Saturday saw the Whitehaven Classic take place at Cold Fell where 121 hounds turned out.
Up first were the Seniors where the hounds were racing for the Ted Whitman Memorial Trophy.
Seventeen hounds were slipped with Mel for Les and Graham Reid, and Ellie Napier and Cautious for Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington being sent off as joint favourites.
When they came into sight Mel had established a 30-yard lead on Huntsman’s Rebel for Denise and Jenny Bland, and Graham Little and in third was Cautious.
On to the finish Mel was still leading the race well and came on to win by 10 yards to claim her third Senior win ahead of Cautious, Huntsman’s Rebel then finished in third.
Up next were the Senior Maidens with 28 hounds lining up at the slip. Ruby and Croft Lass were sent off as the joint favourites.
Visibility had reduced by the time the hounds had went through but from what everyone could make out it was Dundee for Neil and Gillian Brown, and Derrick and Joel Bullman who was leading the race from Lisa and Holly Whitfield’s Black Edition with Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham’s Zola in third.
As they came on to the top of the finish it was Ruby for Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington who was leading the race from Zola and Lucky Moon for Geoff Higgins.
Once actually onto the finish it was Lucky Moon who took the win ahead of Miterdale Green Queen for Sophie Steele, and Jake and Zach Green who came from fourth to take second.
Zola finished in third with the favourite Ruby who took fourth ticket, Hey Mac for Neil and Gillian Brown, and Derrick and Joel Bullman finished in fifth and the final ticket went to Colin Sattherwaite’s Thorn Heart.
Up next were the Open Pups which was sponsored by BAF. Fourteen were slipped with Maggie being sent off as the favourite.
Going out of sight, there was just a line of hounds racing with Delta Fortune for Sarah and Baz Harper, and Hartley Robinson leading ahead of Brown Sugar for Graham and Les Reid, and Ellie Napier.
Once back into sight, five had an advantage and it was Brown Sugar who was leading the race from Maggie for Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Steven Walker, with Delta Fortune in third and Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton in fourth with Zoya for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham in fifth.
Once back into sight before the finish it was Delta Fortune who was heading the race from Tucker, Zoya and Maggie.
On to the finish Delta Fortune was still leading the race and finished well from litter mate Zoya and Tucker who finished well in third, the favourite Maggie finished in fourth.
The Puppy Maidens saw 27 hounds being slipped. Silver Star for Darren and Julie McMaster, and Sadie Wilson was sent off as the favourite.
Once slipped a few had returned to the start but five had gone through with a good advantage over the rest – Nellie’s Pride for Jonty and Evie Moore, and Jack Thompson, Jenny’s Chance for Denise and Jenny Bland, Graham Little, and Ella and Kyle Gallacher, Minnie for Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Steven Walker, and Foxparke Oink Oink for Team Foxparke and Donald Hodgson.
Once on to the finish it was Let It Be for Ruth Graham and Charlie Dixon who finished first from Jenny’s Chance.
The final race of the day was the Open Restricted with 33 taking part. Duchess Ava for James and Ava McClellan was sent off as the favourite.
Miterdale Dusk aka Barney had slipped his lead from Sophie Steele and went away on his own and ran the trail on his own.
Once slipped Foxparke Sidekick for Team Foxparke and Offspring for Stuart, James and Jacob Jeynes went away well in pursuit of Barney and pulled well away from the following group of hounds.
As they went through the fell, Foxparke Sidekick and Offspring were still leading the race with Foxparke Sidekick beginning to pull away.
Chasing the first two hounds were Let’s Go For It for Ruth Graham and Charlie Dixon and Duchess Ava who led the following pack.
On to the finish Foxparke Sidekick aka Spice had established a huge lead and won.
Offspring finished in second with 2021 Puppy Champion Duchess Ava finishing in third.
Whitehaven Classic, Cold Fell – April 26
- Seniors – 1. Mel 2. Cautious 3. Huntsman’s Rebel 4. Thorn Soul 5. Countess Ava 6. Baroness Ava 19 Ran Time 31.47
- Maidens – 1. Lucky Moon 2. Miterdale Green Queen 3. Zola 4. Ruby 5. Hey Mac 6. Thorn Heart 28 Ran Time 34.49
- Pups – 1. Delta Fortune 2. Zoya 3. Tucker 4. Maggie 5. Heartside 6. Pied Piper 14 Ran Time 20.31
- Puppy Maidens – 1. Let It Be 2. Jenny’s Chance 3. Nellie’s Pride 4. Foxparke Oink Oink 5. Silver Star 6. Denton Phantom 27 Ran Time 20.33
- Open Restricted – 1. Foxparke Side Kick 2. Off Spring 3. Duchess Ava 4. Blue Striker 5. Lets Go For It 6. Zeta 33 Ran Time 18.05
