Carret Rigg was the setting for the charity trails which the Border Supporters group run every year with all proceeds from the trails going to cancer charities.
There was a pink theme for the day, with everyone encouraged to wear something pink, and with lovely pink rosettes the scene was set for a good afternoon of hound trailing especially as the weather held up and the rain kept away.
There were five trails on the day with the seniors getting things off with a slip of eight runners. The championship-chasing Dearham kennel of Joseph Abram and Nicola McMaster opted only to run Maverick, perhaps choosing to rest their title contenders for later in the week.
Sportsman and Embrace would have been well fancied along with Lady Million, although she has been a little bit inconsistent over the last few weeks and hasn’t showed the same performance as earlier on in the season.
When they showed it was Embrace who was in the lead and he went on to win nicely for Laura Steele, Andrew and Joel Bulman and Ian Rumney. Lady Million finished second for Joy and Brian Lister, a much improved performance with Sportsman for Willie and Daphne Marks in third place.
Eden Rayna for David Clifford came in fourth with Stanley and Carol Jackson’s Croft Lass in fifth. Maverick for Joseph Abram finished in sixth place.
Next were the senior maidens with a slip of seven runners and it was Hey Mac for Neil and Gillian Brown and Derek and Joel Bulman who finished well to win from David Clifford’s Eden Romina with her stepping up into the long race, proving that she can still be competitive whether it’s a short or long race and always seems to get in among the tickets.
Castle Callant for Marti Borthwick and co finished in third place with the Lindsay sisters Anna and Kerry’s Inspect finishing well in fourth place. Joy and Brian Lister’s Imagine finished in fifth place with Linda Neale and the Bryden’s Eagle Rock taking sixth. Hey Mac and Embrace are out of the same litter – Miterdale Cooper and Silver Dusk.
The open pups were next with a slip of 10. Table leader Huntsman’s Time and main challenger Thornton were both running, as well as Snowfell and Minnie Million. Although there weren’t many hounds the quality was good and a tricky problem for punters to solve.
When they showed it was a good race with Minnie Million, who has been the form dog over recent weeks, followed closely by Huntsman’s Trouble, who has out-shone his kennel mate Huntsman’s Time recently.
But it was Minnie Million who finished well and crossed the line in first place making it a good day for Joy and Brian Lister as all three of their hounds picked up tickets.
Denise Bland and co had to settle for second place with Huntsman’s Trouble with Thorn Soul for the Burrows and Sarah Jackson not too far behind in third with Millie’s Lass for George McGimpsey and Gillian and Millie Telford close up in fourth.
,Huntsman’s Time for Denise and co, and Snowfell for Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough, finished fifth and sixth.
The puppy maiden race was next and had the biggest slip of the day with 16 runners.
When they came back onto the finish it was a tight affair between the Hetherington’s Flecky Jack and Malcolm Holmes’ Senor, with the judge giving another dead heat.
It’s been a testing time for the judges with this being the fourth dead heat in the last couple of weeks.
In third place was Mister Mally for George Burgeon and Carol Logan with Peggy Sue for Gillian Bulman-Brown and Mickey O’Brien in fourth place. We Get By for Sarah White finished in fifth place with Meadow Lane claiming the sixth ticket for Paul Airey and Joanne Hodgson.
The last race of the day was the open restricted race with a slip of 10 hounds and when they showed on the finish it was Linda Neal and the Bryden’s Eagle Love who crossed the line in first place followed by Willie and Daphne Marks Summer Spirit.
George Burgeon and Carol Logan’s other hound Overwater Hunter finished in third place with Sandra and Teddy Mordue’s Mr Finnegan in fourth. Fire Lady for the Telford’s finished in fifth with Linda Neale and the Bryden’s Eagle Star taking the last ticket of the day.
Trailing action moves to Sandale on Tuesday night for what will technically be the last trail meeting for the Aspatria and Wigton area as next year the area will split and join with the Cockermouth and Workington Area and the Carlisle and Penrith Area.
The first trail starts at 2.00pm and there will be four races. Thursday will see a return to Deaham for another three race meeting before the last of the major hound trailing events the October Premier Trails which this year will take place at Dubbs Lane, near Windermere.
There will be six races over the day all worth £160 each plus trophies and rosettes. This is the last big event of the year before the season closes at the end of October.
September 29 – Carret Rigg
- Hounds – 1. Embrace; 2. Lady Million; 3. Sportsman; 4. Eden Rayna; 5. Croft Lass; 6. Maverick. 8 ran, time 26.54.
- Maidens – 1. Hey Mac; 2. Eden Romina; 3. Castle Callant; 4. Inspect; 5. Imagine; 6. Eagle Rock. 7 ran, time 27.54.
- Pups – 1. Minnie Million; 2. Huntsman’s Trouble; 3. Thorn Soul; 4. Millie’s Lass; 5. Huntsman’s Time; 6. Snowfell. 10 ran, time 18.31.
- Puppy Maiden – 1. Dead Heat – Flecky Jack and Senor; 3. Mister Mally; 4. Peggy Sue; 5. We Get By; 6. Meadow Lane. 16 ran, time 21.41.
- Open Restricted – 1. Eagle Love; 2. Summer Spirit; 3. Overwater Hunter; 4. Mr Finnegan; 5. Fire Lady; 6. Eagle Star. 10 ran, time 18.47.
