Saturday saw the annual International Hound Races take place at Tallentire Hill.
The International Hound race is one of the few races which are open to other associations to run their hounds and although a smaller contingency than last year there were some hounds that had travelled over with their owners to take part from Ireland.
The senior hounds were the first to get going with 10 hounds. Current senior championship leader Silver Dream was sent off as the favourite.
As the hounds came back up from the bottoms at Wardhall and down the Millstone Moor finish it was Kinniside Bobby, owned by Tony Jackson and Ian Rudd from Cleator Moor, but currently being run by Sophie Steele who was heading up the race.
Close behind Bobby were Busy Again, Mel and Baroness Ava. As they completed the course round the bottom end of Bridekirk and made their way back to the trail field the hounds were strung out but it was Kinniside Bobby who pushed on up the hill, he kept straight and headed towards the catchers.
Baroness Ava was close behind but couldn’t make up the difference, Mel for Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier ran high and finished in third place.
In the senior maidens, there was a slip of 15 hounds, with the favourite Croft Lass for Carol, Stanley and Sarah Jackson, Ricky Deacon and Donald Hodgson.
As they passed the trail field and headed down towards Bridekirk four had established a slight lead – Croft Lass, Ruby for Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington, and Foxparke Whoosh and Foxparke Dealer.
Miterdale Green Queen for Sophie Steel, Zack and Jake Green was heading up the chasing group. Not much had changed when they showed on the finish. Croft Lass and Ruby battled each other to the line but it was Croft Lass who just got up to the take the win with Ruby in second place. Foxparke Whoosh stopped to have a drink in the bottoms but did come on to take third place.
The next race was the Open Pups with 11 hounds. Local hound Tucker was the favourite. Delta Fortune, the current leader of the puppy championship was also running.
As the hounds dropped down behind Millstone Moor farm it was the local hound Tucker who was leading the race closely followed by Maggie, Nellie’s Joy, Huntsman’s Unite, Let It Be and Delta Fortune.
Once back on the finish and the long run up to the finishing tape it was Delta Fortune and Tucker who were together with Tucker just edging in front but it was Delta Fortune who put in a last minute push to the line and managed to claim first place for Sarah and Baz Harper and Hartley Robinson with Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton taking second place. Huntsman’s Unite for Denise and Jenny Bland and Graeme Little stayed on well to claim third place.
Sixteen hounds slipped in the puppy maidens. When the hounds showed going down Millstone Moor finish it was Nellie’s Pride for Jonty and Evie Moor and Jack Thompson who was leading the way she was followed closely by Denton Phantom for Lee, Hayley, George and Joey Wall, Sandra Mordue and Ted Storrow, he was followed closely by Affirmation for Laura Steele, Andrew Bulman and Gary Woodend, then came I Am It for Ruth Graham and Charlie Dixon, these were being chased down by Jenny’s Chance for Denise and Jenny Bland and Graeme Little and Les and Graham Reid, Barbara Jones, Erin Rowlandson and Stephen Walker’s Minnie.
Once round the bottom end of the trail at Bridekirk and back up towards the finish it was Jenny’s Chance and Denton Phantom followed closely by Minnie, however a couple of the hounds stopped for a drink and it was Jenny’s Chance who pushed on up the hill and finished well to take first place followed by Ruth Graham and Charlie Dixon’s I Am It in second place. Laura Steele, Andrew Bulman and Gary Woodend’s Affirmation stayed on to claim third place.
Thirty runners lined up for the open restricted.
As the hounds were slipped and as they then dropped down the back of Millstone Moor it was Ron, who has had a spell in Ireland who had returned to take part in the day’s racing, who was leading the race followed closely by Duchess Ava for James and Ava McClellan, there was a gap to the Foxparke hounds, Honk Honk, Sidekick and Fair Lady.
As they travelled down and round the Bridekirk end of the trail and came back in to sight it was Miterdale Dusk for Sophie Steele followed by Foxparke Sidekick. There were plenty of other hounds following on and as they cleared the last fence and climbed up towards the finish it was Christine Brownlee’s Malia who came through and finished the best to claim first place, Foxparke Fair Lady came from behind to take second place, with Foxparke Sidekick hanging on to claim third.
The last race of the day were the veterans with a slip of 12 runners.
Once slipped and heading down Millstone Moor finish it was Eagle Girl who was leading followed by Foxparke Bugga Boo, Young Harry, Black Edition and Zola.
Eagle Rock, the favourite, returned to the field and didn’t complete the course. Once back on to the finish it was Zola for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham and Miterdale Duchess for Denise Pear and Jackie Gill had made up ground and were heading the race as they climbed up to the finish.
Little Black Edition for Lisa and Holly Whitfield was hanging on. As they climbed up Zola extended her lead and won, followed by a valiant little Black Edition who took second place. Miterdale Duchess ran on to finish in third place.
Andy Horn, International chairman, thanked everyone who had made the event possible.
He said hours and hours were spent behind the scenes to make the event a special day for everyone.
He thanked the International Hound Racing Committee for their hard work attending meetings and preparing and dismantling the field for the day, the farmers for allowing the hounds to run over their land.
Sponsors were Hoban’s Self Drive, Thompsons of Prudoe, Bill Aitchison, New Hall Firewood and Cockermouth Supporters Club and Andy thanked them on behalf of the International Committee and the hound racing community for their valued and continued support.
The day’s proceedings were closed out by a get-together in Cockermouth arranged by Neil Brown and Darren McMaster.
International Trails – June 21
- Hounds – 1. Kinniside Bobby 2.Baroness Ava 3. Mel 4. Countess Ava 5. Busy Again 6. Thornton 7. Silver Dream 10 Ran Time 30.33
- Senior Maidens – 1. Croft Lass 2. Ruby 3. Foxparke Whoosh 4. Foxparke Dealer 5. Miterdale Green Queen 6. Twlight Mist 7. Sam Cro 15 Ran Time 29.40
- Open Pups – 1. Delta Fortune 2. Tucker 3. Huntsman’s Unite 4. Busy Rascal 5. Let It Be 6. Foxparke Oink Oink 7. Nellie’s Joy 11 Ran Time 18.36
- Puppy Maiden – 1. Jenny’s Chance 2. I Am It 3. Affirmation 4. Nellie’s Pride 5. Minnie 6. Denton Phantom 7. Silver Star 16 Ran Time 22.04
- Open Restricted – 1. Malia 2. Foxparke Fair Lady 3. Foxparke Side Kick 4. Miterdale Dusk 5. Malfunction 6. Duchess Ava 7. Denton Shamrock 30 Ran Time 17.37
- Veterans – 1. Zola 2. Black Edition 3. Miterdale Duchess 4. Eagle Star 5. Foxparke Bugga Boo 6. Eleanor’s Lass 7. Young Harry 12 Ran Time 20.02
