The Whitehaven area has hosted new trails at Lowther Park and three meetings have been held, on May 1, May 3 and May 10.
Saturday, May 10, saw 85 hounds turn out.
Up first were the Seniors with 13 taking to the trail, Huntsman’s Rebel for Denise and Jenny Bland, and Graham Little was sent off as the favourite.
Reports came in from the first road crossing and it was Huntsman’s Rebel who was leading from James and Ava’s McClellan’s three hounds Glamorous Ava, Countess Ava and Baroness Ava with Mel for Les and Graham Reid, and Ellie Napier in fifth and Neil and Gillian Brown, and Derek and Joel Bullman’s Hey Mac in sixth.
There was a 30-yard gap to the chasing group. Back into sight off the top of the fell Huntsman’s Rebel and Mel had developed a slight lead on the chasing pack – Hey Mac, Croft Lass for Stanley, Carole and Sarah Jackson, Donald Hodgson and Ricky Deacon and Baroness Ava.
On to the finish Mel jumped the final wall in front only to be overtook by Huntsman’s Rebel in the last 10 yards to get the win by two lengths to claim her second Senior win this season, Mel finished in second with a small gap to Hey Mac in third and 10 yards back to an eye catching return to form from Croft Lass.
Up next were the Pups with a field of 14. Delta Fortune for Sarah and Baz Harper, and Hartley Robinson was sent off as the favourite.
A good line of hounds crossed the first road with table topper Delta Fortune driving the trail, once back into sight onto the back fell it was litter mates Delta Fortune and Zoya for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham leading the race closely followed by Jenny’s Chance for Denise and Jenny Bland, Graham Little, and Ella and Kyle Gallacher and Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton.
Crossing Cold Fell finish, Delta Fortune was leading the race but had been joined by Tucker and Jenny’s Chance with Zoya in fourth.
On to the finish Jenny’s Chance jumped the wall in front from Tucker and Zoya these three had developed a small lead from the rest of the hounds, Tucker finished very strongly for an impressive win on his first time round the course to claim his second puppy win, the fast improving Jenny’s Chance finished in second and Zoya finished in third.
Up next were the Open Non Winners with 14 hounds. Miterdale Green Queen for Sophie Steele, and Zach and Jake Green and Sullivan’s Mist for Gary Woodend were sent off as joint favourites.
Crossing the first road, Brown Sugar for Graham and Les Reid, and Ellie Napier had went out well with a 20-yard lead on the chasing pack which was led by the favourite, three-year-old Miterdale Green Queen.
Crossing Cold Fell finish Miterdale Green Queen was leading the race from Foxparke Pip Pip for Team Foxparke and Donald Hodgson, Denton Phantom for Lee, Hayley, George and Joey Wall, Sandra Mordue and Ted Storrows and Foxparke Oink Oink for Team Foxparke and Donald Hodgson.
Jumping the last wall, Miterdale Green Queen had a five-yard lead on Spring Return for Jenny Horn and Silver Star for Darren and Julie McMaster and Sadie Wilson.
Miterdale Green Queen finished strongly to claim her first win from the fast finishing Foxparke Oink Oink who showed fifth over the wall and put in a strong finish to grab second by a head from Silver Star.
The Open Restricted saw 20 hounds lining up at the slip. Offspring for Stuart, James and Jacob Jeynes was sent off as the favourite.
Crossing the first road Huntsman’s Sparkle for Carolyn, Tracey and Derrick Hill had established a lead from fast improving Offspring with the gambled on Blue Striker for Brian and Erin Rowlandson, and Billy Birkett. Crossing cold fell finish three had an advantage on the rest of the field – Blue Striker, Eagle Girl for Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden and Linda Neale and Offspring.
Jumping the last wall Blue Striker was still leading the race by five yards from Offspring but the pair couldn’t hold off the fast finishing Eagle Girl who finished extremely strongly to take the win, Blue Striker finished well in second with Offspring in third.
The final race of the day was the Veterans with 14 taking to the trail.
Miterdale Duchess for Jackie Gill and Denise Peare, Zola for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham and Eagle Rock for Mark, Georgia and Josh Bryden and Linda Neale were all sent off as joint favourites.
Crossing the first road Zola was leading from Brian Grahams 3 kennel mates Bretton, Reebok and Young Harry and Mark, Georgia and Josh Bryden and Linda Neale’s pair of Eagle Rock and Eagle Star.
Crossing Cold Fell finish it was Zola who was leading from Eagle Rock, Reebok and Bretton. Over the last wall Bretton had an advantage of 10 yards over Eagle Rock but she couldn’t hold off Eagle Rock’s fast finish as he finished well to claim the win and Team Eagle’s first double since joining the HTA, the win extends Eagle Rock’s points in the championship table to 17 – eight points clear of his nearest rival Zola.
May 10 – Lowther Park
- Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Rebel 2. Mel 3. Hey Mac 4. Croft Lass 5. Baroness Ava 6. Sportsman 13 Ran Time 28.50
- Pups – 1. Tucker 2. Jenny’s Chance 3. Zoya 4. Maggie 5. Pipe Piper 6. Heartside 14 Ran Time 17.53
- Open Non-Winners – 1. Miterdale Green Queen 2. Foxparke Oink Oink 3. Silver Star 4. Denton Phantom 5. Spring Return 6. Foxparke Rita’s Rose 24 Ran Time 17.53
- Open Restricted – 1. Eagle Girl 2. Blue Striker 3. Off Spring 4. Lily 5. Malia 6. Maeve 20 Ran Time 17.27
- Veterans – 1. Eagle Rock 2. Bretton 3. Reebok 4. Young Harry 5. Elanor’s Lass 6. Zola 14 Ran Time 17.17
May 3 – Lowther Park
Saturday May 3 saw a return to Lowther Park with 57 hounds turning out over the four grade meeting.
- Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Rebel 2. Cautious 3. Baroness Ava 4. Thorn Soul 5. Countess Ava 6. Lets Go For It 8 Ran Time 29.32
- Pups – 1. Huntsman’s Unite 2. Maggie 3. Sullivan’s Mist 4. Zoya 5. Minnie 6. Pied Piper 18 Ran Time 17.44
- Open Maiden – 1. Cracking Artist 2. Off Spring 3. Reebok 4. Castle Callant 5. Jenny’s Chance 6. Young Harry 20 Ran Time 17.14
- All-In – 1. Huntsman’s Time 2. Lady Million 3. Blue Striker 4. Lily 5. Money Talks 6. Bretton 11 Ran Time 17.11
May 1 – Lowther Park
The first of the new trails at Lowther Park saw 106 hounds turn out.
- Hounds – 1. Countess Ava 2. Huntsman’s Rebel 3. Hey Mac 4. Cautious 5. Baroness Ava 6. Thorn Soul 16 Ran Time 28.47
- Pups – 1. Dead Heat – Huntsman’s Unite and Delta Fortune 3. Zoya 4. Busy Rascal 5. Maggie 6. Foxparke Oink Oink 28 Ran Time 17.55
- Open maidens – 1. Kinniside Bobby 2. Zola 3. Huntsman’s Quirk 4. Persian Gold 5. Cracking Artist 6. Imagine 36 Ran Time 18.09
- All-In – 1. Duchess Ava 2. Huntsman’s Quartz 3. Elanor’s Lass 4. Eden Rayna 5. Lily 6. Minnie Million 26 Ran Time 19.13
