The return to Kirkland for the third meeting of the season saw 68 hounds turn out over the four trails.
The Seniors opened proceedings with a field of 19 and Mel was sent off as favourite for Les and Graham Reid.
As the hounds were slipped, and were seen going out of the first field, Hey Mac led for Neil and Gillian Brown, Joel and Derek Bulman and was going out well from litter mate Embrace for Laura Steele, Andrew and Joel Bulman, and Ian Rumney.
The hounds can be seen from the trail field crossing the second road after roughly 12 minutes running and by then leading the way was Foxparke Honk Honk for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler with Busy Again in second for Alan Blacklock and Carole Harrison.
Mel was in third, followed by Baroness Ava for James and Ava McClellan; Foxparke Fairlady for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler and a small gap to Countess Ava for James and Ava McClellan.
The hounds can be seen going through the fell before they drop onto the finish and Foxparke Honk Honk was still leading from Mel, Baroness Ava, Busy Again, Foxparke Fairlady and Foxparke Sidekick.
As they jumped the final wall onto the trod eight had broken clear and Foxparke Honk Honk was still leading from Busy Again and Mel.
When they came through the final gate Busy Again had hit the front and went on to claim the win by two lengths from Foxparke Honk Honk with Croft Lass for Stanley, Carole, and Sarah Jackson, Ricky Deacon and Donald Hodgson putting in a fast finish for third.
Baroness Ava was fourth and Mel was fifth with the final ticket going to Foxparke Fairlady.
The pups had an entry of 21 with Huntsman’s Unite for Denise and Jenny Bland, and Graham Little sent off as the favourite.
If spectators are stood at the right place the hounds can be seen from the road going through the bottoms.
They can get a great view and it was Huntsman’s Unite who was leading the way from Brown Sugar for Graham and Les Reid, and Ellie Napier but the chasing pack had a scale and allowed the leader to establish quite an advantage.
As they crossed the road Huntsman’s Unite was leading from Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton with Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s pair Let It Be and I Am It in third and fourth.
Jenny’s Chance for Denise and Jenny Bland, Graham Little and Ella and Kyle Gallacher was fifth and Affirmation for Andrew Bulman, Laura Steele and Gary Woodend followed.
When they showed again passing through the fell three had broken – Huntsman’s Unite, Busy Rascal for Alan Blacklock and Carole Harrison and Jenny’s Chance.
Back in fourth was Foxparke Pip Pip for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Donald Hodgson.
Then as they dropped off the fell onto the trod and over the final wall Huntsman’s Unite was just slightly in front from Busy Rascal and Jenny’s Chance.
Coming through the final gate it was litter mates Huntsman’s Unite and Jenny’s Chance who had a good race to the line with the former getting home by two lengths with Busy Rascal in third.
Foxparke Pip Pip finished in fourth and following on were Tucker and I Am It.
The Open Maidens trail was contested by 16 and Thorn Thunder for Joanna, Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrows was sent off as the favourite.
As the hounds crossed the first road it was Senor for Malcolm Holmes who was leading the way from We Get By for Sarah White with Foxparke Dealer for Robyn, Ellie, Grace, and Nicola Napier, and Brooke Butler in third.
Spring Return for Jenny Horn was fourth from Samcro for Tanya Satterwaite and Foxparke Majesty for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, and Brooke Butler.
As they jumped the final wall onto the finish four had broken clear with Thorn Thunder leading the way from Senor, We Get By and Thorn Heart for Colin Satterthwaite.
Nearing the line Thorn Thunder looked as though she was going to come and win but had to settle for third in the end.
She was passed in the final stages by Thorn Heart who won by a length from We Get By with another length back to Thorn Thunder.
Senor was fourth ahead of Lucky Moon for Geoff Higgins and Foxparke Majesty.
The final race of the evening was for the Open Restricted with 12 competing.
Duchess Ava for James and Ava McClellan was sent off as the favourite.
When they crossed the first road, Swamp Fox for Tanya Satterthwaite was leading the way from Malia for Christine Brownlee with Duchess Ava in third.
Following were current Open Restricted championship leader Malfunction, Foxparke Oink Oink for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Donald Hodgson and Blue Striker for Brian and Erin Rowlandson, and Billy Birkett.
As they jumped the final wall down the trod it was Malfunction and Duchess Ava who were leading the race from Malia and Swamp Fox.
Coming through the final gate, Duchess Ava showed a good turn of foot and finished well to win by 10 lengths from Malfunction with Malia in third ahead of fast finishing Foxparke Oink Oink.
Swamp Fox finished in fifth and the final ticket went to Summer Spirit for Willie and Craig Mark.
Kirkland – July 28
- Hounds – 1. Busy Again; 2. Foxparke Honk Honk; 3. Croft Lass; 4. Baroness Ava; 5. Mel; 6. Foxparke Fairlady. 19 ran, time 28.06.
- Pups – 1. Huntsman’s Unite; 2. Jenny’s Chance; 3. Busy Rascal; 4. Foxparke Pip Pip; 5. Tucker; 6. I Am It. 21 ran, time 19.48.
- Open Maiden – 1. Thorn Heart; 2. We Get By; 3. Thorn Thunder; 4. Senor; 5. Lucky Moon; 6. Foxparke Majesty. 16 ran, time 19.50.
- Open Restricted – 1. Duchess Ava; 2. Malfunction; 3. Malia; 4. Foxparke Oink Oink; 5. Swamp Fox; 6. Summer Spirit. 12 ran, time 19.53.
