Owners enjoy a Cracking day of trails in the sun at Kirkbride
Last updated 16:56, Thursday, 03 April 2008
THE season has got off to a slow start with a shortage of fixtures over the first fortnight.
There were no trails on Wednesday and Thursday last week and it’s been a similar story this week, although things are set to improve.
The shortage of fixtures is due to the early start to the season and because it’s lambing time. Not all areas can put trails on so early.
After the midweek break trailing resumed over the weekend with meetings at Askam and Kirkbride.
Adverse weather conditions were predicted on Saturday afternoon and there was no doubt about it – the forecasters got it right as the rain definitely appeared.
However, this did not deter hardy hound trailers attending the afternoon meeting at Askam. Russell and Wendy Dawson’s three-year-old Miss Dynamite continued her winning streak by beating Lofty comfortably with One Man in third place.
Nick, Trish and Yvonne Wilson and Roger Westmorland’s puppy Habana continued her domination of the Askam course, beating Della by a distance in second place with Touch of Class in third.
Jack and Rhona Watson’s two-year-old Whitby Steps beat 747 by 10 yards with Top Man a similar distance in third place.
Dolly Daydreams repeated her win in the All-in trail beating Artic Summit and Sycamore.
The Area Committee would like to thank everybody for their consideration of the two farmer’s accesses and the lane at Askam.
Jayne Petersen said: “As you are all aware, we are at the mercy of these farmers with our trails and confliction with the farmers could easily put the trails in jeopardy for the people who enjoy returning to Askam.”
At Kirkbride on Sunday, there were plenty of entries, and the sun shone, which was a welcome change.
In the senior trail, two-times course winner Some Girl showed in front and looked to have her third win in the bag.
But on this occasion, Show Girl never slackened the pressure and swept past just before the tape to win by a length.
Penny Swanton’s Show Girl was joint puppy champion last year, and last Tuesday over the same course she just failed to catch her kennel-mate.
In the pups, there was an easy second win for Cracking That. She came with a big lead to beat Aira Force and Levi.
Sixth in the puppy race last Tuesday was her kennel-mate Cracking This, and on Sunday she was slipped in the open non winners – to good effect as she won in an exciting finish from Ted Baker and Reno.
The Cracking pups are owned by Bill and Tina Mellon, Robert Airey and John Pattinson. Cracking That is one of the highly-rated River Tyne x Banshee litter who have been showing good early form.
There was another big slip in the All-In, and in a tight finish Tic Tac beat reigning champion Westgate Kyza.
On Monday, they were at Egremont and the first two trails produced really exciting finishes.
In the seniors, Dignity led Calzaghe until making a mistake at the penultimate fence. She dropped back but then came again and held on by half a length.
The pups was even tighter. Alles Springs had a 40-yard lead but that was whittled away by Ryan’s Girl who was rewarded for her electric burst by snatching victory on the line.
The clearest winner of the night was Jack Flash who took the open restricted by some 25 yards from Valdor.
Back at Kirkbride on Tuesday, a classy field of seniors produced a thrilling finish, with reigning champion Westgate Kyza just getting his first win of the season by under a length from Show Girl and Some Girl, who were very close together.
In the pups, Aira Force, who has been unlucky at the last fence on more than one occasion, put in a great finish to beat Tell Tale and Cracking This comfortably.
There was a mammoth entry of 58 for the All-In, won in good style by The Real Bandit, who is now trained by Cockermouth’s Reid brothers.
Tic Tac was second, and the two kennel-mates Dusty Hare and Halloween were not far back in third and fourth.
The St Helena trails on April 14 and 16 have been moved to the Bower House.
Wath Brow Hound Trailing club would like to pay a special thanks to the four ladies who organised the recent ladies evening which raised over £500 for the funds. Through the efforts of Barbara Shields, Adele Shields, Bernadette Fearon and Clare Shaw the evening was a huge success.
I’ve had a few lines from my predecessor John Coughlan to pass on world that the Irish international will take place on Sunday, May 11.
The Cork season has been up and running since the first Sunday of March and so far the trails have been of a very high standard.
The venue for the International meeting is still not known but will be named in the coming weeks.
