By John Walsh

Last updated 14:25, Thursday, 01 May 2008

THIS year’s international meeting will be hosted by the Border Hound Trailing Association on June 21.

Table topper: Joint puppy table leader Bluebird, pictured with Jackson Nicholson

It will be staged at Steel Rigg, Twice Brewed on the Military Road and has been promised excellent sponsorship again.
The HTA’s first major meeting of the season will be on Bank Holiday Monday at Lazonby Fell.
Last Wednesday at St Helena, only seven hounds contested the senior trail where Magenta was a clear winner by some 10 yards over Calzaghe.
In the pups, Alles Springs led onto the finish but it was Miss Lulu who came passed in the race to the tape and won by three lengths.
There was a good battle for the open maidens but Top Man, who led all the way down the finish, did enough to win by two lengths from Foxparke Lady Jean.
Only four contested the all-in trail and Owtlook, who has made a habit of winning these types of races over the course, was on song again beating Alliance by four lengths.
At Helton on Thursday, Lofty came with the lead and looked likely to repeat his course success, but was overtaken by The Real Bandit up the hill. Bandit is now trained by the Reid brothers from Cockermouth for Alan and Debbie O'Brien.
Billie Jean is proving to be a hot little number, if a little quirky in her running but grabbed her second course win for Ian Fletcher, holding off the challenge of Toffee Supreme and Habana by a couple of lengths. These three were clear of the rest.
It was another good day for Denise and Jenny Bland and Denis Barrow as their Huntsman's Chance finished a long way clear of kennel-mate Huntsman's Charm.
At Threlkeld on Saturday, misty conditions on the tops, made things awkward for the trailers, but all went well.
The 2006 puppy champion Mayfair had her first win of the season by 15 yards from Westgate Ruby and Howe Bess.
Three pups had the race between them. Claymore improved on last time's second place when beating Velvet by 10 yards, with Tell Tale a further 10 yards back in third place.
Unfortunately for Tell Tale he had fallen back off the last wall and this probably cost him a better position.
Westgate Ruler easily beat Manor Mist and Super Hero in the 12-strong veteran trail, and Dempsey won the All-In from Sycamore and Regularity.
If they got through proceedings at Threlkeld, they certainly didn’t at the other meeting for Saturday at Cold Fell Gate was one to forget with the meeting abandoned after the first race.
The puppy trailer was lost in the mist and visibility was very poor indeed.
When the leaders showed for the seniors they just popped-out of the mist with no-one having any idea what had been out in front.
In the end Tic Tac had 50 yards or more on the 2006 champion Dairy One who was a similar distance clear of the third hound One Man.
The puppy, open maiden and open restricted trails were subsequently cancelled.
At Helton on Sunday, there was very thick mist on the tops, but all went well with the longer trails.
Once again, Lofty had to settle for second as Cracking Mischief sprinted up the finish for a ten--length first senior win. Ms Dynamite was 20 lengths back in third.
In the Maidens, Sunlight beat Seven Sevens and Top Man for owners Geoff and Barbara Jones.
The visibility on the higher slopes was down to a few yards for the laying of the puppy trail, and it seemed that the route had got rather near the senior trail.
Billie Jean, however, made no mistakes and came on for an easy third course win, followed by Tarantino and eventually by Negress and Cotton Eye Joe, but some were out for a long time.
In the puppy maidens, Roulette finished on her own. Four more came off the fell on the senior route, and the rest had hit the senior trail the wrong way round and came back on the start.
The more experienced open restricted hounds ran well, and produced a close finish, with Seven Four Seven just ahead of Domino and Matty Brown.
The current leaders for the Helton Challenge Cup are: Billie Jean 18, Lofty 16, Habana 14, Cracking Mischief 13, Sparrowmire Molly, Ms Dynamite and Tarantino 11, Huntsman's Chance, One Man, Toffee Supreme and Seven Four Seven 10.
They also raced at Gamelsby on Sunday when it looked at one point on the finish as if
Silent Star would get up to beat Westgate Kyza. But Jim Glaister’s dog dug deep and battled on again to eventually win by three lengths.
Cracking That had enough in hand over White Diamond to take the pups with Wisla in third place.
Reno has proved none-too reliable on the finish but this time completed the job well to beat Rough Diamond in the open non winners.
They were back at St Helena on Monday when the consistent Kinniside Dawn, who had ticketed at the previous meetings, led all the way on the finish to win by ten lengths from Molly Malone.
The puppy trail was won by Touch of Class after the in-form Bluebird had been caught on the last fence when ion the lead. Touch of Class profited from the incident and went on to win by three lengths from the recovering Bluebird.
Owtlook, who had won the all-in trails at St. Helens, was slipped in the open restricted trail but was beaten three lengths by Foxparke Tiddleywink.
On Tuesday at Oulton, the reigning champion Westgate Kyza won again in a big field of 30 which contained some big guns. In the end he had about two lengths to spare over Some Girl with Show Girl and Dairy One among those in behind.
A bad scale affected the puppy trail and the two that got away were well clear at the business end as Cracking That got the better of litter-mate Scooby-Doo on the finish.
The open maidens was won by Magwa who had around six lengths to spare over Eden River with Sara’s Gift in third place.
I’m reliably informed that Charlotte Stobbart’s quiz will be drawn at approximately 1.30pm at Lazonby Fell on Monday.
Also would those with money from the sale of Annuals and unsold copies please hand them in to the Secretary in the near future.
Please can the trophies for Cartmel (May trails) be returned to Jayne Petersen prior to trails on May 13.
On Wednesday at Burgh-by-sands, the finish of the senior trail in the Border HTA meeting was another good race between Trust and Silver Birch,.
It was Trust who won by three lengths, with Puzzle in third place.
No Go made it three senior maidens wins in a week when he beat Blithe Spirit and Delta Star.
Jackpot claimed his first puppy championship win, for his delighted owner Eric Barker, when he was the easy winner from Summer Venture and Fire Ranger.

