1999 Hound trailing season ( Brexit ? Que?)
The season 1999.
And John Coughlan was the Hound trailing correspondent for the Whitehaven News
a forum was to be held at Wath Brow legion on Mar 20th and on the panel are Bill Farrell- Victor Brownlee- Ian Hunter – Birkett Lawson – Tom Newall an all round representation of Hound Trailing.
The season got underway at Longsleddale and Kirkbride, the winners were Mischief -Fidelity and Golden Dawn at longsleddale and Kirkbride , Ginger Nut – Mickey Finn – Isitours.
Watch out for the three evils, a message from our Chairman Roy Laidler- Winning at all costs – Looking after number one – taking but not giving these are stopping our sport progressing according to the chair,” it’s nice to win but it’s not everything”.
The International, Bitch and Dog Produce dates are set in stone but where at nobody knows ?
John ‘s tipping on the opening day were no better than Newsman’s, he had a non-runner .a third .and a also ran.
The debut fixture for Lazonby fell was a bit of a disaster as the hot weather took it’s toll and the pup trail was declared void overtime.
Meanwhile at Borrowdale, Former Champion Miracle now in it’s third year as a veteran , unclipped made short work of the restricted trail running faster than the pups, it was said ” There is no substitute for class ” or as one might think there is no substitute for knowledge
At Kirkbride the promoter was charging OAP’s the full price, our scribe came down on the side of the aged and asked the promoter to see common sense and charge them accordingly. After a few weeks Huntsman’s Choice111 and Martine led the championships and they did throughout the season to become Champions of 1999.
Brian Lister aka Cheesy thanked everybody that helped him look for his hound Keegan and the ladies who made tea and sandwiches
Geoff and Gillian Higgins took on the Irish in the Guinness Irish puppy International at Ballinagree and came away with first ticket with Sarah’s Dream , Mason won the seniors (not the bookie) but Christy and Marie Keating’s Kinniside Pride- Hotspot bred Irish champion.
Our correspondent ‘s tipping prowess is far superior to Newsman’s the difference being Newsman tips were printed before the race , Johns were announced as “another fancy of mine” after the result was known. And another win for the “singing hound ” Elvis owned by Alvin Finch and Mike Stewart of Kendal, you ain’t nothing but a hound dog resonates around the pubs on a winning night.
And now a hoaxer as a phone call to the Whitehaven changing the time of Gamblesby trails proved to be a hoax, according to tish Graham , the promoter, very few were led astray one being a bookmaker from Ambleside.
It is common knowledge that bookmaker Mike Allen has been complaining about the lack of money bet at lowside trails , then at Sawrey one punter had £500 to win £250 on Martine with said Bookmaker who then tried to lay off £350, funny old game.
The first three weeks of the season have been exciting for some trainers but none more so than the Crosby family of Whitehaven whose puppy Fidelity put in another blistering performance at Bower House on Saturday.
It came home alone well clear of Late Edition and Sunny Delight to raise her sixth win of the season.
Geoff and Gillian Higgins are also having a good season and Chardonnay added to that with her second win of the season. Other winners at the weekend were Colin and Brian Graham’s Assignment, Wendy martin’s Martine, Martin Burrow’s and Lyn Pawley’s Disco Star and Discovery owned by the grand old lady from Cartmel, Mrs Oldcorn And a treble for the McCarron family as Engage , Encourage and Kingswood won.
The first major meet of the season , May day at Grange- In – Borrowdale, the winners were Kendal hounds Tribute ,and Gentle Harmony both from the Teasdale kennel, Martine, Stolen Gem and Crackshot .
When you make a round trip of over 200 miles for a midweek trail then you must fancy your chances and that was the case with Alwyn O’ Neill from Fieldhouse in West Lothian her hound Glayva won the open maidens at Arlecdon.
The dog produce was held on Torver Tops, the winners were Crafty- Scully- Dean – Sara’s Dream-Lady Helena.
Dean beat his sibling Master Milan by a length, all the way from Stranraer to be beaten by so little,, Peter ( Pal) Chambers praised his helpers , Mike Baker- Brian Hodgson and Des ” Jumbo” Dawson ( a motley crew if ever I saw one)
Bill Mellon of Appleby is a superb sportsman and each week he travels miles to run his hounds. He was rewarded for his dedication when Cracking Performance lost its non – winners tag when finishing well to beat Robert Reid\’s Sparrowmire Sam.
The International was held at Redmain nr Cockermouth , the winners were Chardonnay and Max , maidens-Lucky Legend-Courtney- Master Milan and Owt Good in the restricted event. A lot of supporters were unhappy with the overall standard of the trails and a number of border members felt that the terrain was used too many times prior to this meeting confusing the hounds .
Last Saturday Geoff Irving and the Cockermouth Area did their level best to ensure a good day’s sport was enjoyed by all. Alas the weather was against them and also Tony Irving ran all of the trails and instead of criticizing perhaps we could give a lot of credit to Tony for his dedication.
The bitch produce , and under the guidance of Dickie Smithson all roads lead to Sandale.The bitch produce was won in convincing style by Sarah’s Dream, Geoff Higgins ,in cloud- cuckoo land said after the win ” Dedicating the win to his late father Jack who would have been in his element if he had witnessed this. There is a photo of a beaming Geoff holding the trophy and under in bold print , winner of the Bitch puppy maidens – Sarah’s Dream.
Abba won the seniors , maidens was Belladonna and together with Talisker gained a notable double for the Thompson family of Lindale, the Swanton’s Lunesdale Reflection won the last.
The Cock-How festival and a day to remember for the Jacksons’ of Rosthwaite in the Borrowdale valley, when they had four winners and a second- Courtney- Crafty- Westend Lady- Eternal. with Christy finishing second to Master Milan, in the words of one of the Irish visitors ” This is the best meeting I have attended in Cumbria.