John says he was saddened to hear about the death of Michael Renney “who was a great ambassador to the sport in Cumbria and my condolences go to his wife and family.”
He went on: “Once again, association chairman Pat O'Mahony is appealing for HTA and Border support for the forthcoming international and anybody interested in travelling to the Emerald Isle can contact secretary Marie Keating on 00353214392177.
“For any hound trailing enthusiasts who’ve never been across the Irish Sea, a visit is a must for the best of hospitality and a neutral trail.”
In the Border Association Trust and Marshman made it an exciting finish to the senior trail at Cardurnock on Thursday. Trust just got ahead near the line to beat Marshman with Fire Glory in third.
Castle Tarras showed off his finishing speed, coming through to win the senior maidens from Blaze and Molly.
In the puppy trail, six hounds had a chance to win, but it was Kerry and Anna Lindsay’s Farm Time that showed his determination to reach the line first, from Summer Delight and Polly.
Edgar Bain’s Gold Finger was the puppy maiden winner, from Templer and the fast finishing Delta Lady.
Thursday, March 27, Cardurnock.
Seniors: 1, Trust; 2, Marshman; 3, Fire Glory; 4, Lakeland Echo; 5, Silver Birch; 6, Castle Thorn. 7 ran, time 24:02.
Senior Maidens: 1, Castle Tarras; 2, Blaze; 3, Molly; 4, No Go; 5, Fire Dream; 6, Mr Ed. 11 ran, time 25:31.
Pups: 1, Farm Time; 2, Summer Delight; 3, Polly; 4, Summer Venture; 5, Spring Midget; 6, Fire Ranger. 8 ran, time 18:50.
Puppy Maidens: 1, Gold Finger; 2, Templer; 3, Delta Lady; 4, Castle Corrie; 5, Jackpot; 6, Gold Dust. 7 ran, time 20:15.
The BHTA were at Burgh-By-Sands on Saturday.
In the senior trail there was another tight race for the line between Trust and Marshman. This time Trust gained the advantage 50 yards out, while reigning senior champion Silver Birch was in third.
Fire Glory claimed her third senior maiden victory, from No Go and Springfield Lass.
William and Caroline Mark’s Summer Venture, was awarded the puppy trail when the leading dog, Scorpio, went behind the judge. Lilly and Poppy were given second and third respectively.
Edgar Bain’s Gold Finger beat Jackpot and Templer to win his second puppy maiden trail in three days.
Saturday, March 29, Burgh-by-Sands.
Seniors: 1, Trust; 2, Marshman; 3, Silver Birch; 4, Castle Thorn; 5, Lakeland Echo; 6, Puzzle. 12 ran, time 24:50.
Senior Maidens: 1, Fire Glory; 2, No Go; 3, Springfield Lass; 4, Molly; 5, Spring Moss; 6, Blithe Spirit. 17 ran, time 24:10.
Pups: 1, Summer Venture; 2, Lillie; 3, Polly; 4, Fire Ranger; 5, Summer Delight; 6, Denton Friendship. 14 ran, time 14:05.
Puppy Maidens: 1, Gold Finger; 2, Jackpot; 3, Templer; 4, Castle Corrie; 5, Gold Dust; 6, Spring Midget. 9 ran, time 14:51.
HTA RESULTS
Saturday, March 29
Askam-in-Furness
SENIORS: 1 Ms Dynamite; 2 Lofty; 3 One Man; 4 Silver Stream; 5 Magic Bay; 6 Sovereign. 24 ran; time, 27.34.
PUPPIES: 1 Habana; 2 Della; 3 Touch of Class; 4 Tarantino; 5 Westgate Tally; 6 Dusky Dawn. 44 ran; time, 18.02.
OPEN RESTRICTED: 1 Whitby Steps; 2 Seven Four Seven; 4 Top Man; 4 Superseven; 5 Toytown; 6 Huntsman's Charm. 37 ran; time, 18.10.
ALL-IN: 1 Dolly Daydreams; 2 Arctic Summit; 3 Sycamore; 4 Magenta; 5 Calzaghe; 6 Huntsman's Chance. 23 ran; time, 19.00.
