Saturday saw the traditional Cockermouth Show trails take place at Millstone Moor Farm.
With five trails over the afternoon and the weather set to be fine it turned out to be a good day’s trailing, or racing as we now describe the sport.
The senior hounds were first to be slipped, with 10 taking part.
There was no Silver Dream running so the bookmakers had to scratch their heads to see which hound would likely feature at the top of their boards.
Busy Again was running and has a good record round the course, often having to settle for second place when Silver Dream has been running, so was sent off as the favourite.
However, reports were coming in as the hounds crossed at Redmain Lonning that it was Foxparke Honk Honk who was leading the group followed closely by Foxparke Sidekick and Foxparke Fairlady all for Robyn, Ellie, Grace, Nicola Napier and Brook Butler.
As the hounds came into view and started to climb up to the finish it was still Foxparke Honk Honk who was leading and she came in to win with three yards to spare from Baroness Ava for James and Ava McClellan in second place and Croft Lass for Carole, Stanley and Sarah Jackson and Ricky Deacon in third.
There was a slight gap to fourth and it was Foxparke Fairlady followed by James and Ava’s other hound Countess Ava in fifth with Foxparke Sidekick taking sixth ticket.
The senior maidens were next to slip with 13 of them sent on their way.
Cracking Artist for Bill and Pat Mellon, Tina and Wack Airey was sent off the favourite.
Not being able to run much last season, she is coming back to race fitness and was leading the race as they crossed the road at Bridekirk.
Miterdale Green Queen for Sophie Steele, Zack and Jake Green, was hard on her tail as they ran through the bottoms.
At the last road it was Miterdale Green Queen who was leading with Foxparke Elliot’s Lad for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brook Butler close behind in second place along with Cracking Artist.
Once into the last field it was Cracking Artist who came away to win the race from Miterdale Green Queen who faded slightly on the finish to take second place.
Foxparke Elliot’s Lad, who had dropped back, came through well to take third place with Tania Satterthwaite’s Samcro in fourth.
Sarah White’s We Get By claimed fifth place with Foxparke Dealer getting the last ticket.
The open pups had 10 taking part and Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton was sent off as favourite.
Crossing the road down at Bridekirk it was Maggie for Les Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Stephen Walker who was leading. Over the last road Tucker had moved up to take the lead followed by Busy Rascal for Alan Blacklock and Carole Harrison and then I Am It for Ruth and Charlie Dixon.
As they cleared the last gate Tucker had a few yards advantage and kept coming on well to win. Busy Rascal finished well in second place but just couldn’t make up the ground to catch the winner.
Foxparke Oink Oink for Grace Napier finished in third place with Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s I Am It in fourth. Maggie finished well in fifth place and Let It Be, also for Ruth and Charlie Dixon, finished in sixth.
The Puppy Maidens had six runners and it was an open race as the hounds travelled down towards Bridekirk.
Foxparke Cheese and Beans for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brook Butler was being followed by Laura Steele, Andrew Bulman and Gary Woodend’s Affirmation ahead of Minnie for Graham and Les Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Stephen Walker along with Miterdale Wow for Sophie Steele.
Once over the last road and heading towards the finish it was Affirmation who pulled away by a couple of lengths and once over the last gate finished well to win from Foxparke Cheese and Beans, Minnie and Miterdale Wow.
Prospect Jill for Stuart Smith took fifth with Martin, Molly Teddy Burrow, I Freyne, G & J Kenneally’s Thorn Bee in sixth place.
The last race of the day was the Veterans with four hounds. Miterdale Duchess for Denis Pear and Jackie Gill was favourite, having had a good record round the course.
She led most of the way and her closest challenger was Eagle Rock for Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden.
Both hounds put in strong finishes wile Cracking Last One for Bill and Pat Mellon and Tina and Wack Airey ran on well to take third place with Lisa and Holly Whitfield’s Black Edition in fourth.
It was nice to see visitors from Ireland attending the trails.
Patrick Dillon was there with his family, members of the Kerry Beagles Association based in Ireland. They had been over to attend Manchester’s Children’s Hospital with their four-year-old son who is receiving treatment there and he had popped up to attend the trails and catch up with a few close friends.
Everyone wished him and his family well and a speedy recovery for his young son.
August 2 – Cockermouth Show trails
- Hounds – 1. Foxparke Honk Honk; 2. Baroness Ava; 3. Croft Lass; 4. Foxparke Fairlady; 5. Countess Ava; 6. Foxparke Sidekick. 11 ran, time 28.13.
- Maidens – 1. Cracking Artist; 2. Miterdale Green Queen; 3. Foxparke Elliot’s Lad; 4. SamCro; 5. We Get By; 6. Foxparke Dealer. 13 ran, time 28.58.
- Pups – 1. Tucker; 2. Busy Rascal; 3. Foxparke Oink Oink; 4. I Am It; 5. Maggie; 6. Let It Be. 10 ran, time 18.42.
- Puppy Maiden – 1. Affirmation; 2. Foxparke Cheese and Beans; 3. Minnie; 4. Miterdale Wow; 5. Prospect Jill; 6. Thorn Bee. 6 ran, time 19.16.
- Veterans – 1. Miterdale Duchess; 2. Eagle Rock; 3. Cracking Last One Two; 4. Black Edition. 4 ran, time 19.27.
