The South Lakes Area hosted a four-race card at Greenholme on Sunday with 58 hounds taking part.
The opening race for the Seniors had a line-up of 13.
Willie and Craig Mark’s Sportsman was sent off as favourite given his recent form and once slipped he was away well ahead of James and Ava McClellan’s Baroness Ava and George Burgon and Carole Tunstall’s Mr Mally.
The hounds aren’t seen again until they are going through the fell with only four minutes racing left where Sportsman was leading from Denise and Jenny Bland and Ella and Kyle Gallacher’s Jenny’s Chance and Baroness Ava.
On the top of the finish a group of four were all in with a chance of winning – Sportsman, Jenny’s Chance, Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham’s Zoya and Baroness Ava.
But once they dropped down the hill and through the last gate Sportsman had got in front and he was able to hold the small advantage to win by half a length from fast finishing Zoya.
Baroness Ava was third and following her home were Jenny’s Chance, Mr Mally and Joy, Brian and Cathy Lister’s Minnie Million.
The 15 Pups were sent on their way with Martin and Molly Burrow, Ian Freyne, Ger and Jennifer Kenneally’s Thorn Daisy as favourite.
She got away well with Duncan, Amy, Oliver, Liam, Eleanor Chisholm, Harry Turner, Brian Graham’s Let Me Try Again for company.
Going through the fell Geoff and Gillian Higgins’ and Jake and Zach Green’s Acacia had got to the front of a long line of hounds headed by Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s What Is It, Let Me Try Again and the leaders kennel mate Azalia.
Back into view on the finish a group of eight were all in with a chance but as they neared the line Let Me Try Again finished best to claim his first puppy win ahead of Sarah Jackson, Willie Gill, Lisa Crosby, David Loan, Ricky Deacon and John Griesdal’e Croft Mist and What Is It.
Acacia finished fourth ahead of Christine Brownlee and Eric Cockbain’s Merle with the final ticket going to Azalia.
The Veterans were next to go and had 14 at the slip.
Once racing Jim, Ann, Alan and Adrian Little’s Huntsman’s Quantum was off the best along with Barbara Jones and Steven Walker’s Lily for company.
Going through the fell Julie Birkinshaw’s Bretton was leading from Brian Graham and Eleanor Chisholm’s Eleanor’s Lass, and Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden’s Eagle Rock.
Back into view on the finish and dropping through the gate and nearing the line Eleanor’s Lass got went to the front to beat kennel mate Breton and Willie and Craig Mark’s Summer Spirit.
Eagle Rock was fourth with the minor tickets going to George Burgon and Carole Tunstall’s Overwater Hunter and Lily.
The All-In attracted 17 runners and the race was won by Malcolm Holmes’ Senor ahead of Caroline Clough’s Snowfell and Christine Brownlee’s Maeve.
Sunday May 31 – Greenholme
- Hounds – 1. Sportsman; 2. Zoya; 3. Baroness Ava; 4. Jenny’s Chance; 5. Mr Mally; 6. Minnie Million. 12 ran, time 27.05.
- Pups – 1. Let me Try Again; 2. Croft Mist; 3. What Is It; 4. Acacia; 5. Merle; 6. Azalia. 15 ran, time 20.37.
- Veterans – 1. Eleanor’s Lass; 2. Bretton; 3. Summer Spirit; 4. Eagle Rock; 5. Overwater Hunter; 6. Lily. 14 ran, time 20.47.
- All In – 1. Senor; 2. Snowfell; 3. Maeve; 4. Lady Million; 5. Let’s Go For It; 6. Flightline. 17 ran, time 21.02.
