The Bitch Produce meeting at Shap on Saturday saw 16 entered for the prestigious race, one of the major targets of the season for many owners and trainers.
Once away Geoff and Gillian Higgins and Jake and Zach Green’s pair of Azalia and Acacia went to the front as they frequently do.
Martin and Molly Burrow, Ian Freyne, Ger and Jennifer Kenneally’s Thorn Daisy was going with them.
Going through three had gained a lead – Azalia; Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler, Darren Clark and Donald Hodgson’s Foxparke Jubilee’s Jackpot and Thorn Daisy with a gap to Azalia.
Back into sight Azalia had gone clear over kennel mate Acacia who in turn was also clear of the chasing group which was being led by Thorn Daisy and Foxparke Jubilee’s Jackpot.
Onto the finish Azalia had gone clear to claim a convincing win much to the delight of connections Geoff, Gillian, Jake, Zach, Ian Rudd and Tony Jackson.
Azalia was home bred by Geoff and Gillian out of their bitch Lucky Lottie and Ian Donaldson’s Miterdale Steele.
Foxparke Jubilee’s Jackpot finished very well for second ahead of Colin Satterthwaite’s Thorn Dot with Thorn Daisy in fourth.
Andrew Bulman and Laura Steele’s Swifty finished fifth with the final ticket going to Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Jiggle.
There were nine entered in the opening seniors race with Willie and Craig Mark and Billy Lindsay’s Sportsman sent off as the favourite given his recent form and his previous wins around the course last year.
Once underway it was Neil and Gillian Brown and Joel and Derrick Bulman’s Hey Mac who was at the front ahead of Sarah and Baz Harper and the late Hartley Robinson’s Delta Fortune and the favourite Sportsman.
Back into view Sportsman and Hey Mac were still racing away at the front all the way up to the point of them disappearing.
After roughly 20 minutes racing Sportsman and Denise and Jenny Bland and Ella and Kyle Gallacher’s Jenny’s Chance were now leading from Hey Mac.
Jumping the fence before they go out of sight and come into the finish Sportsman and Jenny’s Chance had gone clear.
Over the wall and coming down the trod racing to the line Sportsman had a few lengths to spare and he went on to maintain his advantage and win.
Jenny’s Chance was second and then there was a small gap to Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow and Sarah Jackson’s Thorn Soul and Hey Mac.
Delta Fortune ran on well for fifth ahead of Sophie Steele, Jake and Zach Green’s Miterdale Green Queen.
The Senior Maidens also had nine runners and leading them away was Sarah White and Elsie Horn’s Flightline, along with Neil and Gillian Brown and Joel and Derrick Bulman’s Dundee and George Burgon and Carole Tunstall’s Mr Mally.
Unfortunately, due to the position of the sun the hounds were difficult to make out going through but it was clear that they were strung out with two of them establishing a handy lead.
Reports came in from the puppy split that Dundee was now at the front from Mr Mally with a gap to Colin Satterthwaite’s Thorn Heart and another gap to Flightline, Brian, Joy and Cathy Lister’s Minnie Million, and Geoff and Gillian Higgins’ pair of Lucky Lottie and Lucky Moon.
Onto the finish Dundee was leading and had a couple of lengths on Mr Mally but as they neared the line it changed. Mr Mally fought back to win by half a length from Dundee with a gap to Thorn Heart in third.
Minnie Million finished well ahead of Lucky Lottie and Ian Fleets Chapel Lad.
The Open Pups had 11 taking part and Anna and Kerry Lindsay and Janie McAulay’s Zinger was away best with Duncan, Amy, Oliver, Liam, Eleanor Chisholm, Harry Turner and Brian Graham’s Let Me Try Again and Nicola McMaster and Barbara Telford’s Rodney Ranger.
Back into view Let Me Try Again and Anthony, Steph, Sophie, Katie and Alfie Steele and Roy Laidler’s Miterdale Sauvage had gone clear over the chasing hounds.
Onto the finish Let Me Try Again had an advantage over Miterdale Sauvage and once they neared the line hold onto that with a few lengths to spare.
There was a small gap to Rodney Ranger and Zinger with Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s What Is It in fifth ahead of Tony, Marlene, Connor and Carter Irving and Gary Woodend’s Dog Produce winner Bewley.
The Open Restricted had a slip of 18 and once on their way Christine Brownlee’s pair of Malia and Maeve were at the front with Sarah White and Elsie Horn’s Malfunction.
Going through two had hot away but were unidentified due to the sun shining right on the fell creating a haze.
However, onto the finish there were six in contention with the bunch being led by Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Beep Beep, Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington’s Ruby and Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Fairlady.
As they neared the line Ruby finished best of all to claim the win over Brian and Erin Rowlandson and the late Billy Birkett’s Blue Striker with Foxparke Beep Beep seemingly unlucky in third having ran wide and losing a few valuable strides.
Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Donald Hodgson’s Foxparke Oink Oink finished fourth ahead of Foxparke Fairlady with Malfunction claiming the final ticket.
The final race was for the Veterans with a line-up of 15 and once on their way Jim, Anne, Alan and Adrian Little’s Huntsman’s Quantum made his usual positive start with Ian Fleet’s High Crag for company.
Going through David Clifford’s Eden Romina had a few lengths to spare on Sophie Steele’s Miterdale Dusk; Malcolm Holmes’ Sir Robert and Colin Satterthwaite’s Thorn Pop.
Onto the finish three had a slight advantage with the group being led by Miterdale Dusk but as they raced further towards the line Sir Robert and Thorn Pop took over in front.
In the final few strides to the line Thorn Pop managed to get in front but Miterdale Dusk and Sir Robert couldn’t be separated for second with the judge awarding a dead heat.
Eden Romina finished fourth ahead of Willie and Craig Mark and Jack Lindsay’s Summer Spirit with Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden’s Eagle Rock claiming the final ticket.
Saturday July 11 – Shap, Bitch Produce
- Hounds – 1. Sportsman; 2. Jenny’s Chance; 3. Thorn Soul; 4. Hey Mac; 5. Delta Fortune; 6. Miterdale Green Queen. 9 ran, time 40.22/
- Maidens – 1. Mr Mally; 2. Dundee; 3. Thorn Heart; 4. Minnie Million; 5. Lucky Lottie; 6. Chapel Lad. 9 ran, time 41.28.
- Bitch Produce – 1. Azalia; 2. Foxparke Jubilee’s Jackpot; 3. Thorn Dot; 4. Thorn Daisy; 5. Swifty; 6. Foxparke Jiggle. 16 ran, time 22.56.
- Open Pups – 1. Let Me Try Again; 2. Miterdale Sauvage; 3. Rodney Range;r 4. Zinger; 5. What Is It; 6. Bewley. 11 ran, time 22.46.
- Open Restricted – 1. Ruby; 2. Blue Striker; 3. Foxparke Beep Beep; 4. Foxparke Oink Oink; 5. Foxparke Fairlady; 6. Malfunction. 18 ran, time 21.04.
- Veterans – 1. Thorn Pop; 2. Miterdale Dusk and Sir Robert (Dead heat); 4. Eden Romina; 5. Summer Spirit; 6. Eagle Rock. 15 ran, time 20.38.
