The annual Wasdale Head Show hosted four hound races as usual.
The weather down the Wasdale valley was very favourable and it was a really pleasant afternoon for the show and for the racing.
The senior hounds had a slip of 13 hounds to get the races underway.
The course round Wasdale is a tricky one but is good for those hounds who specialise in a fell trail. Huntsman’s Rebel was sent off favourite and as they dropped down the fell two hounds had established a good lead.
They were Huntsman’s Rebel, for Denise and Jenny Bland and Graham Little, and Huntsman’s Quantum for Alan. Adrian, Jim and Ann Little.
These two had a cracking race together but once they were over the last wall Huntsman’s Rebel came away and won by a couple of lengths.
There was a good gap to the next group of hounds and as they jumped the last wall there were four hounds together, with Huntsman’s Time the first over.
But as she ran in, she was distracted by the crowd and it was James and Ava McClellan’s Baroness Ava that came through from sixth place to claim third place.
Christine Brownlee’s Malia and Maeve crossed eventually to get fourth and fifth place with Huntsman’s Time ending up with sixth ticket.
The senior maidens went next in a slip of eight. Foxparke Whoosh, for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler was sent off as the favourite but it had a few kennel mates also running.
As they showed dropping down the fell and then onto the finish the favourite had gone some as she finished on her own well clear of anything else. Kennel mates Foxparke Majesty and Foxparke Elliot’s Lad were next to finish in second and third.
Thorn Thunder, for Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow finished in fourth ahead of Foxparke Dealer to make it four tickets for the kennel.
The last ticket went to Christine Brownlee’s Monsoon.
The open pups had seven runners and Huntsman’s Unite for Denise and Jenny Bland and Graham Little was sent off favourite.
As they showed dropping in there were four hounds together and once over the last wall it was a great race between Huntsman’s Unite and Zoya for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham with the judge having to refer to the camera.
The verdict was given to Huntsman’s Unite narrowly in front of Zaya.
Denise and Jenny Bland and Graham Little’s Jenny’s Chance finished well in third place with Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Stephen Walker’s Maggie in fourth.
Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s Let It Be stayed on well to claim fifth place and Miterdale Wow for Sophie Steele finished in sixth.
The win for Huntsman’s Unite gave Denise, Jenny and Graham a double on the day.
The last race was the puppy maidens with a slip of eight runners.
As they dropped down it was Miss Becky for Glenis and Raymond Farren and Denise Bland and Thorn Bee for Martin and Molly Burrow who were together and going well.
But it was Miss Becky who crossed the line two or three yards in front of Thorn Bee much to the delight of Glenis and Raymond.
Foxparke Cheese and Beans for Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler finished in third ahead of Chapel lad for Ian Fleet and Jayne Petersen.
These were the only four to be judged.
October 11 – Wasdale Show
- Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Rebel; 2. Huntsman’s Quantum; 3. Baroness Ava; 4. Malia; 5. Maeve; 6. Huntsman’s Time.13 ran, time 26.35.
- Maidens – 1. Foxparke Whoosh; 2. Foxparke Majesty; 3. Foxparke Elliot’s Lad; 4. Thorn Thunder; 5. Foxparke Dealer; 6. Monsoon. 8 ran, time 30.54.
- Pups – 1. Huntsman’s Unite; 2. Zoya; 3. Jenny’s Chance; 4. Maggie; 5. Let It Be; 6. Miterdale Wow. 7 ran, time 18.38.
- Puppy Maiden – 1. Miss Becky; 2. Thorn Bee; 3. Foxparke Cheese and Beans; 4. Chapel Lad; 8 ran, only four judged. Time 21.46.
