Monday night saw a return for the first time this season to Potters Park, near Ennerdale.
Senior hounds were the first to get going with 17 hounds.
The current championship leader Silver Dream for Darren and Julie McMaster and Anthony Skelton was running and was second favourite with Huntsman’s Rebel for Denise and Jenny Bland, and Graham Little the favourite.
At the first road Huntsman’s Rebel had already established a slightly lead from the rest of the hounds and was running well after her win at the weekend at Gamelsby.
As they showed on the finish Huntsman’s Rebel had extended her lead and finished well to take her fourth win of the season moving her up to second position in the championship but still seven points behind Silver Dream.
Less than half a minute behind Silver Dream came on to the finish along side Croft Lass for Stanley, Carole and Sarah Jackson, Ricky Deacon and Donald Hodgson and just pulled away from her to finish in second place with Croft Lass having to settle for third place.
Countess Ava for James and Ava McClellan wasn’t too far behind and finished in fourth place with the much improved Sportsman for Willie and Craig Mark finishing in fifth place. James and Ava’s second hound Baroness Ava took the last ticket in the race.
The pups were next to slip with 26 hounds. Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton and Maggie for Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Steven Walker were sent off as the joint favourites.
Everyone was looking for a good run in advance of the Bitch Produce Event due to take place on June 7.
As they dropped off the fell and into the bottoms, nine hounds had broken clear with Delta Fortune for Sarah and Baz Harper, and Hartley Robinson leading the way from litter mate Zoya for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham, as they showed on the finish there were plenty of hounds in with a chance.
But as they cleared the last fence it was Zoya who came away and finished to take the win making it her third win of the season.
Maggie and Tucker battled it out for second place with Maggie just getting up from Tucker to take second.
I Am It and Let It Be for Ruth Graham and Charlie Dixon took fourth and fifth place with Nellie’s Pride for Jonty and Evie Moore, and Jack Thompson taking sixth place.
The Open Maiden race was next with 26 hounds. Eagle Rock for Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden was sent off as the favourite.
As they showed on the finish and they cleared the last fence three hounds jumped together but it was Dundee for Neil and Gillian Brown, and Derrick and Joel Bullman who came away and crossed the line in first place with Delta Scribble for Sarah Harper and Mave for Christine Brownlee close behind but Delta Scribble just got up to take second with Mave in third place.
Eagle Rock was fourth with Lucky Legend for Lisa and Holly Whitfield finishing in fifth. Foxparke Dealer finished in sixth place.
The last race of the night was the All In, for those hounds who need to get race fit. The All In race gives them a chance to run without jeopardising any of their grades.
Fifteen hounds went to the slip. As they showed on the finish, a number of hounds were together as they cleared the last fence.
As they raced to the line it was Hey Mac for Neil and Gillian Bullman, and Derrick and Joel Bullman and Thornton for Darren McMaster, Sadie Wilson and Anthony Skelton who were battling it out with Hey Mac just getting up by a short head to take the win from Thornton and claim a double on the night for Gillian, Neil, Derrick and Joel. Team Foxparke took the next three tickets with their hounds Foxparke Side Kick, Foxparke Fairlady and Foxparke Honk Honk with the last ticket going to Embrace for Laura Steele, Andrew and Joel Bullman and Ian Rumney.
Monday June 2 – Potters Park
- Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Rebel 2. Silver Dream 3. Croft Lass 4. Countess Ava 5. Sportsman 6. Baroness Ava 17 Ran Time 29.48
- Pups – 1. Zoya 2. Maggie 3. Tucker 4. I Am It 5. Let It Be 6. Nellie’s Pride 26 Ran Time 20.10
- Open Maiden – 1. Dundee 2. Delta Scribble 3. Mave 4. Eagle Rock 5. Lucky Legend 6. Foxparke Dealer 26 Ran Time 19.14
- All-In – 1. Hey Mac 2. Thornton 3. Foxparke Side Kick 4. Foxparke Fairlady 5. Foxparke Honk Honk 6. Embrace 15 Ran Time 18.42
