Monday saw a return to Potters Park for the third and final time for a four grade meeting and 53 hounds turned out.
Up first were the Seniors with a slip of 11. Silver Dream for Darren and Julie McMaster and Anthony Skelton was sent off as the favourite.
As the hounds crossed the first road and climbed up the fell, four had broken clear – Mel for Les and Graham Reid, and Ellie Napier, Silver Dream, Foxparke Dealer for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, and Brooke Butler and Countess Ava for James and Ava McClellan in fourth.
The four hounds were being chased down by Croft Lass for Stanley, Carole and Sarah Jackson, Ricky Deacon and Donald Hodgson and Foxparke Honk Honk for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler.
As the hounds climbed up the fell Mel and Silver Dream began to pull away from the now chasing hound Foxparke Honk Honk and Croft Lass in third and fourth.
The hounds then came back into sight before they cross the first road and it was Silver Dream who was still leading from Foxparke Honk Honk, Mel, Countess Ava and Croft Lass with Foxparke Dealer in sixth.
The hounds came back into sight as they went through the bottoms and it was Mel who was back to the front ahead of Silver Dream, Countess Ava and Croft Lass.
You then get a glimpse of the hounds as they drop into the back before they show onto the finish and Foxparke Honk Honk was leading the way from Silver Dream and Mel.
As the hounds showed onto the finish Silver Dream had a length advantage and came on to claim her 13th win of the season ahead of Foxparke Honk Honk and Croft Lass.
Up next were the Pups with a field of 15 taking to the trail. 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 the favourites.
As the hounds went down Kirkland finish towards the fell Nellie’s Joy for Jonty and Evie Moore, and Jack Thompson went out well and established a 10-yard lead on Maggie and Minnie for Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Steven Walker.
The hounds come back into sight after about three minutes and Nellie’s Joy was still leading the way from Maggie and Minnie with Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton in fourth and Silver Star for Darren and Julie McMaster and Sadie Wilson in fifth and Foxparke Oink Oink for Robyn, Ellie, Grace, and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Donald Hodgson.
When the hounds were seen again, it was I Am It for Ruth Graham and Charlie Dixon who was leading the way from Foxparke Cheese and Beans for Robyn, Ellie, Grace, and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Glenis Farren with Foxparke Oink Oink in third, Minnie in fourth, Tucker in fifth and Silver Star in sixth.
As the hounds came through the bottoms Tucker began to pull away from the chasing pack which was being led by I Am It, from Foxparke Oink Oink, Foxparke Cheese and Beans, Minnie and Silver Star.
When the hounds showed on the finish Tucker was still leading but had been joined by Minnie and Foxparke Oink Oink, as they jumped the last fence Foxparke Oink Oink ran off and jumped the gate further up the field instead of the fence to put herself to third.
Tucker looked as though he was going to come and win but just slowed down before the line with Minnie also just slowing down allowing Foxparke Oink Oink to take the win. Minnie finished in second and Tucker in third.
Up next were the Open Maidens with a field of 16 lining up at the slip, Glamorous Ava for James and Ava McClellan was sent off as the favourite.
Glamorous Ava was off to a great start and went out well ahead of Peggy Sue for Gillian Bullman and Micky O’Brian and Maeve for Christine Brownlee.
As the hounds went out of sight behind the wall it was hard to make out what the first hound was. As they showed from down the fell and over the first road Maeve had established a 20-yard lead on Foxparke Whoosh for Robyn, Nicola, Ellie and Grace Napier and Brooke Butler with Peggy Sue in third.
As the hounds showed in the bottoms 3 hounds began to pull away – Maeve, Foxparke Whoosh and Peggy Sue – all three took turns on driving the trail. Leading the chasing pack was Spring Return for Jenny Horn.
As the hounds showed on the finish Maeve had established her 20-yard lead and came on well to take the win ahead of Peggy Sue with Lucky Legend for Lisa and Holly Whitfield in third.
The final trail of the evening was the All-In with 11 taking to the trail. Going down Kirkland finish Foxparke Elliot’s Lad for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, and Brooke Butler led the way from kennel mate Foxparke Sidekick for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, and Brooke Butler and Rodney Raider for Nicola McMaster and David Todhunter in third.
As the hounds showed behind the wall, Foxparke Sidekick was leading the race with Rodney Raider and Eagle Girl for Mark, Josh, and Georgia Bryden and Linda Neale in third.
When they showed in the bottoms Foxparke Sidekick was leading the way from Eagle Girl and Rodney Raider.
Onto the finish it was Busy Again for Alan Blacklock and Carole Harrison who was at the front ahead of kennel mates Foxparke Sidekick and Foxparke Fairlady for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler.
Busy Again just managed to keep hold of the win from fast finishing Foxparke Fairlady, Foxparke Sidekick finished in third.
Hound racing resumes tonight, Tuesday June 17 at Walton Moss with a four grade meeting; Seniors, Pups, Open Maidens, All-In. Seniors slip at 6pm.
Potters Park – June 16
- Hounds – 1. Silver Dream 2. Foxparke Honk Honk 3. Croft Lass 4. Mel 5. Countess Ava 6. Foxparke Dealer 11 Ran Time 29.53
- Pups – 1. Foxparke Oink Oink 2. Minnie 3. Tucker 4. Busy Rascal 5. Silver Star 6. I Am It 15 Ran Time 19.32
- Open Maidens – 1. Maeve 2. Peggy Sue 3. Lucky Legend 4. Spring Return 5. Foxparke Whoosh 6. Lucky Moon 16 Ran Time 18.56
- All In – 1. Busy Again 2. Foxparke Fair Lady 3. Foxparke Side Kick 4. Rodney Raider 5. Eagle Girl 6. Malia 11 Ran Time 18.38
