Saturday saw the last of the major HTA trails take place at Dubbs Lane near Windermere with good running conditions for the hounds.
The trails were hosted by the South Lakes Area Committee and there were six trails on offer for the HTA members to take part in.
The senior hounds got things off to a start with a slip of 17 and they were competing for the coveted Gold Tankard.
Huntsman’s Rebel was in the field with connections looking to try and pull back a point on Silver Dream, who following her win on Thursday is now two points clear in the senior championship.
With another two trails at Dearham it’s looking good for Silver Dream so Huntsman’s Rebel needs to make the most of the fell running.
As the hounds came back in to view on the far fell there were three clear but they ran on and had to come back to find the trail which let the other hounds catch up.
As they ran past the trail field it was Foxparke Beep Beep and Lady Million who had made ground up again from her slight mistake on the back fell. These two were the favourites in the bookies ring both at 2/1 on.
As they showed at the top of the fell it was Lady Million who had gained a lead and came down the fell on her own to take the win much to the delight of Joy and Brian Lister.
Foxparke Beep Beep was next to show and came down the fell well to take second place from Eden Rayna who was close behind in third place for David Clifford. Foxparke Honk Honk was fourth with Huntsman’s Rebel finishing in fifth place for Denise Bland and co. Miterdale Honesty took the sixth ticket for Katie and Sophie Steele.
So with no luck for Denise with Huntsman’s Rebel in trying to pull a point back, she may have better fortune on Monday when trailing returns to Dubb’s Lane for the Westmorland Classic.
Next to slip were the senior maidens with 15 hounds and as they went past the trail field it was Foxparke Dealer and Eden Romina who were leading the field with Imagine and Foxparke Bugga Boo in close pursuit.
When they showed on the top of the fell it was Foxparke Dealer who had established a 20-yard lead on the other hounds and crossed the line to win easily for Neil Brady, Robyn, Ellie and Grace Napier.
It was a close affair for second place with their other hound Foxparke Bugga Boo just getting up to beat Imagine for Joy and Brian Lister.
Eden Romina put the brakes on and only managed fourth place when she could have probably had second place. There was a gap to the fifth hound which was Green Queen and then Foxparke Whoosh came through to take sixth ticket, giving the Napier and Butler kennel three out of the six tickets.
The open pups were next with a good quality field including Minnie Million, Huntsman’s Trouble and Millie’s Lass, all in-form hounds running as well as Huntsman’s Time who continues to head up the current puppy championship table.
As they went past the trail field it was Huntsman’s Time and Countess Ava who were leading the race followed by Thorn Soul and Huntsman’s Trouble ahead of Millie’s Lass.
Once they showed on the top they seemed to have ran on a little before turning to drop down but it was Lana and Debbie McGee’s Apache Chief who dropped in well and crossed the line in first place followed closely by the Burrows and Sarah Jackson’s Thorn Soul.
Huntsman’s Trouble for Denise and Co was in third place with kennel mate Huntsman’s Time in fourth.
Minnie Million was just off the pace and finished in fifth place with Millie’s Lass for George McGimpsey and Gillian and Millie Telford taking sixth.
The win for Apache Chief was his fourth of the season and he is another dog which has improved as the season draws to a close. The litter of the day was Cuckoo Lane and Charisma with the first three pups coming from that one.
The puppy maidens were next with a slip of 15 and as they went past the trail field it was Miterdale Rumble and Flecky Jack who were leading the race followed by We Get By. Then there was a gap to the next group which were Apache Brave and then Foxparke Elliot’s Lad.
Once they showed on the top of the fell there were two with a lead and as they dropped down it was Flecky Jack and Miterdale Rumble. Flecky Jack maintained his lead and crossed the line a yard or so in front of Miterdale Rumble.
He certainly has gained a new lease of life and matured over the last month much to the delight of owners Donna and Shaun Hetherington. Sophie Steele was second with Miterdale Rumble and then there was a gap to the third hound which was We Get By, yet another hound which has improved over the last couple of weeks for Sarah White and Ashley Horn.
Lana and Debbie McGee were having a good day and got fourth with their other hound Apache Brave with Jenny Horn claiming fifth with Spring Rhyme. Foxparke Elliot’s Lad finished well to get the sixth ticket.
The open restricted race was next with fourteen runners. Summer Spirit and Bretton were the 2/1 favourites but as they went through it was Foxparke Side Kick, Malia and Foxparke Sassy Girl who were leading the race.
Once on the top and dropping in it was Foxparke Sassy Girl who was in front of kennel mate Foxparke Side Kick and they crossed the line to take first and second place for the Napier and Butler kennel making a great day for them with two winners and multiple other tickets to boot.
Bretton for Julie Birkenshaw finished in third place with Willie and Daphne Mark’s Summer Spirit in fourth. The Foxparke team got fifth with Foxparke Fair Lady with Brian Graham’s Eleanor’s Lass finishing in sixth place.
The last race of the day was the veteran race with the four top hounds in the competition running. Going through though it was Foxparke Jiggly Puff who was leading the race from Howgill Lil in second place.
Once dropping down it was Miterdale Duchess and Howgill Lil who were neck and neck and it was a very close finish with the judge referring to the camera, before giving the verdict to Miterdale Duchess by a short nose.
In third place was Adele for Sarah Bell and in fourth it was Stephen Irving’s Zola followed by Brian Graham’s Reebok and then finally Foxparke Jiggly Puff who had lead at the half way point.
It had been a good afternoon for hound trailing with a good atmosphere and good weather for a change.
Action returns to Dubbs Lane on Monday with another six-race meeting in the form of the Westmorland Classic Trails. Then it’s back to Dearham on Tuesday followed on Thursday with the first of three trails planned to take place at Seaton.
October 5 – Premier Trails Dubbs Lane
- Hounds – 1. Lady Million; 2. Foxparke Beep Beep; 3. Eden Rayna; 4. Foxparke Honk Honk; 5. Huntsman’s Rebel; 6. Miterdale Honesty. 17 ran, time 34.56.
- Maidens – 1. Foxparke Dealer; 2. Foxparke Bugga Boo; 3. Imagine; 4. Eden Romina; 5. Green Queen; 6. Foxparke Whoosh. 15 ran, time 36.57.
- Pups – 1. Apache Chief; 2. Thorn Soul; 3. Huntsman’s Trouble; 4. Huntsman’s Time; 5. Minnie Million; 6. Millie’s Lass. 17 ran, time 21.37.
- Puppy Maiden – 1.Flecky Jack; 2. Miterdale Rumble; 3. We Get By; 4. Apache Brave; 5. Spring Rhyme; 6. Foxparke Elliot’s Lad. 15 ran, time 24.04.
- Open Restricted – 1. Foxparke Sassy Girl; 2. Foxparke Side Kick; 3. Bretton; 4. Summer Spirit; 5. Foxparke Fair Lady; 6. Eleanor’s Lass. 14 ran, time 20.12.
- Veterans – 1. Miterdale Duchess; 2. Howgil Lil; 3. Adele; 4. Zola; 5. Reebok; 6. Foxparke Jiggly Puff. 13 ran, time 20.53.
