Wednesday evening saw a return to Kelton Fell, Kirkland, for the third time this season with 68 hounds turning out for the four grade meeting.
The Seniors were first to go with a slip of 16 and Darren and Julie McMaster and Anthony Skelton’s champion and table leader Silver Dream was sent off favourite, despite suffering a rare defeat over the course on Saturday.
Going over the first wall out of sight Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s I Am It, who is currently being trained by Gary and Misha Byers was away well along with Silver Dream and James and Ava McClellan’s Baroness Ava.
The hounds are seen roughly after three minutes climbing up the fell along the fence line where Brian and Erin Rowlandson and Billy Birkett’s Blue Striker was now leading from Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Fairlady, I Am It and Baroness Ava.
Back into view dropping down the fell and going past the field six had a slight advantage with the group now being led by Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Honk Honk with Baroness Ava, Silver Dream, Blue Striker; Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Darren Clark’s Foxparke Rita’s Rose and Stanley, Carole, and Sarah Jackson, David Loan, Ricky Deacon and Donald Hodgson’s Croft Lass.
Dropping into Potters Park a group of four had a slight advantage but were difficult to make out.
Back into sight turning for home coming out of the bottoms and over the final road crossing Foxparke Honk Honk was leading from Blue Striker who had ran a great race.
Then as they raced up the steep hill to the line Baroness Ava repeated her win from Saturday after she finished really quickly to claim the win over Silver Dream and Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow, and Sarah Jackson’s Thorn Soul.
Croft Lass was fourth ahead of kennel mates Foxparke Honk Honk and Foxparke Sidekick.
The Pups had a line-up of 18 with Sadie, Kessi and Graham Wilson’s Cinderella sent off as favourite.
Climbing up the fell Geoff and Gillian Higgins and Jake and Zach Green’s Azalia was neck-and-neck with Nicola McMaster and Barbra Telford’s Rodney Ranger and Acacia in close pursuit.
Passing the field Acacia led from kennel and littermate Azalia with Rodney Ranger back in third and Tony, Marlene, Connor and Carter Irving and Gary Woodend’s Dog Produce winner Bewley in fourth.
Dropping into Potters Park Acacia and Azalia were still heading the race but Rodney Ranger was beginning to close the gap.
On the turn into home heading to the final road crossing Rodney Ranger and Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s What Is It were having a good battle at the front and had a slight advantage on Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington’s Fable.
Onto the steep climb and racing to the line Rodney Ranger had established a 10-yard lead and like Saturday swerved to the side again but this time had enough of a lead to land the win over What Is It and the fast-finishing Fable.
Andrew Bulman and Laura Steele’s Swifty finished fourth from Martin and Molly Burrow, Ian Freyne, Ger and Jennifer Kenneally’s Thorn Daisy and early leader Azalia.
The Open Maidens had the biggest entry of the night with 19 and Nicola McMaster and Sadie Wilson’s Sarah Jane was sent off favourite.
Climbing up the fell Jonty, and Evie Moore and Jack Thompson’s Nellie’s Pride was leading them away with Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butlers Foxparke Elliot’s Lad and Tanya Satterthwaite’s Paddy The Plasterer in close pursuit.
Dropping down the fell and passing the field Nellie’s Pride and Foxparke Elliot’s Lad were still leading from Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington’s Ruby and Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Dealer.
Heading for home out of the bottoms and coming to the final road crossing a group of four were closely bunched together with the group being led by Sarah Jane, Raymond and Glenis Farren and Denise Bland’s Miss Becky, Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Steven Walker’s Minnie and Joseph Abram and Claire Crone’s pup Silver Girl.
As they began the steep climb on the run to the line Minnie showed great finishing speed to come through and beat Sarah Jane with Miss Becky in third.
Silver Girl finished fourth ahead of Stuart Jeynes’ Heartside and Foxparke Dealer.
The final race of the night was the Veterans with a slip of 15.
Saturday’s winner, Willie and Craig Mark’s Summer Spirit was sent off as favourite but as they were climbing up the fell Jim, Ann, Alan and Adrian Little’s Huntsman’s Quantum was away well with Andy and Alan Horn and Simon Walker’s Overwater Louie in second.
Back into view as they dropped down the fell and went past the field, Huntsman’s Quantum was still leading from Colin Satterthwaite’s Thorn Pop and Tanya Satherthwaite’s Swamp Fox.
Once on the run in for home coming out of the bottoms and heading for the final road three had a decent lead – Thorn Pop, Overwater Louie and Summer Spirit.
When they neared the line Summer Spirit finished best for a repeat win over Thorn Pop and Overwater Louie.
There was a small gap to Barbara Jones and Steven Walker’s Lily and Swamp Fox.
The final ticket went to Brian Graham and Eleanor Chisholm’s Eleanor’s Lass.
June 10 – Kelton Fell, Kirkland
- Seniors: 1. Baroness Ava; 2. Silver Dream; 3. Thorn Soul; 4. Croft Lass; 5. Foxparke Honk Honk; 6. Foxparke Sidekick. 16 ran, time: 28.09.
- Pups: 1. Rodney Ranger; 2. What Is It; 3. Fabl; 4. Swifty; 5. Thorn Daisy; 6. Azalia. 18 ran, time: 19.16.
- Open Maidens: 1. Minnie; 2. Sarah Jane; 3. Miss Becky; 4. Silver Girl; 5. Heartside; 6. Foxparke Dealer. 19 ran, time: 19.37.
- Veterans: 1. Summer Spirit; 2. Thorn Pop; 3. Overwater Louie; 4. Lily; 5. Swamp Fox; 6. Eleanor’s Lass. 15 ran, time: 19.31.
