Saturday saw Whitehaven Area host a five-grade meeting where 50 hounds turned out.
With the weather forecasting rain punters were grateful it was holding off and wasn’t actually too cold when the seniors were slipped.
Countess Ava for James and Ava McClellan was sent off as favourite.
After the slip Malia for Christine Brownlee was at the front along with Foxparke Honk Honk for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler.
The bitch has recently had some time off so it was nice to see her back out racing.
Reports came in from the first road where they cross at Bower House and five had broken clear with Foxparke Honk Honk leading the way ahead of Malia.
Miterdale Rambler for Anthony, Steph, Sophie, Katie and Alfie Steele was in third, ahead of the favourite Countess Ava.
Thorn Soul for Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrows completed the breakaway group.
The hounds can be seen going through the fell in front of the trail field and Foxparke Honk Honk and Malia had developed a slight advantage on Countess Ava with Thorn Soul and Miterdale Rambler chasing.
The runners can then be seen dropping down the fell before they head into the bottoms, which can often change the race, and so it seemed.
Countess Ava had taken the lead with Malia, who was dropping well and the pair were having a good race ahead of Foxparke Honk Honk and Miterdale Rambler.
As they showed on the finish Countess Ava had established a 15-yard advantage and finished well to win her fourth race of the season ahead of Malia.
Foxparke Honk Honk ran a great race after her absence in third with Miterdale Rambler in fourth.
Baroness Ava, also for James and Ava McClellan was next while the final ticket went to Thorn Soul.
The Senior Maidens went next with nine lining up at the slip.
Ruby for Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington was sent off as the favourite.
From the slip kennel mates Foxparke Majesty and Foxparke Elliot’s Lad for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler were leading the way.
Reports came in from the first road and there were now four kennel mates Foxparke Elliot’s Lad, Foxparke Dealer, Foxparke Whoosh and Foxparke Majesty who had an advantage over Offspring for Stuart, James and Jacob Jeynes with Lucky Lottie for Geoff Higgins in sixth.
Reports then came in from the puppy split and Foxparke Elliot’s Lad was leading the way from Offspring, Thorn Thunder for JoJo, Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow and Foxparke Majesty.
The hounds were seen going through the fell in front of the trail field and it was Foxparke Dealer who had gone ahead from Offspring with Foxparke Majesty in third and Foxparke Whoosh next.
As they dropped down the fell before the bottoms, Foxparke Whoosh was next to lead from Offspring and the pair began to pull away from the chasing pack which was being led by Foxparke Elliot’s Lad.
When they showed on the finish Thorn Thunder put in a final strong surge to win the race and deny Offspring who was second.
They were followed by a quartet of Foxparkes.
Thirteen pups lined up at the slip and Let It Be for Ruth and Charlie Dixon was sent off as the favourite.
Unfortunately the short trails aren’t able to be seen throughout the trail until they drop down the fell into the bottoms and Let It Be had developed a great lead and ran on well to claim the win with a small gap to second and third, which were Nellie’s Joy for Jonty and Evie Moore and Jack Thompson and Foxparke Cheese and Beans for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Glenis Farren.
There was another gap to the remaining tickets and Maggie finished fourth ahead of Foxparke Rita’s Rose for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Darren Clark.
The final ticket went to Miss Becky for Glenis and Raymond Farren and Denise Bland.
The open restricted had a field of 13 lining up at the slip and it was Foxparke Fairlady for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler that was sent off as the favourite.
As they dropped down the fell Let’s Go For It for Ruth and Charlie Dixon was leading from Foxparke Fairlady but unfortunately she ran off and put herself back to third.
Let’s Go For It and Blue Striker for Brian and Erin Rowlandson and Billy Birkett were ahead but as they showed with the line in sight Foxparke Fairlady put in a fast finish to win by nine lengths ahead of Blue Striker and Let’s Go For It.
Kinniside Bobby for Sophie Steele and Ian Rudd finished in fourth with Black Eyed Shadow for John Lyon next while the final ticket went to Reebok for Brian Graham.
The final race of the day was the Veterans with seven lining up at the slip as Miterdale Duchess for Denis Peare and Jackie Gill was sent off as the favourite.
The weather had taken a change for the worse as rain began to pour when the hounds were slipped.
It certainly did not deter the favourite as Miterdale Duchess led them away.
As they dropped down the fell four of the seven had broken clear and established an advantage.
Miterdale Duchess was leading from Bretton for Julie Birkenshaw and Brian Graham with Overwater Louie for Andy Horn in third and Eagle Rock for Linda Neale, Mark, Georgia and Josh Bryden in fourth.
As they appeared on the finish Miterdale Duchess and Bretton had it between them with the favourite eventually winning by three lengths.
Bretton took second with Eleanor’s Lass for Brian Graham and Chisholm; Eagle Rock and Overwater Louie following on.
The final ticket went to Monsoon for Christine Brownlee.
Eskdale Show – September 27
- Hounds – 1. Countess Ava; 2. Malia; 3. Foxparke Honk Honk; 4. Miterdale Rambler; 5. Baroness Ava; 6. Thorn Soul. 8 ran, time 30.34.
- Maidens – 1. Thorn Thunder; 2. Offspring; 3. Foxparke Whoosh; 4. Foxparke Majesty; 5. Foxparke Elliot’s Lad; 6. Foxparke Dealer. 9 ran, time 29.37.
- Pups – 1. Let It Be; 2. Nellie’s Joy; 3. Foxparke Cheese and Beans; 4. Maggie; 5. Foxparke Rita’s Rose; 6. Miss Becky. 13 ran, time 21.30.
- Open Restricted – 1. Foxparke Fairlady; 2. Blue Striker; 3. Let’s Go For It; 4. Kinniside Bobby; 5. Black Eyed Shadow; 6. Reebok. 13 ran, time 19.09.
- Veteran – 1. Miterdale Duchess; 2. Bretton; 3. Eleanor’s Lass; 4. Eagle Rock; 5. Overwater Louie; 6. Monsoon. 7 ran, time 19.38.
