Latest News

No 207 Hamish Rose £ 75  No 73 Violet Warwick £ 25.

At the Committee meeting on Sunday it was controversially decided to hold the May Day trails at Kirkstone, I say controversially because it had been common knowledge that the HTA was looking for another venue and the Chairman had made it clear that KIrkstone wouldn’t be used.

Having been persuaded to put KIrkstone forward it was then put to the Committee a choice between Kirkstone and Lazonby.

Kirkstone being the choice – since that meeting there has been a certain amount of disagreement about the procedure and that the Chair should have stayed with his original decision re Kirkstone and the trails should have  been awarded to Lazonby.

The decision isn’t  ‘set in concrete’ and the people who matter – that’s you the members – have a chance to voice their opinion.

You have a week !

Also : It was decided to increase the insurance premium for each trail by 50 pence making it £5 50 per trail.

The rule regarding the penalty for running your hound when not qualified will remain unaltered.

The Dog Produce will probably be at Bridekirk  and the International Committee is looking for venues for Saturday the  25th June..

A licence to hold a joint association trail meeting at Oulton on Sunday May 8th was granted.

It was proposed that we do away with 7-10 in major trails. this was defeated.

All hound owners note – THAT ALL HOUNDS MUST BE MICRO CHIPPED from April 6th 2016.

It was also brought to the Chairs attention that the Houndtrailing association web site should contain a message saying that this is not the official HTA website.

The official website is www.houndtrailing.org.uk

Before we look forward to the upcoming season. We look back and remember ‘Ted’ who ,after going astray, badly injured a leg and sadly had to be ‘put down’. To Graham and Les Reid , our condolences and ‘ chins up ‘ you’ll bounce back.

And , to boot , Steve and Leslie Miles have ‘called it a day’, best of luck in moving to Barrow, at least it is not Arizona , Boston or Nevada.

Now lets take a look at the coming season- all the show trails and HTA Major trails are posted on the website- see 2015 November archives or fixtures for 2016 ( look at 2015 see more and 2016 pops up) ???.

Who is going to win the Senior Championship- will Prudence make it three in a row, what about ‘ Arnie’ , James is on record as saying ‘Overwater Jack , an unraced two year old is better’ then again there is money for ‘Bessy’.

I suppose  it will be which hound stays sound  ( rocket science)

That brings Fireman Sam and Endure into the fray.

And what about last seasons pups- will they train on ? Persian Bay, Sky, Huntsman’s Kraka, Daisy Dream , Arizona or perhaps Lone Rebel, Thorn Dancer or Bracelet.

What about a maiden ? 2014 pup champion ‘Song Bird’

Jenny’s Rascal 2012 – 13. Melody 2002- 2003 and Miracle 92 -93 Largesse 81- 82 Buacail  75-76. Mclintock  74-75 Judy -69-70. Lancer 68-69 Court Link 56 -57 Lorton Lass 45-46.

Ten Double Champions in their first two seasons in 70 years!

There are ”lies., damn lies and statistics’  looking forward to the next one in 2023. lol.

What about the current crop of juniors, the betting suggests , General James, Jenny’s Aura, and Eclipse,, two  of which come from stables with a reputation for being well forward.

Personally I Think it will be a ‘ tea party’ and later on in the season watch out for Kyza- Gypsy pups., especially the snow-covered one. lol.

More news next week and I leave you with a thought for the week . DVLA – Don’t vet Laidler’s Application.

 

Practice trails in March.

Mon 7th Lamplugh   5,00

Wed 9th Lamplugh 5,00

Mon 14th Lamplugh 5.00

Wed 16h Kirkland  5.00

Sat   19th Kirkland 1.30.

Mon 21st Kirkland 5.00.

Moota.

Pups.

1 Silver Dusk 2 Margaret Rose 3 Telstar 4 Step Up 5 Hunter’s Sparkle 6 Overwater Hally. 31 Ran Time 8.55.

Seniors.

1 Tan Ted 2 Issabella 3 Prudence 4 Cartier 5 Sambuca 6 Sunset Ridge. 26 Ran Time 7.36.

All-in.

1 Olivia 2 Trooper Thorn 3 Keystone. 23 Ran Time 8.00.

Sire- Dam pups.

1 Prancer- Silver Dollar 2 Westgate Kyza- Rose 3 Prancer- Silver Dollar 4 Prancer- Silver Dollar 5 Westgate Kyza -Quiet Swallow. 6 Huntsman’s Hope – Nellie Kim.

low Place,

Pups.1 Miterdale Copper 2 Miterdale Rusty 3 Canny Mover 4 Kinniside Nell 5 General James. 6 Kinniside Bess. 10 ran Time 13.33.

Seniors 1 Daisy Dream 2 Serenity 3 Capetown 4 Miterdale Prim 5 Miterdale Proper 6 Glory. 21 Ran Time 12.47.

Sire – Dam pups. 1 Endeavour- Jenny’s Pride 2 Try Again- Beyoncé 3 Endeavour- Jenny’s Pride 4 Musgrove Quietly- This is it ( Ireland) 5 Try Again – Beyoncé) 6 Musgrove Quietly- This is it.

