There’s plenty for the HRA members to discuss this week with the Senior registrations, hound name changes/new owners and 2025 transfers to other associations now released.
There have been four hounds transferred from Ireland into the HRA – Puffin Girl and English-bred Thorn Bird are now both owned by Denise and Jenny Bland. Chase is now owned by Jenny Horn, Muiris and Mossie Brannon and Fire Cross now owned by Megan Telford.
A few hounds have had new owners/additional owners with Huntsman’s Quirk, Huntsman’s Rebel, Huntsman’s Time and Huntsman’s Unite now being solely owned by Denise and Jenny Bland and Jenny’s Chance being owned by Jenny Bland, Ella and Kyle Gallacher.
Flightline, We Get By, and Malfunction are now owned by Sarah White and daughter Elsie Horn with Line of Flight being owned by Sarah White, and Elsie Horn and now having an additional owner of Andy Horn.
Silver Streak is now owned by Darren McMaster, Sadie Wilson and Anthony Skelton. Overwater Louie was owned by Andy and Alan Horn but now has an additional owner of Simon Walker.
Babycham was solely owned by Alan Blacklock but now has an additional owner of Sophie Steele along with Kirkhead Rebel being solely owned by Roy Laidler and now having an additional owner of Sophie Steele.
Miterdale Rambler is now solely owned by Anthony, Steph, Sophie, Katie and Alfie Steele, and finally Busy Again who was solely owned by Alan Blacklock now has an additional owner in his daughter Carole Harrison.
In 2025 a total of15 hounds were transferred out of the HRA and into into Ireland.
They were Barncroft Express (transferred in early 2025) , Barncroft Silver (transferred in early 2025), Terminator, Eden Rosanna, Thorn Bird (came back to the HRA in October 2025), Splendid Lily, Flecky Jack, Tesla, Millie’s Lad, Tucker, Silver Star, Thornton, Ben, Ron (came back to the HRA and was rehomed through the Lakeland Trailhound Welfare) and Meadow Lane.
Some of the big 2026 trail venues have been announced. The coming season’s Dog Produce is being held in Whitehaven Area in June with the Bitch Produce being held in Carlise and Penrith Area in July.
The August Premier venue is yet to be decided with any area being able to put in for it whereas the October Premier is being held in South Lakes Area.
As for the betting on next season’s championships the odds can be obtained on request from Mark Bryden where would-be punters can ask for prices on any Senior or Pup.
It appears the early fancies in the Seniors are Silver Dream, who is a two time back-to-back champion; Sportsman who was Senior Champion runner-up in 2025, Baroness Ava and Jenny’s Chance.
Early fancies in the Pups are Ava Jean, Thorn Daisy and Tartan Raider.
Mark Bryden will also be running the Lena and Edward Gibson Memorial Trophy again for the third year in a row and previously won by Kinniside Bobby and Millies Lass.
Six hounds compete against each other in the first round where they have to run in the seniors and be the first hound to finish in order to go through to round two.
After round one it is two hounds per race and first hound to finish will go through to the next round. Mark has donated £100 prize money and a glass shield to the winning hound.
March races (non-championship) have also been put in now with a total of 10 so far. Grassings, Friday March 6; Kirkland, Saturday March 7; Grassings, Sunday March 8; Low Place, Tuesday March 10; Grassings, Friday March 13; Kirkland, Sunday March 15; St Helena full puppy race, Sunday March 22, St Helena full puppy race and Oulton full puppy race and Saturday March 28 Oulton full puppy race.
The Championship season will officially start on Wednesday the 1st of April with the first meeting being in Whitehaven Area.
So far there are 16 meetings scheduled for April but that could alter as there is still a bit of time to get meetings in.
The following fixtures are Saturday April 4; Whitehaven Area. Sunday April 5; Cockermouth and Workington Area. Monday April 6; Whitehaven Area. Wednesday April 8: Whitehaven Area. Thursday April 9; Cockermouth and Workington Area. Saturday April 11; Whitehaven Area. Sunday April 12; Cockermouth and Workington Area. Tuesday April 14; Whitehaven Area. Thursday April 16; Cockermouth and Workington Area. Monday April 20; Whitehaven Area. Wednesday April 22; Whitehaven Area. Saturday April 25; Whitehaven Area. Monday April 27; Whitehaven Area. Tuesday April 28; Cockermouth and Workington Area. Wednesday April 29; Whitehaven Area.
The 2026 Tipster competition is now open where people can choose 3 seniors (senior races only); 3 pups (puppy races only) and 1 lower grade hound (all lower grade the hound is elligible for including maidens, open non winners, open restricted and veterans).
Points at weekend races only 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Double points at major HRA races – May Day, Bitch and Dog Produce, August and October Premier races.
Entry fee £5. Entries to Ellie or Chuts by March 30.
