A return to Shap for a five-grade meeting had 19 hounds turning out and there was not a single entry for the puppy trail.
The Seniors had seven, with Sportsman for Willie and Craig Mark sent off as the favourite.
The hounds couldn’t really been seen throughout the trail due to the bracken being high and everything seeming to be a bit overgrown but as they showed on the finish five had broken clear with Sportsman finishing best to claim his 17th senior win of the season ahead of consistent hound Discover for Anna and Kerry Lindsay and a returning to form Embrace for Laura Steele, Andrew and Joel Bulman and Ian Rumney.
Millie’s Lass for George McGimpsy, and Gillian and Millie Telford finished fourth and Summer Spirit for Willie and Craig Mark was in fifth.
The final ticket went to Chapel Stile for Ian Fleet and Jayne Peterson.
With just two months left of the season it will be interesting to see how the senior championship plays out.
At the moment Silver Dream has the upper hand with a five-point lead but Sportsman seems to be on top form at the moment.
The Restricted hounds had a small field of three entered and the betting was fairly open with Millie’s Lad for George McGimpsy and Gillian and Millie Telford.
As they appeared onto the finish Millie’s Lad finished well to win with Huntsman’s Quantum for Jim, Ann, Alan and Adrian Little second. Unfortunately these were the only two to complete the trail.
With no pups entered the puppy maidens had three taking part with Chapel Lad for Ian Fleet, Jayne Petersen and Eleanor, Oliver and Liam Chisholm sent off as the favourite at even money.
As they showed on the finish Chapel Lad finished impressively to claim his first win from TikTok for Anna and Kerry Lindsay and Janie McAulay and Miss Becky for Glenis and Raymond Farren and Denise Bland finishing in third.
The final race of the day was the Veterans with six taking part.
The betting was fairly open with Bretton, Reebok, and Young Harry all for Brian Graham and Julie Birkshaw and Eagle Rock for Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden all at top prices.
As they showed on the finish Young Harry finished well to win from kennel mate Bretton with Eagle Rock finishing in third.
That third place extended Eagle Rock’s points in the Veteran championship to 53, four clear of his nearest rival Miterdale Duchess,
Reebok for Brian Graham finished in fourth and Miterdale Duchess for Denis Peare and Jackie Gill took fifth.
The final ticket went to Cracking Last One Two for Jack and Tina Airey, and Bill and Pat Mellon
Shap – August 30
- Hounds – 1. Sportsman; 2. Discover; 3. Embrace; 4. Millie’s Lass; 5. Summer Spirit; 6. Chapel Stile. 7 ran, time 31.07.
- Restricted Hounds – 1. Millie’s Lad; 2. Huntsman’s Quantum. 3 ran, only two finished. Time 32.57.
- Pups – 1. No entries.
- Puppy Maiden – 1. Chapel Lad; 2. TikTok; 3. Miss Becky. 3 ran, time 21.44.
- Veterans – 1. Young Harry; 2. Bretton; 3. Eagle Rock; 4. Reebok; 5. Miterdale Duchess; 6. Cracking Last One Two. 6 ran, time 20.03.