 

MARCH ;

Sat 26th Bower House  H.P OM AI  4.20 . 5.30.6.00.

Sun 27th Kirkbride        H P AI        11.00

Mon 28th Bower House H P ONW OR  4.20. 5.35. 6.05 .6.35.

Thurs 31st Kirkbride     H P AI  5.0

APRIL:

Sat 2nd Bower House H.P .OM OR . 4.20 5.35.6.05 . 6.35.

Sun 3rd Kirkbride         H  P OM AI   11.00.

Wed 6th Kirkbride        H P AI    5.30.

Thurs 7th Grange- In – Borrowdale H P OM AI 5.00

Sat 9th Bower House  H P OM OR. 1.20 2.35 .3.05. 3 35.

Sun 10th Oulton         H P OM ONW  2.00

Thurs 14th Oulton       H P OM          6.00

Sat 16th   Low Place  H M P OR V .   1.30

Sun 17th Helton.

Tues 19th Lazonby.

 

Wed 20th Low Place   H P OM            6.00

Thurs 21st  Oulton       H P OM           6.00

Sat 23rd Kendal.

Sun 24th Helton.

Tues 26th Oulton         H P OM            6.00

Wed 27th Low Place    H P OR            6.00

Thurs 28th Oulton        H P OM           6.00

Sat    30th   Cold Fell   H P OM OR       1.00

MARCH

 

Sat 19th Kirkbride    2,00. NB change of Date.

Kirkland      1.30

Sun 20th.

Plumpton   2.00

Coniston      2.30.

Mon 21st  Moota  5 30.

Kirkland 5.00

Wed 23rd Kirkbride  5.00

Carlisle @ Penrith Area Presentation Evening.

Saturday 12th March 2016

Penrith Cricket Club 7.30.

Buffet and Sweet. Tickets £8 from 01228 712025.

Maddison Entertainment.

A Doggerel penned in the eighties about a hound and his owner  written anonymously.

Well the hound in question was called Black Gold, the owner was our former chair Kenneth Roy Laidler (full title) and the author —— ME!

This is a story of a hound named Kip

Who used to have trouble getting the trip

In Running ,his name was Black Gold

And so a stormy tale doth unfold.

 

Early in the season they’re off and running

All bar one – the son of a gun-

Maybe it’s because he likes being a loner-

But look ! -it’s just been  passed by it’s owner.

 

He had to be taught to cross some becks

So he was held by a string tied to his neck

Terry, looked, and said with a frown.

‘With a bit of luck, perhaps he might drown’

 

But ,at last he got going and thought he ‘d licked it.

Slipped in ‘t pups , finished last int’  restricted.

 

Now he took up the challenge at Cunswick Fell

and for half the race he ran very well,

But by nine o’clock he still hadn’t shown

And had gone off the Nab all alone.

 

Walkie talkie in hand, his owner took flight

Away down the finish and out of sight.

Snap,crackle,and pop,the peace was shattered,

‘ He’s behind a yat I think he’s knackered’

 

Then he was invited to channel 4

And was lined up with a half dozen more,

But he dug in his heels, He wouldn’t go,

Would you run for nowt in a T.V show.

 

Next stop was Whicham, for Batty’s trail,

Clipped him out from head to tail.

Led onto the finish!  A chance of fame!

Ran off! and went round again.

 

Then went to Sawrey for a  puppy maiden

It was so wet the hounds were wading

All over the field a cheer was heard,

The big black dog had finished third

On the owners face was a look of glee

He’d had a pound at fives without three.

 

.

His last chance for the winter’s beer

Was a non-winners trail at Grasmere

But we all knew he was not that fast

Because he finished next to last.

 

Now we come to the end of our tale

And this hound is not for sale

His owner persevered to the end,

For the sake of man’s best friend

Really, I think he deserves a medal;

‘Cos he did get three tickets at  – Longsleddale..

.

 

The Ambassadors of hound trailing was the name given to the members who went to the first ever Irish International trail meeting at Cloyne, a round trip of a 1000 miles , Carlisle to Stranraer, Larne, and Cork.

English hounds take the honours at Cloyne was the headline in the ‘news’.

English hounds take the honours at Ireland’s first -ever International drag hunt Which was held at Cloyne in County Cork.

In the main event, the Guinness senior hound trail four of the six places , went to the hound trailing association.

The winner was Mr M Porter’s bitch Shamrock, who returned the remarkably fast time of 26 minutes 44 seconds for the tough ten mile course. She had several seconds lead over Meg, the entry of Mr J Lenihan, Kerry Pike. Another Cork hound Pincers, Mr J Mahoney’s , Northern Hunt finished fifth.

The winners time was one of the fastest recorded at a draghunt in Ireland and is all the more commendable in view of the toughness of the course, English hounds ,as a rule, are not accustomed to Irish ditches and hedges and the course carefully chosen by the Cloyne and Carrigshane Harrier Club included a plentiful supply of ditches. On that score alone it was thought that the advantage would lie with the Irish hounds, but the English hounds surprised everyone, except their owners , with their amazing turn of speed.