Sunday, March 30
Kirkbride
SENIORS: 1 Show Girl; 2 Some Girl; 3 Rhinestone Cowboy; 4 Alfresco; 5 Dairy One; 6 Cruiseaway. 17 ran; time, 26.55.
PUPPIES: 1 Cracking That; 2 Aira Force; 3 Levi; 4 Tell Tale; 5 The Penny Arcade; 6 Faithful. 24 ran; time, 17.17.
OPEN NON-WINNERS: 1 Cracking This; 2 Ted Baker; 3 Reno; 4 Toffee Supreme; 5 Mambo; 6 Hunter's Lad. 29 ran; time, 18.10.
ALL-IN: 1 Tic Tac; 2 Westgate Kyza; 3 Lyndhurst Charm; 4 The Real Bandit; 5 Halloween; 6 Dusty Hare. 46 ran; time, 17.35.
Monday, March 31
Egremont
SENIORS: 1 Dignity; 2 Calzaghe; 3 Miss Molly; 4 Lady Ryan's; 5 Venice; 6 Sky Lady. 23 ran; time, 25.59.
PUPPIES: 1 Ryan's Girl; 2 Alles Springs; 3 Newtown Ghost; 4 Bushie; 5 Touched; 6 Miss Lulu. 18 ran; time, 18.05.
OPEN RESTRICTED: 1 Jack Flash; 2 Valdor; 3 Top Man; 4 Tearaway Lady; 5 Westend Bond; 6 What's a Deal. 11 ran; time, 17.40.
Tuesday, April 1
Kirkbride
SENIORS: 1 Westgate Kyza; 2 Show Girl; 3 Some Girl; 4 Alfresco; 5 Rhinestone Cowboy; 6 Dairy One. 14 ran; time, 26.40.
PUPPIES: 1 Aira Force; 2 Tell Tale; 3 Cracking This; 4 Levi; 5 Cracking That; 6 DJ. 33 ran; time, 17.17.
ALL-IN 1 The Real Bandit; 2 Tic Tac; 3 Dusty Hare; 4 Halloween; 5 Silent Star; 6 Jimmy Ringo. 58 ran; time, 17.08.
HTA FIXTURES
CHAMPIONSHIP TRAILS
April
Sat 5 Askam-in-Furness H, P, V, AI (1.30); Bower House H, P, OM, AI (5.00)
Sun 6 Kirkbride H, P, OR (2.00)
Mon 7 Bower House H, P, OR, AI (5.00)
Tues 8 Kirkbride H, P, OM (5.45)
Wed 9 Bower House H, P, OR, AI (5.00)
Thurs 10 Grange-in-Borrowdale H, P, OM, AI (5.15)
Sat 12 Gamelsby H, P, AI (1.30); Bower House H, P, OM, AI (5.00)
Sun 13 Lazonby H, OM, P, ONW, OR (1.00)
Mon 14 Bower House H, P, AI (5.15)
Tues 15 Kirkbride H, P, OM (5.45)
Wed 16 Bower House H, P, AI (5.15)
Thurs 17 Helton H, P, OR (6.00)
Sat 19 Gamelsby H, P, ONW (4.30); Grange-in-Borrowdale H, P, V, OR (5.30) St Helena
Sun 20 Helton H, M, P, ONW, OR (2.00)
Mon 21 St Helena
Tues 22 Gamelsby H, P, OR (6.00); Threlkeld H, P, OR, AI (5.30)
Wed 23 St Helena
Thurs 24 Helton H, P, OR (6.00)
Sat 26 Cold Fell Gate; Threlkeld H, P, V, AI (5.30)
Sun 27 Gamelsby H, P, ONW (4.30); Helton H, M, P, PM, OR (12.00)
Mon 28 St Helena
Tues 29 Oulton H, P, OM (6.30)
Wed 30 St Helena
May
Thurs 1 Oulton H, P, OR (6.30) Kendal
Sat 3 Gamelsby H, P, OM (5.30)
Mon 5 Lazonby Fell HTA
Tues 6 Oulton H, P, OR (6.30)
Thurs 8 Lazonby Fell H, P, OR (6.30)
Sat 10 Kendal; Gamelsby H, P, OR (5.30)
Sun 11 Lazonby H, P, ONW, OR (2.00)
