Thursday saw the annual Lake District Sheep Dog Trials take place at Ings.
These trials originally began in 1891 and, according to their official Association, they were going on even before that. Mr JR Bridson held sheep dog trials on Belle Isle as far back as 1877.
Believe it or not Belle Isle is the island in the middle of Windermere and those who were invited to the gathering all had to travel by ferry or boat!
No boat travel for this one and the day had brightened up so there was a good crowd of people to take in the sheep dog trials as well as the hound trailing.
There were plenty of other activities taking place as well as the opportunity to visit different craft stalls.
As for the hound trailing the seniors got things off to a start but there were only four runners. This was probably as a result of the major Premier Trails taking place on Saturday.
However the four hounds set off and as they came back on to the finish it was Huntsman’s Quantum for Denise Bland and the Little family, Jim, Anne and Alan who has an impressive record running at the trails in the area.
He came on the finish on his own and won easily with the trail being fairly long at 36.39. Next to finish was Ron for Tom and Ryan Bell followed by Miterdale Duchess for Denis Pear and Jackie Gill. Only three of the four hounds finished.
Huntsman’s Quantum will be looking to get a little more running in before Grasmere Sports as he also runs well there and will be looking to win the senior race again as he did last year.
Next to slip were the open pups with a field of 12 and table leader Huntsman’s Time was aimed at extending her lead on Thornton who has been successfully chipping away at her lead.
On the finish it was Huntsman’s Time and Snowfell who came together and who had a lead over the other hounds.
Snowfell, for Caroline Clough and Barry Laidler, got up to win with Huntsman’s Time having to settle for second place.
Malcolm Holme’s two hounds Senor and Senorita finished in third and fourth place. They were then followed by Sophie Steele and Co’s two hounds Miterdale Rambler and Miterdale Rumble.
The open restricted race was next with seven runners and although Denise missed out in the pups with Huntsman’s Time she completed a double with Missriff who came from third place to win.
Malia, for Christine Brownlee, was second with Sophie’s Kinniside Bob finishing in third place.
Iain Bell’s Howgil Lil was fourth with Sarah Bell’s Adele finishing in fifth place. The last ticket of the day went to John Lyon’s Black Eyed Shadow.
Action now moves to Saturday when the HTA Premier Trails take place at Uldale with six races over the afternoon.
The first race starts at 1pm with prize money of £160 for each race. All trails are sponsored by Holmen Iggesund and the local Area and Oulton Supporters group.
August 8 – Ings
- Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Quantum; 2. Ron; 3. Miterdale Duchess. 4 ran, three finished. Time 36.39.
- Pups – 1. Snowfell; 2. Huntsman’s Time; 3. Senor; 4. Seniorita; 5. Miterdale Rambler; 6. Miterdale Rumble. 12 ran, time 22.05.
- Open Restricted – 1. Missriff; 2. Malia; 3. Kinniside Bobby; 4. Howgill Lil; 5. Adele; 6. Black Eyed Shadow. 7 ran, time 20.54.
