Monday saw Cockermouth and Workington area host the first of the Bridekirk series and 87 hounds turned out.
Up first were the Seniors with a small number of 9 hounds taking to the trail, Silver Dream for Darren and Julie McMaster, and Anthony Skelton was sent off as the favourite.
Monday was the second of Mark Bryden’s memorial knockout challenge in memory of his late friends Lena and Edward Gibson. Six hounds were chosen to compete and the first hound in will go to the next round – Baroness Ava, Delta Scribble, Persian Gold, Hawkswood, Overwater Hunter and Swamp Fox.
The hounds passed the trail field after roughly about 10 minutes of running.
Championship leader Silver Dream established a 30-yard lead on Mel for Les and Graham Reid, and Ellie Napier, closely followed by James and Ava McClellan’s three hounds Baroness Ava, Countess Ava and Glamorous Ava.
Silver Dream extended her lead throughout the trail and won to claim her eighth Senior win of the season to extend her led in the championship table.
After a small gap Mel finished in second. After a big gap kennel mates Baroness Ava and Glamorous Ava showed together and battled to the line, with Baroness Ava claiming third ticket by a length from Glamorous Ava in fourth and Countess Ava finished in fifth. These were the only five to complete the trail.
Up next were the Pups with 22 taking to the trail. Delta Fortune for Sarah and Baz Harper, and Hartley Robinson and Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton were sent off as joint favourites.
Leading the way was Tucker and Maggie for Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Steven Walker.
Reports came in that the hounds had had a scale at the bottom of Millstone Moor and a light coloured hound had gotten away.
Once the hounds showed on the finish it was Nellie’s Joy for Jonty and Evie Moore and Jack Thompson who had pulled away with a 30-second lead and finished to claim her second puppy victory, Busy Rascal for Alan Blacklock and Carole Harrison finished in second with Silver Star for Darren and Julie McMaster and Sadie Wilson claiming third.
Up next were the Open Maidens where 35 hounds lined up at the slip.
Miterdale Green Queen for Sophie Steele, and Jake and Zach Green and Offspring for Stuart, James and Jacob Jeynes were sent off as joint favourites.
Passing the trail field, Maeve for Christine Brownlee and Spring Remedy for Jenny Horn were leading the race from the Miterdale Green Queen.
Once into sight and onto the finish it was Miterdale Green Queen who was leading the race from Samcro for Tanya Sattherthwaite. Miterdale Green Queen took the win, her second win in a week, with the fast finishing Flightline for Sarah White grabbing second from Samcro in third.
The All-In was won by James and Ava McClellan’s 2021 Puppy Champion Duchess Ava, who got it by the smallest head from Foxparke Honk Honk, Croft Lass for Stanley, Carole and Sarah Jackson, Ricky Deacon and Donald Hodgson finished in third.
Bridekirk – Monday May 12
- Hounds – 1. Silver Dream 2. Mel 3. Baroness Ava 4. Glamorous Ava 5. Countess Ava 9 Ran Time 28.57
- Pups – 1. Nellie’s Joy 2. Busy Rascal 3. Silver Star 4. Miterdale Wow 5. Zoya 6. Foxparke Pip Pip 22 Ran Time 22.29
- Open maiden – 1. Miterdale Green Queen 2. Flightline 3. Sam Crow 4. Paddy The Plasterer 5. Foxparke Whoosh 6. Dundee 35 Ran Time 18.05
- All In – 1. Duchess Ava 2. Foxparke Honk Honk 3. Croft Lass 4. Embrace 5. Busy Again 6. Foxparke Fairlady 21 Ran Time 18.04
