Coming soon to while away those winter blues, stories present and past.
Extracts from the Whitehaven news for the 1979 season, courtesy of Newsman aka Terry Harrison. And a new rule book was published and in the editor’s words would be much sought after.
With that in mind we embark on the 1979 season which saw 107 hounds running in two trails at Eskdale and first in the pup trail was Oak Vale, locally trained by Sandy Crowe.
And over in Yorkshire , the Longshaw sheep dog trials were willing to pay appearance money and all expenses and prize money of £100 .
The first major event of the season , the May Day trails at Borrowdale attracted 163 hounds and the four winners were – Mctavern- Miss Victor-Boney M – Legacy.The next major trail was the International trail at Ainstable in the borders and the editor tipped, lofty – Martini -lisa – MMM- Crown Lady and the winners were Tempest- Nora Dora -Cavalier – Swift Velvet – Mercury, .
lofty’s chance was ruined when the leading hounds put up a hare on the finish and couldn’t resist the temptation of chasing it and a tale to tell or lack of one as the winner Tempest has the shortest tail of any trailhound.
It wasn’t long before Controversary arose when the Judge ignored the first two hounds in the puppy trail because they finished behind him , Nora Dora beating Woodside, after a stewards inquiry the original result was amended and Sue Helen was given third and Nora Dora the winner.
In the senior maidens , and a cavalry charge plus the catchers running in caused a problem with the placed hounds. Eventually the verdict went to Norman Charlton’s Cavalier followed by 98 others.
The strong west cumbrian hound trail followers face a long journey on Saturday when the Dog Produce event will be held at Cunswick nr Kendal.and the tips for the dog Produce Rambling Jack – lofty – Ravenscar – Martini and the winners were Penny Dale- Steamer- Wellaway- Nora Dora.
You’ve probably noticed I keep publicising Newsman’s tips – it’s because I was his bookie.
In the sultry conditions many hounds found the limestone running very exhausting and the uphill finish punishing ( It still is )
Rambling Jack was made favourite in he dog produce but was unplaced behind Penny Dale who just beat Revenge with Penny Black in third.
surprise of the day was the defeat of lofty in the senior trail which went to Langdale hound Steamer who beat the unlucky Matahari. ( Surprise was the editors choice of words , hard trail + Dog Hound+ editors tip ) no surprise to the bookies.
And to confirm matters the senior maiden winner Wellaway ran the trail 15 seconds faster ( a bitch trained on limestone)
The big question was “would Martini be in the right mood, she had “comeback” in her last three trails. She was made favourite and once more the curse of the editor’s tip as she was passed on the run in by Nora Dora with Legacy a close third.
Following a Whitehaven area meeting on Friday, after a complaint by members , lt was decided to ask the executive to change the mixture to what they had previously used.( That was 40 years ago and they are still debating.)
And in the adverts: Aspatria and Wigton TAKE NOTICE persons holding trial trails over Lawrenceholme and Wedham Hill Oulton without permission will be severely dealt with.( 40 years on and they are still “At Large”)
Our intrepid reporter forecast that Fell View would win the senior title, then what happened , she went to Cleator Moor sports , where she had won four times this season, only to finish some eight minutes behind the leader, and now with a quick change of hat ,our reporter , the Whitehaven area chair ,no less, issued a stern warning , that anybody committing an illegal act would be severely dealt with.
Three hounds are level at the top of the senior championship, Lofty – Ardoon and Fell View with Leap Year just behind and reigning Champion Limbo Dancer in touch as the season enters August.
The Premier trails were held at Fellside the winners were : – Fell View- Montana-Nora Dora – Fellwyn. That was Nora Dora’s third win in the major events.
The International trails held at lyre , county Cork were dominated by HTA hounds . The seniors were won in a rather controversial manner by Bright Lady , who was an intended runner in the maidens but was switched to the seniors where she beat
Tartan Raider and in the maidens , former H T A hound Darkie won and in the pups Legacy bt Rose Marie.
The Windermere owned hound Dreamer went second in the puppy championship, trained by “Billy Mac ” it is owned by first timers in the sport, joiners Chapman and Todd and plumber Peter Edgar and they have backed at 1,000/ 1 for the title. Entering the last month of the season Dreamer was on 18 with Martini, Sue Ellen , BIrkby Lass on 15, Nora Dora 14 , Croasdale and Legacy 13 and on 12 Tramore ,who was a maiden at the end of August. I mention this because I was the one who had taken £3 win at 1000/1 and was looking for a get out clause..
The final HTA event of the season , the October trails at Sandale were a let-down. 21 runners beat the flag in the pups and hounds had trouble hunting, Leap Year ran part of the senior trail with its jacket on . The winners were Dana- Nimrod – Woodside- Rodney Lad.
At Wasdale Show Fell View cut a pad and this put a stop to her championship hopes leaving the title to Leap Year . Dreamer was still leading the pups but help for ” Bookie Baz” was on its way in the shape of Birkby Lass. It was pointed out by ” Newsman” that Tramore with 17 wins of which 16 were in the last two months of the season were very impressive and a nod of appreciation from the Chair, bookie Baz.