Wednesday, April 23, Burgh-By-Sands.

Seniors: 1, Trust; 2, Silver Birch; 3, Puzzle; 4, Delta Dancer; 5, Freedom; 6, Houxty Beck. 11 ran, time 24:22.
Senior Maidens: 1, No Go; 2, Blithe Spirit; 3, Delta Star; 4, Spring Moss; 5, Molly; 6, Castle Brae. 11 ran, time 25:24.
Pups: 1, Jackpot; 2, Summer Venture; 3, Fire Ranger; 4, Summer Delight; 5, Spring Midget; 6, Gold Finger. 16 ran, time 13:00.

Sandra Mordue’s Silver Birch maintained her excellent record at Eskrigg, on Monday evening, but only by half a dog length from the fast finishing Trust, with No Go in third place.
Sarah and Hartley Robinson’s Delta Star was the comfortable winner of the senior maiden trail, from Molly and Springfield Lass.
Edgar and Kathleen Bain’s Gold Finger gained his first puppy championship win, beating Summer Venture and Stardom.

Monday, April 28, Eskrigg.

Seniors: 1, Silver Birch; 2, Trust; 3, No Go; 4, Denton Memory; 5, Castle Thorn; 6, Puzzle. 14 ran, time 27:15.
Senior Maidens: 1, Delta Star; 2, Molly; 3, Springfield Lass; 4, Mr Ed; 5, Blaze; 6, Spring Moss. 8 ran, time 28:36.
Pups: 1, Gold Finger; 2, Summer Venture; 3, Stardom; 4, Denton Friendship; 5, Gold Dust; 6, Headline. 8 ran, time 12:10.

HTA Results

Wednesday, April 23
St Helena
SENIORS: 1 Magenta; 2 Calzaghe; 3 Kinniside Dawn; 4 Lady Ryan's; 5 Hot Fuss; 6 Foxy Lady. 7 ran; time, 28.34.
PUPPIES: 1 Miss Lulu; 2 Alles Springs; 3 Foxparke Lady Amanda; 4 Touch of Class; 5 Ellie Vee; 6 Aira Force. 13 ran; time, 17.59.
OPEN MAIDENS: 1 Top Man; 2 Foxparke Lady Jean; 3 Bushie; 4 Valdor; 5 Deep Sensation; 6 Owtback. 15 ran; time, 18.18.
ALL-IN: 1 Owtlook; 2 Alliance; 3 April Lady; 4 Miterdale Oak. 4 ran; time, 19.23.
Thursday, April 24
Helton
SENIORS: 1 The Real Bandit; 2 Lofty; 3 Show Girl; 4 Sparrowmire Molly; 5 Halloween; 6 Cracking Mischief. 26 ran; time, 28.58.
PUPPIES: 1 Billie Jean; 2 Toffee Supreme; 3 Habana; 4 Negress; 5 Tarantino; 6 Ted Baker. 43 ran; time, 16.39.
OPEN RESTRICTED: 1 Huntsman's Chance; 2 Huntsman's Charm; 3 Matty Brown; 4 Seven Sevens; 5 Regularity; 6 Seven Four Seven. 49 ran; time, 16.48.
Saturday, April 26
Cold Fell Gate
SENIORS: 1 Tic Tac; 2 Dairy One; 3 One Man; 4 Magenta; 5 Dairy Singer; 6 Ivy Crag. 20 ran; time, 30.51.
Puppies, Open Maidens and Open Restricted: cancelled - trailer lost in mist.

