The show season got underway at Cockermouth on Saturday and continued at Sunday with the annual Gilsland Show which takes place north of Carlisle.
The show hosted four trails with the senior hounds getting underway at 11am. The number of runners were average for this time of year as fixtures increase over the summer months as there were 11 taking part.
David Clifford’s Eden Rayna was looking to repeat her win at Gilsland from earlier in the week but was expected to face stiff competition from Sportsman who was running after his win on Thursday night at Calebreak.
Sarah Jane was another contender but she seems to suffer from seconditis having been runner-up in seven trails already in the senior championship so far.
As the hounds came back onto the finish and showed between the wooded areas there were five hounds in with a chance of winning but as they came to the line it was Sarah Jane, usually the bridesmaid, who got up to win by half a length for Nicola McMaster and Sadie Wilson, with the fancied Sportsman for Willie and Daphne Mark taking second place.
Willie’s other hound Summer Spirit was close behind in third place followed by the favourite Eden Rayna who had to make do with fourth place for David Clifford.
Eagle Girl was fifth for Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden while Dream Catcher for Joy and Brian Lister finished in sixth place with there only being a few yards between all six of them.
The win for Sarah Jane moves her up in the senior championship table as she passes all the other hounds with just one win due to the number of second places she has gained over the season so far. Is this a sign of things to come, will she get more firsts now that she has broken the cycle of second places? As always, time will tell.
Next to slip were the open pups with 11 runners and the ones with the best recent form were the two Millie’s for George McGimpsey and Gillian Telford.
As they were running outside it was Malcolm Holmes’ two hounds Senorita and Senor who were up in front along with George’s two hounds, but as they came onto the finish it was Millie’s Lad who crossed the line in front of his sibling and kennel mate Millie’s Lass, both out of Thorn Crackle by Miterdale Shadow, making it a one-two for the family.
In third and fourth place were Malcolm’s two hounds Senorita and Senor, again both kennel mates and both siblings out of Sweet Harmony by Sir Robert.
Mr Mally for George Burgeon and Carol Logan finished in fifth place with David Clifford’s Eden Rosanna taking sixth ticket, both hounds also being out of the Sweet Harmony and Sir Robert litter so it was a bit of a family affair with four out of the six hounds being siblings.
The open maidens were the next to be slipped with 14 taking part. David Clifford had his full team out with Eden Romina the odds on favourite to win alongside Eagle Rock.
As they showed on the finish the first three hounds had a slight advantage over the others as they approached the line. It was a close affair for first and second place with Flightline for Ashley Horn and Sarah White just getting up to take the first place followed by Eagle Rock in second place for Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden.
Just a couple of yards behind was Brian Graham’s Reebok followed by David Clifford’s Eden Romina in fourth place. In fifth was Imagine for Joy and Brian Lister with Marti Borthwick and Co’s hound Castle Callant taking the last ticket.
Although Eden Romina didn’t win she is still notching up additional points and is now leading the open maiden points competition by 17 points from Thorn Thunder in second place.
The last race of the day was the open restricted with just 10 runners. Sir Robert, father to the majority of the ticketing pups on the day, was running and would have a good chance. Other potential candidates were Denton Shamrock and Splendid Lily.
As they returned onto the finish the hounds were a little strung out but it was Sandra Mordue and Lee Wall’s Denton Shamrock who had a couple of yards advantage over the second hound and crossed the line in first place.
Sir Robert had run a good race and finished in second place for Malcolm Holmes while Splendid Lily for the Hetherington’s finished in third place with their other hound Tesla finishing in fourth place just behind its kennel mate.
Fire Lass for the Telfords from Carlisle finished well in fifth place with the last ticket of the day also going to Sandra Mordue with her hound Mr Finnegan.
Action moves to Grasmere on tonight a three race card and this will give any hounds wishing to compete at the traditional Grasmere Sports event on August 25 a look round to familiarise themselves with the trail.
Any hound competing will gain points which will go towards the cash for points competition which is being run over the two trails with the Sports, the Area and Criffel Vue Transport sponsoring the competition so a big thank you to them all.
Then it’s on to Cold Fell again on the Wednesday night followed by the annual Ings Sheep Dog Trial meeting on Thursday which hosts three hound trails as well.
Gilsland Show – August 4
- Hounds – 1. Sarah Jane; 2. Sportsman; 3. Summer Spirit; 4. Eden Rayna; 5. Eagle Girl; 6. Dream Catcher. 11 ran, time 26.41.
- Pups – 1. Millie’s Lass; 2. Millie’s Lad; 3. Senorita; 4. Senor; 5. Mr Mally; 6. Eden Rosanna. 11 ran, Time 21.44.
- Open Maiden – 1. Flightline; 2.Eagle Rock; 3. Reebok; 4. Eden Romina; 5. Imagine; 6. Castle Callant. 14 ran, time 21.03.
- Open Restricted – 1. Denton Shamrock; 2. Sir Robert; 3. Splendid Lily; 4. Tesla; 5. Fire Lass; 6. Mr Finnegan. 10 ran, time 21.17.
