Festival of Hound Trailing at Potter’s Park Kirkland.

Pup Maidens 1 Foxparke Billy Elliot  2 Jenny’s Breeze 3 Thorn Diamond 4 Sergeant James 5 Kinniside Meg 6 Bronco . 21 Ran Time 18.48

. Also Ran  Sandyman – Paddywack – Say It As It Is – Atlas – Artemis – Impulse – Hi Mac – Kinniside Molly – Rodney Rascal -Foxparke Homeward Bound – Foxparke Juicy Fruity – Foxparke Lucy Lou – Uldale Tramp – Mystery Bound.- Foxparke Homeward Pride.

Open Non- Winners 1 Westgate Autumn  2 Provincial 3 Foxparke Saucy Nancy 4 Cuchulainn 5 Miterdale Steel 6 Foxparke Hooligan. 13 Ran Time 18.41

.Also Ran Kinniside Bess – Foxparke Mama Mary – Foxparke Homeward Dude – West Tip- Escape – Nixon – Huntsman’s Magician.

Veterans 1 Artisan 2 Free Spirit 3 Quiet Linnet 4 Westgate Belle 5 Huntsman’s Hope 6 Kerrymore .13 Ran Time 18.25

. Also Ran. Come Home Alfie – Canny Girl – Keystone – Jimmy Choo – Cherish – Black Eyed Pea – Out Of The Blue.

Seniors 1 Washington 2 General James 3 Jenny’s Delight 4 Tommy’s Legacy 5 Eclipse 6 Thorn Fire . 15 Ran Time 28.08

Also Ran .Jenny’s Aura – Kinniside Joe – Thorn Dancer – Liz – Cool Enough – Ladybird – Miterdale Copper – Miterdale Rusty – Kenmore .

Senior Maidens 1 Hunter’s Dale 2 Yorkshire Lad 3 Summer Rose 4 Westgate Rose 5 Foxparke Yabadabadoo 6 Sultan . 27 Ran Time 30.28. Also Ran – Cracking Gold – Venus – Kinniside Beauty – Foxparke Artiste – Foxparke  Peggy Sue – Foxparke So Be It – Foxparke Fandando – – Skiddadle – Wansfell – My Way – Sugar Ray – Miterdale Proper – Miterdale prim – Dark Mist – Casanova – Silver Belle – Layla – Deepdale Frank – Night Vision – Maybe – Stand By .

Pups 1 Hawkswood 2 Rio 3 Black Legend 4 Huntsman’s Mist 5 Miterdale Shadow 6 Red Will .10 Ran Time 18.24.

Also Ran Nikita – Huntsman’s Major – Crazy – Foxparke Golden Balls.

Open Restricted 1 Debra 2 Bewitched 3 Eden Rossi 4 Sweet Harmony 5 Dawn 6 Sambuca 27 Ran Time 18.22.

Also Ran.  Cracking On – Jenny’s Choice – Canny Mover – Step Up -Foxparke Invisible – Bedazzled – Black Eyed Boy – Great Gable -Overwater Jack – Levitate – Song Bird – Menorah – Marlou – Manna – Eden Rocco – Spring Rose – Quiet Otter – Frankel – Queen- Razzle Dazzle – Jenny’s Rose.

Report. Potter’s Park the venue of the festival of trailing, not everybody’s  cup of tea. but , still, an excellent days trailing , especially if you won, Were the bookies smiling ? as they departed.

The proof of a decent trail is sometimes proven by the times taken and yesterday the five short trails were :

Res 18.22 Pup 18.24 V 18.25 NW 18.41 PM 18 48. That is 26 seconds between all five. Therefore it is feasible that ‘Billy Elliot’ could have won any of the four trails!!! That’s Elliot not Balls!

The meeting got underway with the pup maidens and Dancing all over his opponents was Foxparke Billy Elliot finishing like a train for trainer Stuart Smith and joint owners Stuart and the Napiers,and not forgetting Nicola Wilson, the second favourite beat the favourite Jenny’s Rose and Thorn Diamond which was the first leg of a day to remember for the Burrows, Reay and Satterthwaite family.

The non –winners and Susan and Sarah’s Westgate Autumn justified favouritism, one or two gambles went astray including Moi – Four of the ticketing hounds were  from the late bred litter of Kyza – Gypsy. This trail was the closest finish of the day with any one of the first four in with a chance.

The veterans and reigning veteran champion Artisan trained by Reg ( another) Smith showed there was life in those  legs when she held off the challenge of Free Spirit and course winner Quiet Linnet.

That was the second favourite to oblige ,would any thing come to the rescue of the layers, step forward ‘ Denzil’ in the shape of Washington. The well supported General James looked to have one leg over the line when taking the lead at the final viewpoint. Although showing in front he hadn’t the legs to hold off John and Heidi’s border bred Washington with Jenny’s Delight in third.

The senior maidens and as always one of the most competitive trails and as the hounds made their way to the finish there were plenty in with a shout. As they approached the finishing line I heard about a dozen different names called out ” So and So wins it ” Finally Hunter’s Dale was mentioned ( Batty, only because he was on )..Hunter’s beat Yorkshire Lad from Yorkshire and Summer Rose in third. Hunter’s was the first leg of a double for the above mentioned team and was well supported in the market .

The pups and somebody remarked only ten runners , well there are only thirteen pups that have won championship trails so therefore in reality 10/13 is a good percentage.

Hawkswood  swooped to conquer, the Little Langdale bitch owned and trained by Dennis Peare and Jackie Gill  ( Working )   Put in a sharp burst to take the honours from Rio and Black Legend   ( Now Who is going to take the photo ?

The last trail and once again the shouts were coming from ‘ Buzz and Jo’ and Molly makes three. Debra showed with a yard or two  and was in no danger as she streaked away from Bewitched, the second leg of that double ensuring the kennel trophy went to Abbeytown.

The Benny Kinsella trophy was awarded to Washington, the trophies were presented by Peter Fowler and Geoff Messenger and the Cockermouth and Workington Supporters club.