By John Walsh

Last updated 11:31, Friday, 07 March 2008

MARVELLOUS isn’t it – a new season dawning with three weeks of March trials and already we have had a fixture postponed.

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Enthusiastic: Brian O’Pray with Stacey and Dallas and New Deal, taken in 2005

Monday’s planned meeting at Boonwood was cancelled because of a blizzard.

Arthur Temple, who was acting as trailer, got round but it was decided that conditions were too bad to slip the hounds.

Still, let’s hope we can get them out of the way now and that the Championship won’t be affected by the weather or any agricultural disease!

The officials trials had started on Saturday with two meetings held at Moota and Low Place.

There was a nice double for the popular Calzaghe at Moota for not only did he lead in the 35 seniors but three of his youngsters picked-up tickets in the pups as the 26 were headed by Amber.

The winner is out of Silent Star, who completed a memorable first day by finishing second to Calzaghe in the senior race.

The litter pair Rough Diamond and Maisie, out of Toffee Girl, finished fifth and sixth.

Otherwise three likely sires – Westgate Ruler, Lofty and Some Man – were responsible for the other puppy tickets.

Alfresco beat Abi-Kate and Dempsey in a big field of 30 who were kept back to the All-in.

Alf McCarron was a member of the original Low Place hound trailing committee and although working as a game-keeper near Brechin still maintains an interest in the sport and the area.

He picks one trial each year and a trail in September to make the 500 mile round trip and was there for Saturday’s opener.

Nick and Trish Wilson hadn’t travelled quite as far from Troutbeck but they saw two of their youngsters, separated by a length, lead in the 20 pups.

Both are out of Banshee by River Tyne with Negress just heading Habana.

In the senior trail, the 2006 champion Dairy One was most impressive, leading all the way to win comfortably from Molly Malone.

The first of the three Plumpton trial trails, held in aid of Great Salkeld village hall, on Sunday was well-supported, and in the pups there was an early success for new starter Olly Fielden of Warwick Bridge with Jim Dandy, one of the promising River Tyne x Banshee litter.

Sisters Negress and Habana had been first and second at Low Place the day before.

Jim Dandy came with a 10-yard lead over David Clifford's Eden Reward, and these were well clear of the next bunch, led in by Jimmy Glaister and Sarah Mackereth's Westgate Tally.

In the seniors, there was a very good finish, victory going to Ivor and Wendy Martin’s two-year-old Martaura, beating Ms Dynamite and reigning champion Westgate Kyza.

At the next two events there will be an All-In trail at the end to help those trainers who struggle to slip several seniors at once!

The Bowderdale trial trails will be held again this Saturday at 2.30, running the other way round and a little longer.

They also raced at Coniston on Sunday where Macy Grey won the puppy race by three lengths from Courtesy. These were clear of the field with Hilly’s Spark in third. Macy Grey is out of Mary Ellen by Westgate Ruler.

Centenary won the senior trail by 10 lengths from Cannavaro and these two were clear of third placed Sovereign.

They were back at Moota on Tuesday when Reg Smith’s Amber was successful again, this time in a good finish with Tower Lass (Some Man x Allegro).

It was very tight in the seniors but Maurice Bewley and grand-daughter Hannah had the winner in Duet who just prevented Calzaghe from repeating Saturday’s win. Silent Star was back in fourth this time.

Continuing our theme of the last two weeks on junior members, can I give a mention to 10-year-old Stacey O’Pray from Cleator Moor.

She’s been going to the trails with her family since she was a month old and is a key member of the kennel – walking, feeding, cleaning-out as well as race-day involvement.

Through the success of It’s a Deal, her own pup and the family’s New Deal at the 2006 Cock How Festival she got a trip to Euro Disney with the proceeds.

Rather sadly It’s a Deal was killed in a road accident after winning five championship trails and Stacey took a while to get over that.

She’s now closely involved with That’s a Deal and the family is taking delivery of a new pup for 2009 next month. Watch this space!

The Annuals are now on sale at £3.50, or £4.00 by post. Let the Secretary know if you would like one to be sent to you.

Entries for the Team Competition close on Friday, March 21 the day before the Championship season starts. Trainers wishing to enter a team (four hounds) should send the names to the secretary with the fee of £5. All teams automatically go into both divisions.

Also closing on March 21 is the Top Tipster Competition. Forms are available, but if you don't have one just send your selections to Margaret with £5. You must choose five senior hounds, three pups, and one extra hound whose wins will count in lower grades only (including veterans).

One point for every win, but five for a win at a major meeting. It is also hoped to have tipster competitions at all the major meetings, with a proportion of the money going to the Great North Air Ambulance.

The tipster competitions are privately run and are not funded by the HTA.

Cleator Moor Support Group handed out charity money and prizes at their annual bash last week-end.

Despite the season being curtailed by foot and mouth they still managed to give-out £1000 to deserving causes - £200 to the Henderson Suite at the West Cumberland Hospital; £200 to Hospice at Home; £200 to Macmillan Nurses; £10 to Motor Neurone disease; £150 to Ennerdale School and £150 to Arlecdon Adams Hall playing field.

Farmer Kevin Holliday handed out the trophies – Seniors, Dignity; Puppies, shared by Sensation and Black Poppy; Puppy Maidens – Callum’s Ryan and Euro Effendi; Open restricted, Les Tunstall memorial Trophy) Tic Tac; Most points charity trails at Arlecdon and Steel Brow, Dignity; James McCarron Memorial Trophy, Uldale’s Lad; Bill Chambers and Harry Hodgson Memorial Trophy, most points in all charity trails, Dignity; Cleator Moor Sports points, Queen’s Arms Trophy, Fleetwood Mac; Alan Polley trophy, Sensation.

Just to keep you up to speed with what’s happening in the Border Association, especially with some HTA interest among the pups, the trails were at Lodge Gill, Langholm on Sunday.

Seniors: 1, Trust; 2, Marshman; 3, Castle Thorn; 4, Puzzle; 5, Houxty Beck; 6, Lakeland Mist. 17 ran, time 20:42.

Senior Maidens: 1, Delta Dancer; 2, Fire Glory; 3, Skylark; 4, Azinger; 5, Molly; 6, Springfield Lass. 18 ran, time 21:14.

Pups: 1, Fire Ranger (Lofty/April Lady); 2, Polly(Denton Memory/Cleo); 3, Jack Pot (Topsy/Nikki); 4, Head Line(Lofty/April Lady); 5, Denton Friendship(Denton Memory/Cleo); 6, Summer Delight(Westgate Ruler/Summer Flight). 12 ran, time 21:49.

Puppy Maidens: 1, Spring Midget(Westgate Ruler/Mary Ellen); 2, Gold Dust (Westgate Ruler/Mary Ellen); 3, Houxty Bank (Some Man/Liam’s Lady); 4, Castle Corrie(Calzaghe/Toffee Girl); 5, Stardom(Calzaghe/Toffee Girl); 6, Winker (Some Man/Allegra). 7 ran, time 21:15.

All-In: 1, Blythe Spirit; 2, Fire Dream; 3, Castle Brae. 4 ran, time 19:25.