy championship now down to just one point. Both hounds were out running again ads they prefer the open running on offer.
There was a good slip of 29 hounds and as with the senior races the bulk of the hounds all showed on the finish with it being a case of the fastest hound to the line who would take the first prize.
Snowfell was leading as they battled their way through the sieves and he managed to hang on and cross the line in first place for Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough.
Apache Chief finished well in second place only half a length behind for Debbie and Lana McGee, Huntsman’s Time wasn’t far behind for Denise Bland and Co in third place with Discover for the Lindsay sisters taking fourth place.
Siblings to Snowfell, Lassie and Ben took fifth and sixth ticket for the Bell family. Thornton, the odds on favourite, finished seventh with his distinctive leap over the finishing line but it was not his day.
The last race of the afternoon was for the open restricted with 20 runners and like the other trails there were plenty of hounds on the finish.
Sandra Mordue and Lee Wall’s Denton Shamrock was battling it out with Annabelle Connolly’s Border Reign as they crossed the line.
The hounds were close together and the judge referred to the camera and ended up giving a dead heat between the two hounds.
Mr Finnigan, Sandra’s other hound, finished in third place with Barbara and Geoff Jones’s little Lily finishing in fourth. Huntsman’s Quartz for Ian Donaldson finished in fifth with the Lindsay sisters taking sixth with Explore.
Action moves back to the west coast on Tuesday with a return to Cold Fell and a four-race card. All four trails have been sponsored by the Bewley family and proceeds will be in aid of local and national cancer charities.
The late Maurice Bewley was an ardent hound trailer and worked with the Cold Fell Committee over many years raising money for cancer charities as well as other local charities.
As the week progresses Thursday sees the annual Ambleside Sports which also hosts five hound trails with a total prize money pot of £960 on offer. Ambleside Sports is then followed by a return up into the Borders for the Langholm Common Riding.
As with the Copshaw Common Riding early in the season it only hosts one trail on the day but following changes to the HTA rules at the start of the season it is now classed as a championship trail.
It also brings with it a prize pot of £500 pounds with £300 pound going to the winner. So plenty of money at stake this week.
July 21 – Shap
Hounds – 1. Silver Dream; 2. Sarah Jane; 3. Sportsman; 4. Winterfell; 5. Huntsman’s Quantum; 6. Reebok. 20 ran, time 34.23.
Maidens – 1. Hey Mac; 2. Meadow Maggie; 3. Monsoon; 4. Eagle Girl; 5. Eden Romina; 6. Tallulah.13 ran, time 35.09.
Pups – 1. Snowfell; 2. Apache Chief; 3. Huntsman’s Time; 4. Discover; 5. Lassie; 6. Ben. 29 ran, time 22.01.
Open restricted – Dead Heat 1. Denton Shamrock and Border Reign; 3. Mr Finnegan; 4. Lily; 5. Huntsman’s Quartz; 6. Explore. 20 ran, time 20.15.
