Wednesday night saw a return to Potters Park, near Ennerdale for the second time this season, with 54 hounds turning out on the night.
Up first were the Seniors with a field of 13 lining up at the slip.
Last time’s winner Huntsman’s Rebel wasn’t running after her impressive win at Cleamire on Monday and Silver Dream for Darren and Julie McMaster, and Anthony Skelton was sent off as the favourite.
Once the hounds are slipped they were seen crossing the bottom road after about three minutes of running and can be watched climbing right up the fell.
As they crossed the first road, five had developed a slight advantage and leading the way was Mel for Les and Graham Reid, and Ellie Napier with Silver Dream in second, Sportsman for Craig and Willie Mark in third, and James and Ava McClellan’s Baroness Ava and Countess Ava in fourth and fifth.
As they climbed up the fell Foxparke Honk Honk found another gear and began to chase down the leaders and ended up hitting the front for the last mile as they climbed out of sight.
The hounds then came back into sight again down the fell and over a road and leading the way was Eden Rayna for David Clifford ahead of Silver Dream with Mel dropping back to third, Sportsman in fourth, Baroness Ava in fifth and Foxparke Dealer in sixth.
The hounds then come back into sight along the bottoms and four had developed a 10-yard advantage. Once they showed onto the finish, three had broken clear, Silver Dream, Sportsman and Mel.
Neither Silver Dream or Sportsman wanted to give up the win and the judge had to refer to the camera to make the decision with Sportsman getting the win by the smallest head to claim his third Senior victory of the season ahead of Silver Dream and Mel.
Up next were the pups with a field of 10. Zoya for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham and Maggie for Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Steven Walker were sent off as joint favourites.
Off to a good start was Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton, leading the race from kennel mate Silver Star for Darren and Julie McMaster and Sadie Wilson, with Maggie and Zoya in third and fourth.
As they came back into sight, dropping down the fell and over the first road it was Tucker who was leading the way from Maggie, Minnie for Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Steven Walker and Nellie’s Joy for Jonty and Evie Moore, and Jack Thompson in fourth with Zoya in fifth.
The five continued to pull away as they crossed through the bottoms but were being chased down by Silver Star.
As they showed onto the finish it was Zoya who was leading from kennel mates and litter mates Maggie and Minnie, jumping the final fence Maggie looked as though she had an advantage but Zoya found another gear to power on and it was an even closer finish where the judge referred to the camera again to give Zoya the win by the smallest nose.
Minnie finished in third and Nellie’s Joy in fourth. Busy Rascal for Alan Blacklock and Carole Harrison finished in fifth and the final ticket went to Tucker.
Up next were the Open Non Winners with a field of 11. I Am It for Ruth Graham and Charlie Dixon was sent off as the favourite. As they went down Kirkland finish I Am It was leading the way from Foxparke Oink Oink for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Donald Hodgson.
As they went onto the back of the wall I Am It was still leading the way but was now joined by Foxparke Rita’s Rose for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Darren Clark ahead of litter mate and kennel mate Foxparke Oink Oink and Spring Return for Jenny Horn.
As they dropped down the fell and over the first road Foxparke Rita’s Rose was leading the way from litter mate and kennel mate Foxparke Oink Oink with the favourite I Am It in third and Foxparke Cheese and Beans for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Glenis Farren in fourth and Lucky Legend for Lisa and Holly Whitefield in fifth and Spring Return in sixth.
As they went through the bottoms I Am It had hit the front again but was joined by Foxparke Rita’s Rose and the pair began to pull away from the chasing pack which was being led by Spring Return, Foxparke Oink Oink, Lucky Legend and Foxparke Cheese and Beans.
As they showed onto the finish, three had developed a 10-yard lead which were Spring Return, Lucky Legend and Foxparke Rita’s Rose but the pair couldn’t hold off the fast finishing Foxparke Rita’s Rose who claimed her first win by half a length.
Lucky Legend finished in second and Spring Return in third.
The final trail of the evening was the All-In with 20 hounds taking to the trail. As they went down Kirkland finish Crazy for Jonty and Evie Moore, and Jack Thompson was leading the way from Foxparke Sidekick Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, and Brooke Butler.
The hounds were hard to make out as they went behind the wall as the sun was beginning to set and made them difficult to see.
As they dropped down the fell and over the first road Crazy was still leading the way from Foxparke Sidekick and Eagle Girl for Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden.
As they showed onto the finish it was kennel mates and litter mates Foxparke Sidekick and Foxparke Fairlady for Robyn, Ellie, Grace, and Nicola Napier, and Brooke Butler.
Foxparke Fairlady got the easiest win of the night by two lengths. Foxparke Sidekick finished in second and James and Ava McCllelan’s 2021 Puppy Champion Duchess Ava in third.
Potters Park – June 11
- Hounds – 1. Sportsman 2. Silver Dream 3. Mel 4. Baroness Ava. Eden Rayna 6. Foxparke Dealer 13 Ran Time 31.40
- Pups – 1. Zoya 2. Maggie 3. Minnie 4. Nellie’s Joy 5. Busy Rascal 6. Tucker 10 Ran Time 20.39
- Open Non-Winners -1. Foxparke Rita’s Rose 2. Lucky Legend 3. Spring Return 4. I Am It 5. Foxparke Oink Oink 6. Foxparke Cheese and Beans 11 Ran Time 21.09
- All In – 1. Foxparke Fairlady 2. Foxparke Side Kick 3. Duchess Ava 4. Eagle Girl 5. Peggy Sue 6. Foxparke Elliott’s Lass 20 Ran Time 19.05
