The return to Uldale attracted an entry of 52 hounds for the five races on the card.
The meeting is a memorial to Michael Renney, a popular Cockermouth businessman and committee member of the Workington and Cockermouth Area for many years. He was also a well-known bookmaker on the HTA circuit.
The senior hounds and the pups were running for his memorial trophies and it was nice to see Michael’s family in attendance, still showing a keen interest in the sport.
The Seniors had a field of 14 with the two leading contenders for the championship, Sportsman and Silver Dream, among them.
Sportsman for Willie and Craig Mark was sent off as the favourite with Silver Dream also at the top of the bookies board.
It’s getting close now at the top of the championship table with just two points separating the two hounds. Once slipped the hounds can be seen climbing up the fell with a group of nine breaking clear.
Punters were trying their best to pick out the hounds and it was thought that Sportsman was driving the trail from Millie’s Lass for George McGimpsy, Gillian and Millie Telford and Silver Dream for Darren and Julie McMaster and Anthony Skelton.
As they came into sight going through the fell before the finish Huntsman’s Rebel for Denise and Jenny Bland and Graham Little had developed an advantage over Millie’s Lass and Sportsman followed by Huntsman’s Time for Denise and Jenny Bland and Millie’s Lad for George McGimpsy, and Gillian and Millie Telford.
When they appeared on the finish Millie’s Lass had stolen a march and finished well to claim her first senior win of the season with her kennel mate Millie’s Lad in second, giving George, Gillian and Millie a one-two on the day.
Sportsman finished well in third having chosen the less favourable line on the finish which put him slightly out of contention and the line came before he could catch the two Millies.
Kennel mates Huntsman’s Rebel and Huntsman’s Time were fourth and fifth with the final ticket going to Silver Dream.
So neither of the two top hounds managed the win and the gap between the pair remains at two points, in Silver Dream’s favour.
But with the season closing in – with about six weeks left – the opportunity for the two hounds remain wide open.
A number of favourite venues for each hound are coming up so it should stay close.
The senior maidens only had a field of six with Thorn Heart for Colin Satterthwaite sent off the even money favourite.
As they climbed up the fell four had broken clear with Flecky Jack for Donna, Shaun, Becky and Luke Hetherington leading from Thorn Heart, with Spring Return in third for Jenny Horn and Offspring in fourth for Stuart, James and Jacob Jeynes.
There was a gap to Delta Scribble in fifth for Sarah and Baz Harper and Hartley Robinson with Foxparke Bugaboo for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler last of the six.
When they came into sight going through the fell Thorn Heart had developed a slight lead on Spring Return with another gap to Offspring and Flecky Jack.
Later, as they appeared on the finish Thorn Heart put in a strong run to win by eight lengths from Spring Return with Flecky Jack in third and Offspring in fourth.
They were followed in by Foxparke Bugaboo and Delta Scribble.
The pups only had a field of five with Tucker for Nicola McMaster and Anthony Skelton and Jenny’s Chance for Denise and Jenny Bland, Graham Little and Ella and Kyle Gallacher joint favourites at even money.
The hounds can be seen climbing up the fell and it was Foxparke Rita’s Rose for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicole Napier, Brooke Butler and Darren Clark who was at the front with Tucker.
The pair were climbing well with Jenny’s Chance in third and Zoya for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham in fourth before a small gap to Heartside for Stuart, James and Jacob Jeynes.
The hounds can then be seen dropping down the fell for a split second and the four hounds were racing on well.
As they came into sight going through the fell before they appear onto the finish Foxparke Rita’s Rose and Tucker had established a small lead on Jenny’s Chance and Zoya.
But when they showed on the finish all four were together with Foxparke Rita’s Rose leading from Jenny’s Chance, Tucker and Zoya.
As they climbed up the finish Zoya put in a strong turn of foot and passed the other three hounds as though they were standing still to claim win number five for the season ahead of Tucker and Jenny’s Chance with long-time leader Foxparke Rita’s Rose in fourth. Heartside took the final ticket.
The puppy maidens race was contested by six and Foxparke Cheese and Beans for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Glenis Farren and Thorn Bee for Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrows were sent off as joint favourites.
As they climbed up the fell all six of them seemed to be grouped together but as they dropped back down the fell Foxparke Cheese and Beans and Thorn Bee had developed a slight lead on Foxparke Waddle Waddle for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Neil Brady.
Foxparke Dupe for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler, Glenis Farren and Ricky Deacon was in fourth before a small gap to Spring Gardener for Jenny Horn and Deggsey Moon for Tracey, Carolyn and Derrick Hill.
As they came into sight going through the fell before the finish Foxparke Cheese and Beans and Thorn Bee had developed a big lead and continued with that advantage until they reached the finish.
It was where Thorn Bee put in a strong late effort to win and complete a double on the day for Team Thorn ahead of Foxparke Cheese and Beans.
There was then a small gap to Foxparke Waddle Waddle in third and another gap to the next three hounds who were having a great race among themselves before Foxparke Dupe showed a nice turn of foot to grab fourth ahead of Degsy Moon and Spring Gardener.
It’s worth noting that the puppy maiden race was won in the same time as the pups.
The final race of the day was the open restricted with 21 taking part.
Huntsman’s Sparkle for Tracey, Carolyn and Derrick Hill was sent off as the favourite.
After they were slipped it was a great sight as a great line of hounds were racing on well with Huntsman’s Sparkle and Blue Striker for Brian and Erin Rowlandson and Billy Birkett leading the way.
As they climbed up the fell it was the same two hounds who were leading the race ahead of a long line of hounds.
When they came into sight going through the fell before they appear on the finish Huntsman’s Sparkle had developed a small lead on Blue Striker with Light Up for Christopher Henderson leading the next bunch of hounds.
As they appeared on the finish Huntsman’s Sparkle went behind the camera along with Blue Striker.
That allowed Light Up to put in a fast finish to claim the win ahead of Blue Striker and Huntsman’s Sparkle with Dream Catcher for Cathy, Joy and Brian Lister in fourth.
Foxparke Sassy Girl for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler finished fast in fifth and the final ticket went to Huntsman’s Quantum for Jim, Ann, Alan and Adrian Little.
September 14 – Uldale
- Hounds – 1. Millie’s Lass; 2. Millie’s Lad; 3. Sportsman; 4. Huntsman’s Rebel; 5. Huntsman’s Time; 6. Silver Dream. 14 ran, time 25.57.
- Maidens – 1. Thorn Heart’ 2. Spring Return; 3. Flecky Jack; 4. Off Spring; 5. Foxparke Bugga Boo; 6. Delta Scribble. 6 ran, time 27.43.
- Pups – 1. Zoya; 2. Jenny’s Chance; 3. Tucker; 4. Foxparke Rita’s Rose; 5. Heartside. 5 ran, time 23.10.
- Puppy Maiden – 1. Thorn Bee; 2. Foxparke Cheese and Beans; 3. Foxparke Waddle Waddle; 4. Foxparke Dupe; 5. Deggsey Moon; 6. Spring Gardener. 6 ran, time 23.10.
- Open Restricted – 1. Light Up; 2. Blue Striker; 3. Huntsman’s Sparkle; 4. Dream Catcher; 5. Foxparke Sassy Girl; 6. Huntsman’s Quantum. 21 ran, time 21.03.
