Tuesday night saw the last trail to take place under the management of the Aspatria and Wigton Area.
Due to falling numbers and a lack of willing volunteers to take on the role of the committee it has been agreed that the area will be split and will form part of the Cockermouth and Workington Area and the Carlisle and Penrith Area.
This will mean that trails that currently take place at Oulton, Cleamire, Sandale and Uldale will continue to take place each year through joint efforts from the local support groups and the backing of the two area committees.
The senior hounds were first to slip with a good field for this time of year with 17 hounds. None of the leading dogs in the senior championship were running, apart from Mel who is currently in joint third place with Embrace.
Last time round the course it was Strawberry Mick who won but with minor changes to the route of the trail this time it was interesting to see if he would be able to repeat that success.
As they showed on the finish it was a good race between Strawberry Mick for Graham Reid and the much improved Lady Million.
They battled it out as they approached the line but it was Lady Million for Joy and Brian Lister who won from Strawberry Mick.
Foxparke Beep Beep ran a good race and she finished in third place for the Napier and Butler kennel, with her kennel mate Foxparke Honk Honk in fourth. Mel finished in fifth for Ellie Napier and Les Reid with Ron taking the sixth ticket for Tom and Ryan Bell.
Next were the open pups with a slip of 20, which once more was a good number for this time of year.
As the hounds showed on the finish it was George McGimpsey’s and Gillian and Millie Telford’s Millie’s Lass, who has come in to her own these last few weeks, who was leading the race from Denise Bland and Co’s Huntsman’s Trouble, who has also shown a significant improvement
Both hounds were neck and neck racing up to the line but it was Millie’s Lass who crossed, a short head in front of Huntsman’s Trouble. That was her sixth win of the season with Huntsman’s Trouble notching up his ninth second place.
Thorn , for the Burrows and Sarah Jackson, just got up for third ahead of Thornton for Darren McMaster, Anthony Skelton and Sadie Wilson. Meadow Lane ran a good race for Paul Airey and Joanne Hodgson to finish in fifth place with Debbie and Lana McGee’s Apache Chief taking sixth.
The open maiden race was next with 16 taking part and this grade has proved popular this year with the change in rule at the start of the season giving people more flexibility regarding the number of wins they can have per season.
The race was an open one with Maeve being the favourite following her win in the puppy maiden race last time round.
As they showed on the finish the favourite and Reebok were together but it was Maeve who just pulled away in the last few strides to take the win for Christine Brownlee. Brian Graham and Eleanor Chisholm had to settle for second with Reebok.
It was a close finish for third, fourth and fifth with Black Edition for Lisa and Holly Whitefield just getting up to take third with Spring Remedy for Jenny Horn in fourth and Marti Borthwick and Co’s Castle Callant taking the fifth ticket. Foxparke Dealer for Robyn, Ellie and Grace Napier and Brook Butler was sixth.
The last race was for the open restricted with 15 runners. Once on the finish it was Summer Spirit who came in to win for Willie and Daphne Mark with Tracey Hill’s Milo Moon in second place.
Stanley and Carol Jackson’s Charisma finished well in third place with Julie Birkenshaw’s Bretton taking fourth ahead of Barncroft Express for Alan O’Fee. Foxparke Sassy Girl took the last ticket for the Napier and Butler kennel.
Action now moves to Thursday when there is a return to Dearham with a three-race meeting. Then attention turns to Saturday when it will be the last of the major HTA events of the season, the October Premier Trails which will be hosted by the South Lakes Area and will be held at Dubb’s Lane with the first trail getting underway at 1pm.
October 1 – Sandale
- Hounds – 1. Lady Million; 2. Strawberry Mick; 3. Foxparke Beep Beep; 4. Foxparke Honk Honk; 5. Mel; 6. Ron. 17 ran, time 27.17.
- Puppies – 1. Millie’s Lass; 2. Huntsman’s Trouble; 3. Thorn Soul; 4. Thornton; 5. Meadow Lane; 6. Apache Chief. 20 ran, time 15.51.
- Open Maidens – 1. Maeve; 2. Reebok; 3. Black Edition; 4. Spring Remedy; 5. Castle Callant; 6. Foxparke Dealer. 16 ran, time 15.38.
- Open Restricted – 1. Summer Spirit; 2. Milo Moon; 3. Charisma; 4. Bretton; 5. Barncroft Express; 6. Foxparke Sassy Girl. 15 ran, time 15.07.
