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The AGM of the Hound Trailing Association took part on Sunday 31st January 2016. John Barry Laidler was re-elected as Chair to serve for another three years.
After a minutes silence to remember past members the chair invited 111 members to the meeting and after the minutes and accountants report on the balance sheet, the trophies were presented ,by the new honorary member Norma Reay, to the various winners.
The only rule change that was up for discussion was dismissed when it didn’t adhere to rule 29.2.
In any other business the issue of swearing was addressed and also the lack of advertising and the lack of support for the youth forum on the future of hound trailing.
All these issues will be discussed at the next committee meeting.

looking forward to the season ahead as the Area Committees get together in February for their first meetings of the year.
And on the agenda is the venues for the major meetings of the season, the sooner we know where they are the more publicity and hound people and the visiting public can make early arrangements.
To be confirmed are :
May Day Trails Monday May 2nd
Dog produce Cockermouth / Workington Sat 11th June
International Trail Saturday 25th June
Bitch Produce Ulverston Area Saturday July 2nd.
Association Trails Saturday August 6th.

New innovation for the coming season.
Where possible the itinerary of the bookmakers will be published on the website.

A change this week due to the fact that on Thursday I met a man and his wife . a Mr and Mrs Murphy, who live in Swarthmoor, formerly from the Ambleside and Hawkeshead area.
It transpired that we were related through our Grandparents, who came from little Langdale. Also Norman had been ,in his younger days, a keen follower of hound trailing and he remembers the days of ‘Perivale’ and Black Diamond, Sunset and ‘Bouncer’ or George’ Brantwood’ Brownlee to be correct. Also the long forgotten days of the ‘White Heather Club’ who met once a year at Hawkeshead Show in the Sun Inn and got ‘well oiled’.
The members included local farmer George Brass, Jimmy Beatty.Jackie Laidler, Laal Gus, Big Jim, Oliver Webb Colin from Manchester, a major from down south uncle Tom Cobbley and all.
Quite a number sat around the table largely because the drink was free.
And it was on record that the winner of the trail one year slept under the table before running, completely oblivious to the proceedings , its name – ‘Double Life’.
Norman told the tale of watching a certain hound being exercised around Hawkeshead , apparently waiting for an opportunity to ‘nip’ down the finish, Allegedly.
Norman now lives in ‘Swattie’ two doors from Wendy Martin’s Mum, Betty.
Mentioning Hawkeshead Show brought back memories one of which was under the heading of ‘ a funny thing happened on the way to the show’.
Travelling at high speed , about 20 mph, along the road between Clappersgate and Outgate , in ‘Sarah’ an ancient Bedford van, dad driving ,Gus navigating, Jim grumbling, Billy Braithwaite, an assortment of young ‘uns bunking off school.
When! there was a bang , followed by a scraping sound, followed by the driver saying ‘look ! there is a wheel rolling down the road, ‘Where the bloody hell as that come from’!
Then a shout from the rear of the ‘bus’ the bloody back wheel has dropped off’ Which was now gathering momentum and heading on it’s own towards Hawkeshead.
Then a sing along ‘Three wheels on my wagon and I’m just rolling along’. Happy Days- ‘Fire Away ‘ finished fourth , well that is 8/4d towards a new back axle- got a lift home with Jim Beattie , who would have given Stirling Moss a run for his money, mind you, this was after an all day session.
And as for Jim and Gus , on being asked on arriving home, ‘What won the trails? answered’ its Tuesday’!
Actually the Senior winner was ‘ Brantwood ‘ I wonder who owned that? (see above)

Seniors
1 Jenny’s Rose 2 Lady Bethan 3 Huntsman’s Jenny 22 Ran 9 min 41.
Pups 1 Jenny’s Aura 2 Queen 3 General James 12 Ran Time 9.24.
Short Trail 1 Rooster 2 Where’s Wallie 3 Black Eyed Pea. 12 Ran 4 .26.

Oulton. Fireman Sam/ Thorn Fire. pups Liz.

A G M -Sunday 31st January, Hundith Hill Hotel Cockermouth 2.00pm.

C/W presentation – Saturday 6th Feb Hundith Hill Hotel.Cockermouth.
Music Double Jeopardy. three course meal tickets £15
Neil Brown 07834 873397.

Westmorland area presentation . Buffet and Dance.
Saturday Feb 13th Windermere Social club.
Tickets £7 from Pat 015394 44635 or Baz 015394 45200.
Music by Woodsmen.

Carlisle /Penrith presentation – Saturday 12th March at Penrith
Cricket Club.
music by Maddison. Tickets £8 from Amy 01228 712025

Ulverston Area Presentation.
Saturday 5th March
Jutland club Flookburgh.
Tickets £6 from Allison 015395 32195.

Whitehaven Area Presentation.
27th February 27th at 4pm.
Little Arms Wath Brow.
Race Day – Pie and Peas. Free admission.
Race sponsors wanted also you can be a jockey ,an owner or a horse for £2.