Threlkeld
SENIORS: 1 Mayfair; 2 Westgate Ruby; 3 Howe Bess; 4 Clayton; 5 Salsa; 6 Boreas. 17 ran; time, 26.30.
PUPPIES: 1 Claymore; 2 Velvet; 3 Tell Tale; 4 Westgate Ranter; 5 Courtesy; 6 Westgate Lark. 20 ran; time, 15.48.
VETERANS: 1 Westgate Ruler; 2 Manor Mist; 3 Super Hero; 4 Clarity; 5 Outrageous; 6 Watt Nut Another. 12 ran; time, 16.20.
ALL-IN: 1 Dempsey; 2 Sycamore; 3 Regularity; 4 Eden Rusty; 5 Pinfold Skye; 6 Martaura. 16 ran; time, 15.27.
Sunday, April 27
Helton
SENIORS: 1 Cracking Mischief; 2 Lofty; 3 Ms Dynamite; 4 Congressman; 5 Dairy Dancer; 6 Magic Bay. 18 ran; time, 29.08.
MAIDENS: 1 Sunlight; 2 Seven Sevens; 3 Top Man; 4 Sherlock; 5 Howgill Anna; 6 Jordan's Miracle. 23 ran; time, 31.21.
PUPPIES: 1 Billie Jean; 2 Tarantino; 3 Negress; 4 Cotton Eye Joe; 5 Norseman; 6 Darling. 15 ran; time, 19.00.
PUPPY MAIDENS: 1 Roulette; 2 Beyonce; 3 My Girl; 4 Stardust; 5 Dusky Dawn. 20 ran (five finished); time, 21.33.
OPEN RESTRICTED: 1 Seven Four Seven; 2 Domino; 3 Matty Brown; 4 Spot On; 5 Meadow Breeze; 6 Westgate Ripple. 32 ran; time, 21.46.

Gamelsby
SENIORS: 1 Westgate Kyza; 2 Silent Star; 3 Quiet Lane; 4 Warlord; 5 Alfresco; 6 Rhinestone Cowboy. 16 ran; time, 26.18.
PUPPIES: 1 Cracking That; 2 White Diamond; 3 Wisla; 4 DJ; 5 Ocean Ruler; 6 Honcho. 8 ran; time, 17.27.
OPEN NON-WINNERS: 1 Reno; 2 Rough Diamond; 3 Mambo; 4 Kelly-Mac; 5 Gendarme; 6 Owtback. 9 ran; time, 16.11.

Monday, April 28
St Helena
SENIORS: 1 Kinniside Dawn; 2 Molly Malone; 3 Foxy Lady; 4 Hot Fuss; 5 Lady Ryan's; 6 Ryan's Lady. 18 ran; time, 28.01.
PUPPIES: 1 Touch of Class; 2 Bluebird; 3 Foxparke Lady Jean; 4 Devon Lass; 5 Alles Springs; 6 Miss Lulu. 22 ran; time, 17.25.
OPEN RESTRICTED: 1 Foxparke Tiddleywink; 2 Owtlook; 3 Westend Bond; 4 Billy Piper; 5 Miss Dido; 6 Valdor. 22 ran; time, 17.50.
Tuesday, April 29
Oulton
SENIORS: 1 Westgate Kyza; 2 Some Girl; 3 Show Girl; 4 Dairy One; 5 Rhinestone Cowboy; 6 Alfresco. 30 ran; time, 28.21.
PUPPIES: 1 Cracking That; 2 Scooby-Doo; 3 Westgate Lark; 4 Toffee Supreme; 5 Ringo Kid; 6 Touched. 24 ran; time, 20.55.
OPEN MAIDENS: 1 Magwa; 2 Eden River; 3 Sara's Gift; 4 Splendid Star; 5 Owtback; 6 Mambo. 43 ran; time, 18.27.

HTA FIxtures

CHAMPIONSHIP TRAILS

May

Thurs 1 Oulton H, P, OR (6.30)
Kendal H, P, OR, AI (6.00)
Sat 3 Gamelsby H, P, OM (5.30)
Lamplugh P, OM, OR, H (1.00)
Mon 5 Lazonby Fell HTA H, M, P, PM, OR (1.30)
Tues 6 Oulton H, P, OR (6.30)
Wed 7 Lamplugh P, OM, H (6.00)
Thurs 8 Lazonby Fell H, P, OR (6.30)
Sat 10 Kendal H, P, OR, V (2.00)
Gamelsby H, P, OR (5.30)
Lamplugh P, OM, OR, H (1.00)
Sun 11 Lazonby Fell H, P, ONW, OR (2.00)
Mon 12 Kirkland Leaps H, P, OR (6.30)
Tues 13 Lazonby Fell H, P, OM (6.30)
Dean H, M, P, PM (6.00)
Cartmel H, P, OR (6.15)
Wed 14 Kirkland Leaps H, P, OR (6.30)
Thurs 15 Kendal H, P, OM, AI (6.00)
Dean H, M, P, PM (6.00)
Sat 17 Gamelsby H, P, OR (5.30)
Cartmel H, P, OR, V (1.30)
Frizington H, P, ONW (11.30)
Mon 19 Rusland H, P, ONW, OR (6.15)
Crag Farm H, P, OR (6.30)
Tues 20 Oulton H, P, OM (6.30)
Wed 21 Rusland H, P, OM, AI (6.15)
Crag Farm H, P, OR (6.30)
Thurs 22 Bridekirk
Fri 23 Sawrey
Sat 24 Gamelsby H, P, OM (5.30)
Steel Brow
Sun 25 Lazonby Fell H, P, OM, OR (2.00)
Mon 26 Bridekirk
Kirkland Leaps H, P, OR (6.30)
Tues 27 Sawrey
Wed 28 Steel Brow
Thurs 29 Oulton
Sat 31 Arlecdon Church