The third latest meeting in the Standing Stones serial was well supported with 123 hounds turning out for the four races.
There were 21 for the opening seniors race and last week’s winner, James and Ava McClellan’s Baroness Ava was sent off favourite but once slipped it was Neil and Gillian Brown and Joel and Derrick Bulman’s Hey Mac who went to the front.
Baroness Ava, along with Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s I Am It and Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier’s Mel were giving chase.
The hounds are then seen dropping down the fell where a white hound was leading – which was later established to be Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Honk Honk – who was ahead of Baroness Ava.
Coming off the fell, and crossing at Red Gyhll, Foxparke Honk Honk was still leading ahead of Baroness Ava but the pair had been joined by Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow’s Thorn Soul with a small gap to two littermates Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Fairlady and Mel.
The hounds are seen dropping down off the fell where Foxparke Honk Honk was leading from Thorn Soul and Baroness Ava with Mel making up ground to join the leading group.
Coming onto the long finish Foxparke Honk Honk was still leading but in a great race to the line Thorn Soul just managed to get up and snatch the win by half a length with Baroness Ava in third.
Mel finished fourth ahead of Foxparke Fairladyand Hey Mac.
The Pups had another good line up of 27, with Geoff and Gillian Higgins’ and Jake and Zach Green’s consistent hound Acacia sent off as favourite.
Once underway it was last week’s winner, Christine Brownlee and Eric Cockbain’s Merle who went ahead from Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s What Is It.
Coming off the fell and crossing at Red Gyhll the favourite Acacia had come through to lead from kennel and littermate Azalia, with Kerry and Anna Lindsay and Janie McAulay’s Zinger; Merle and Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler, Darren Clark and Donald Hodgson’s Foxparke Jubilees Jackpot in behind.
Back into sight three had pulled away and they had a slight advantage with the trio being led by George McGimpsey, Gillian, Millie and Charlie’s Dream along with Acacia and Zinger with a small gap to Foxparke Jubilee’s Jackpot.
Onto the finish there was a great race to the line with Charlie’s Dream producing a late burst which lost him his maiden tag as he claimed his first puppy victory of the season ahead of Zinger and Acacia.
Foxparke Jubilee’s Jackpot finished fourth from Azalia while the final ticket went to Duncan, Amy, Oliver, Liam, Eleanor Chisholm, Harry Turner, Brian Graham’s Let Me Try Again.
The Open Maidens had a line up of 49 with Tracey, Carolyn and Derrick Hill’s Maggie Moon sent off as favourite.
Going through the back fell it was a great sight with so many hounds racing on well with a lot of them in with a chance of claiming the win.
Coming off the fell and crossing at Red Gyhll Raymond and Glenis Farren and Denise Bland’s Miss Becky was leading from Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler, and Glenis Farren’s Foxparke Cheese and Beans and Maggie Moon with still a number of other hounds in with a chance.
Back into sight Maggie Moon had got to the front and stolen a few yards on Brian, Joy and Cathy Lister’s Minnie Million and Malcolm Holmes’ consistent pair of Senorita and Senor.
It proved to be a great finish as they all raced to the line with Maggie Moon getting there first to use up her final maiden win.
The back-to-form Minnie Million was second with kennel-mates Senorita next home. David Clifford’s veteran hound Eden Romina ran on well for fifth with the final ticket going to Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Elliot’s Lad.
The final race of the day was for the Open Restricted with a line up of 26 and going over the brow of the hill Lee, Hayley, Joey and George Wall, Sandra Mordue and Ted Storrow’s Denton Phantom and Christine Brownlee’s Malia were ahead.
Going through the back fell Brian and Erin Rowlandson and the late Billy Birkett’s Blue Striker had taken over from Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Donald Hodgson’s Foxparke Oink Oink.
Coming off the fell and crossing at Red Ghyll there was plenty of hounds in with a chance with Blue Striker still at the front with Foxparke Oink Oink.
The pair were racing well ahead of Denton Phantom and approaching the finish the first two were having a great race, and were being chased down by the leaders kennel mate, Foxparke Sassy Girl and Sarah White and Elsie Horn’s Malfunction.
Onto the finish the same two hounds were still battling out at the front with Foxparke Oink Oink finishing strongest to claim the win by two lengths from the defending Open Restricted Champion, Blue Striker.
The winner’s littermate Denton Phantom finished third ahead of the winner’s kennel mate Foxparke Sassy Girl.
Malfunction and Jenny Horn’s Spring Return completed the ticketers.
Saturday May 9 – Standing Stones
- Hounds – 1. Thorn Soul; 2. Foxparke Honk Honk; 3. Baroness Ava; 4. Mel; 5. Foxparke Fairlady; 6. Hey Mac. 21 ran, time 30.36.
- Pups – 1. Charlie’s Dream; 2. Zinger; 3. Acacia; 4. Foxparke Jubilee’s Jackpot; 5. Azalia; 6. Let Me Try Again. 27 ran, time 20.08.
- Open Maiden – 1. Maggie Moon; 2. Minnie Million; 3. Senorita; 4. Senor; 5. Eden Romina; 6. Foxparke Elliot’s Lad. 49 ran, time 20.25.
- Open Restricted – 1. Foxparke Oink Oink; 2. Blue Striker; 3. Denton Phantom; 4. Foxparke Sassy Girl; 5. Malfunction; 6. Spring Return. 26 ran, time 20.13.