In the second event , the Harp Lager Maidens, English hounds again dominated winning the event and taking third ,fourth, fifth, and sixth places.

The staging of the event was mainly due to the efforts of Mr Albie Murphy, secretary of Cork City and County Harriers association.

Yesterday’s event attracted a large crowd.  Mr Frank Quinlan was judge and was assisted by Mr Jim Casson.

Seniors 1 Shamrock 2 Meg 3 Jackpot 4 Snowdrop 5 Pincers 6 Ballerina. 36 ran Time 26 44

Maidens 1 Tyneside 2 Sporter 3 Happy Collector 4 Signal Queen 5 Castella  6 Cool Comely.60 ran Time 27. 14

Observation from a neutral: The hedges had holes cut in them to assist the hounds, on reflection , as one supporter remarked after the English success , ‘ We wont be cutting holes next time .

And as for the winner , ably assisted by Jimmy Glaister, Bill Porter, Bill Jackson and ‘Boy’ Jackson, went to Ireland under their own steam a couple of days earlier.

In their own words , ‘ to get accustomed to the surroundings’ which in plain English meant, we’ve had a ‘gallop’ up the finish.

HTA 200 club draw February 2016

£75 No 95 Vikki Bolton . Windermere.

£25 No 25 Brian Graham Bassenthwaite.

This weekend we celebrate the 90th birthday of the ‘rat catcher’ as he was affectionately called as his job was pest control officer for south Lakeland, Ken Bunting , Grasmere born and bred, lived in the same house all his life. life member of the HTA and permanent fixture for the RAOB ( order of buffaloes) will this weekend reach a milestone – 90 years young and still looking after his allotment , scouting the fell for the Grasmere trails. He might be hard of hearing but with a shock of white hair looks years younger–the secret, who knows?
For years he promoted Grasmere sports and was the official timekeeper with a splendid stopwatch which only he could decipher.
His love of gardening culminates in bag of green beans on my doorstep each autumn.
His other passion is trailing . a life member, an executive member,35 years on the area Committee.
Hounds with the moniker ‘Birk’ ,owned by messrs Bunting and Brownrigg were common in the seventies and he has also had a long association with Pat and Jane Laidler, and Denis Peare.
Uncle Ken as Jane refers has been a postman, and was in the Royal Navy , the question was asked did his job have anything to do with the flags of the navy, why ? ‘Bunting”ouch’!
90 year old and still walking up the path towards the ‘pig snout’ to watch the hounds, mobile phone in pocket. We resorted to using a radio and it was a common sound on the Grasmere trail field to here ‘ come in Ken, are you receiving , no reply , why? he couldn’t hear it and it is no different with the phone . As Ken says this phone is useless , cant hear a ‘bloody thing’ as it rang deep down in his mac pocket.
In his younger days along with his schoolmates, the late Tommy Graves and Ike Dixon; he played football for Grasmere, the pitch being the Grasmere sports field.
His sister Joy keeps a watchful eye on Ken , making sure he doesn’t drink to much Guinness and has a regular meal.
He still gets about in his beloved car but would rather have a lift , the car being a regular on the 591 roadside as he hails a passing ‘taxi’ to either the trails or the meetings.
That is just a small summary of ‘Bunts’ life which will be celebrated at the ‘Buffs’ club Grasmere on Sunday Afternoon.
Happy Birthday Ken from all hound trailers , friends and family and – only ten more to the telegram.

Kendal trails points winners 2015.
Seniors Open /Local R/ W Dawson’s Razzle Dazzle.
Juniors Open N/L Brown’s M Watson’s Persian Bay.
Local J/V Simpson’s Venus.
Open Restricted N Wilson’s Highness / R/W Dawson’s Mrs Mcgregor.

At last weeks AGM, there was a slight murmur of derision when I suggested that I didn’t think hound trailers would deliberately run their hounds in trails which they were either not entered or qualified.
So , I delved into the past to see what went on in years gone by and this is an extract from the ‘Whitehaven’ from 1964.
” There was a rare old row at Millom last Saturday when Mr Newall’s Brigadier, backed down to favourite, failed to appear at the start. Punters immediately clamoured for a return of their bets, but the bookmakers were reluctant to put their hands into their bags, for they claimed that the hound was under starter’s orders.
The Ulverston area held an inquiry on June 19th.
The recent incident at Millom which resulted in Mr T Newall’s Hensingham hound Brigadier, being suspended by the Ulverston area Committee for failing to line up at the start, has served a useful purpose in pinpointing the failing of rule 65 which lays down that hounds come under starter’s orders 15 minutes before the start of the trail.
At their meeting on last Friday the Ulverston area accepted the explanation from put forward by Mr Newall and his trainer Mr McCarron, to the effect that Brigadier had been taken to a wrong starting point, the trainer being unaware that the slip had been changed from the previous year. Consequently the ban on Brigadier was lifted , but the Committee could take no action with regard to the bets placed on Brigadier which had been backed off the boards.
Sherlock has been reviewing the case but after 52 years the trail has gone cold, not enough oil!

January 2016 HTA 200 club draw.
1 £ 75 no 35 Laura Steele.
2 £ 25 no 18 Bill Birkett.