Credit: Jumpy James Photography
Sunday saw a return to the traditional Grasmere Sports for a four-race meeting where 35 hounds turned out.
The Pups started proceedings with a field of seven and Jenny’s Chance for Denise and Jenny Bland, Graham Little and Ella and Kyle Gallacher was sent off as the favourite.
The hounds can’t be seen for the majority of the trail and are first spotted about two minutes before they appear on the finish on the top fell and leading the way was Let It Be for Ruth and Charlie Dixon with litter mate Jenny’s Chance in close pursuit.
There was a small gap to the chasing hounds which was being led by Huntsman’s Unite for Denise and Jenny Bland and Graham Little.
As they appeared on the finish Huntsman’s Unite was leading the group of five ahead of Minnie for Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Steven Walker.
When they began to drop down to the last road Jenny’s Chance hit the front and finished well to claim the win from fast finishing Zoya for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham.
Minnie was third with Miterdale Wow for Anthony, Steph, Sophie, Katie and Alfie Steele finishing in fourth.
Huntsman’s Unite took fifth and the final ticket went to Let It Be.
The Open Restricted were next to be slipped with a field of 13 setting off and Malia for Christine Brownlee sent off as the favourite.
As they appeared on the back fell Kinniside Bobby for Sophie Steele, Ian Rudd and Tony Jackson had established a lead and finished well to claim the win and repeat his success at Rydal the previous week.
Let’s Go For It for Ruth and Charlie Dixon finished second with Ruby for Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington in third.
Duchess Ava for James and Ava McClellan was fourth ahead of Miterdale Honesty for Anthony, Steph, Sophie, Katie and Alfie Steele.
The final ticket went to Miterdale Rambler for Anthony, Steph, Sophie, Katie and Alfie Steele.
The veterans were next to take centre stage with a field of nine involved.
Miterdale Duchess for Jackie Gill and Denis Peare; Young Harry for Brian Graham and Bretton for Julie Birkenshaw were sent off as joint favourites.
As they appeared on the back fell Miterdale Duchess was leading the way from her two rivals in the betting, Young Harry and Bretton.
When they appeared on the finish Young Harry had developed a lead and finished to win from Miterdale Duchess and Bretton.
Kennel mate Reebok for Brian Graham was fourth and Monsoon for Christine Brownlee took fifth.
The sixth ticket went to Foxparke Bugaboo for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler.
The final trail of the day was for the Seniors with a field of six.
Miterdale Dusk for Anthony, Steph, Sophie, Katie and Alfie Steele was sent off as the favourite.
The hounds can be seen climbing up the fell and it was a line of six dogs going out but due to the sun and how far away the hounds were they were hard to make out.
They are then seen dropping off the fell and a group of three had established a lead.
Miterdale Dusk was leading from Huntsman’s Time for Denise and Jenny Little and Graham Little with Baroness Ava for James and Ava McClellan in third.
As they appeared on the finish Miterdale Dusk was leading and dropping well and looked as though he was coming to win but Sophie was denied the double as he was passed in the final stages by Baroness Ava and had to settle for second with Huntsman’s Time in third.
Countess Ava for James and Ava McClellan finished in fourth and Miterdale Green Queen for Sophie Steele, Jake and Zach Green finished in fifth.
August 24 – Grasmere Sports
- Pups – 1. Jenny’s Chance; 2. Zoya; 3. Minnie; 4. Miterdale Wow’ 5. Huntsman’s Unite; 6. Let It Be. 7 ran, time 23.58.
- Open Restricted – 1. Kinniside Bobby; 2. Let’s Go For It; 3. Ruby; 4. Duchess Ava; 5. Miterdale Honesty; 6. Miterdale Rambler. 13 ran, time 19.00.
- Veterans – 1. Young Harry; 2. Miterdale Duchess; 3. Bretton; 4. Reebok; 5. Monsoon; 6. Foxparke Bugga Boo. 9 ran, time 19.43.
- Hounds – 1. Baroness Ava; 2. Miterdale Dusk; 3. Huntsman’s Time; 4. Countess Ava; 5. Miterdale Green Queen. 6 ran, only five finished. Time 44.02.
