The second trail of the 2025 season took place at St Helena where 38 hounds took to the three-trail meeting.
Up first was the Seniors where a field of six took to the trail. Kennelmates Countess Ava and Baroness Ava were sent off as the favourites.
As the hounds came into sight it was Miterdale Dusk for Sophie Steele who was leading from Zeta a pup from last year for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham.
Once the hounds showed onto the finish it was still Miterdale Dusk and Zeta who were clear.
Miterdale Dusk had a three-length advantage over Zeta, and then Miterdale Dusk got the win by a head from Zeta. Baroness Ava and Countess Ava finished in third and fourth with Geoff Higgins; Lucky Moon in fifth. The final ticket went to Brian and Erin Rowlandson and Billy Birkett’s Blue Striker.
The second race of the evening was the pups with a field of 12.
Jonty and Evie Moore and Jack Thompson’s Nellie’s Joy and Nellie’s Pride were sent off as the favourites.
Miterdale Wow for Anthony, Steph, Sophie, Katie and Alfie Steele led the race ahead of Team Foxparke and Donald Hodgson’s Foxparke Oink Oink.
The pair had two lengths on another littermate Foxparke Pip Pip.
The hounds were then seen again on the back fell where Nellie’s Joy had established a good lead from Foxparke Pip Pip and Miterdale Wow.
Once back into sight again Nellie’s Joy was still leading the race but Foxparke Pip Pip had made ground up, the pair ended up having a good race to the finish with Nellie’s Joy winning by three lengths.
Miterdale Wow finished in third place with Foxparke Cheese and Beans and Foxparke Oink Oink in fourth and fifth and the final ticket going to Miterdale Unbelievable.
The final trail of the day was the All In with 20 hounds.
It was Hey Mac for Derek and Joel Bullman and Neil and Gillian Brown who was leading the rest of the hounds.
Once onto the back fell, three had gained a lead – Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington’s Cautious, Team Foxparke’s Foxparke Sidekick and James and Ava McClellan’s Glamorous Ava.
The hounds had a good race all the way to the finish with Cautious winning by a length from Foxparke Sidekick and Glamorous Ava in third, the fourth ticket went to Hey Mac with Duchess Ava in fifth, the final ticket of the day went to Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier’s Mel.
The next trail takes place tomorrow, Saturday April 4, at Low Place with the Seniors, Pups, Open Maidens and All In.
Seniors slip at 1pm. Rosettes for the first six hounds in the Seniors, Pups and Open Maidens.
For more details about forthcoming fixtures, visit www.houndtrailingassociation.com