For a change, instead of reminiscing , we are going to look forward to the coming season starting with the new puppy registrations.
First we welcome our new members ; Ian Dockeray from Maryport with his new acquisition Sea Brows Lad , a late bred pup from the Westgate kennel ,we wish him well.
Now it has been said that owning and training a hound can send you to drink ,well! , after numerous years in the ‘game’, It has finally caught up with Mal and Ann Reay, Singapore Sling , Harvey Wallbanger,and a Black Russian, I suppose its better than Bitter and Lager.
Arizona proved a winning pick last season so Steve and Leslie are trying Again with the American theme with Boston, Nevada and Memphis and a couple of extra owners try to get into a winning team, namely Caroline and Pat.
Where would we be with the Napiers , eight FP’s appear in this years registrations,as Les Reid has teamed up with Denis, Nicola is looking for a new ‘head lad’, Les has a ‘Dan’ a ‘Mick’ and a ‘Liz’.
There are plenty up Eskdale ,Miterdale Copper and Rusty and Steel,and Come HomeJack back to the Crowes, Ray (Pepperpot) Matterson making a welcome return with ‘Ronnie’s Rascal.
Tom and Liz with Out Of Gable and Whistling Beauty.
Another trainer making a comeback is David Todhunter with
‘Telstar’, could be ‘flying high’.
The Kendal kennel of Robert Reid and Emma Blenkarn have three Sparrowmires , ‘Gracie, Jess and Peggy’ also in Kendal Reg Smith teams up with partner Jill and a ‘Liverpool supporter’ with Accolade and Adventure and the Dawsons stick with the music theme with Buble and Queen, John Graham holds his cards close to his chest with ‘Blackjack’ and carries on the Roman theme with ‘Maximus’. Mick and Dot go back to the’wild’ prefix with ‘Gypsy’. Howgill Annabella lives in Burneside for Ian Ana Ann Bell.
Les Black (no Pat) continues on the Canny way with ‘Mover’and Joe and ‘Nessa’ raked the ashes to find ‘Phoenix and at Selside Wendy’s found another ‘M’ Misha. , talking about ‘M’s there is Christine’s Manna from Borrowdale (not heaven).
We have two Huntsmans’ and one Jenny’s– Lad, Loyal and Aura.
Now there is one called ‘Kit Kat’ apparently named after the owner was accused of nicking the Chairmans biscuit only to be found some weeks later under the driver’s seat.
After apologising profusely the Chair was reminded that it would be remembered in name ,hence ‘Kit Kat’.
Captain Jack ( Harkness or Sparrow ) runs for Tanya and a slight wind from Brian in the shape of a ‘Breeze’ and a ‘Wanted ‘ poster all based in Aspatria.
There is a boxer from Cockermouth in the shape of ‘Cotto’ for ‘Fletch’ and Ricky.
Lisa sticks with the ‘Cool’ handle, enough is enough.
I see that Eclipse has a certain Mr Hunter on board together with ‘Lynchy’ and Darren .
And also in Dearham we have a Silver Dawn and Dusk, a McMaster,Baxter,Chambers,Wilson,Skelton but no Joe.Also Bill aka Scrunt pins his hopes on another Sunset.
The Holmes family from Ellonby stick with prefix ‘S’ Stand By ,Spring Rose ‘Sultan’and Sweet Harmony.
After singer and band we have Jazz Lyric for Pat and Jane and over in nr Overwater we have Roger and Hally for the Irvings and family, and a change of venue with ‘mealsgate Missile’
Alan O’Fee is staying with Barncroft , this time ‘Gold’
The Birkett, Swanson, McClellan partnership have General James and James also teams up with Steve, Joe and Neil with ‘Tough Look’ probably named after Joe?
Aptly named is Yorkshire Lad ,settled in Settle for Mick.
Steve Riley ‘Walkson’and Donald and Family ‘Kenmore’
Larty Carty,( look it up on urban dictionary) runs for Jonty ,Evie and Jack..
Popeye is in Bassenthwaite for Brian and Shirley and Gordon Tinnion keeps Quiet (if only) with a ‘Badger ‘,a Beaver and an otter, he has run out of birds. He also teams up with Caroline And Dennis with ‘Hunter’s Sparkle, and pops up again with two Satterthwaites and Martin Burrow with Thorn Dollar.
Peter and Chris ( kipper) have ‘Step up’ and ‘Speed on’
And on the mark and another ‘Summer’ is ‘Dancer’ from Cumwhitton.
Margaret Rose ,Alan Blacklock’s charge from KIrkbride together with her sister ‘Meadow Elsa’ running for the vice -Chair and daughter Joe from Carlisle.
Whitehaven Chair, Chris McGhee,together with daughters runs Mylana and Sue (late bred) has a Westgate Luther and Autumn.
The ‘Gypsy’ boys have reverted back to Kinniside with Beauty, Bess, Nell and Spot, that is Tony , Ian and Geoff. And last but not least , C’est la vie for Duncan, Amy and family or in English ‘That’s Life’
Oh and Miss Islay, not born until December, so we will have to be patient.

Trial Trails.
Sunday Jan 10th
Coniston tops 2.30
Pups And Seniors approx. 11 mins
Pups And Seniors Approx 5 Mins.
If you want your trial trails advertising then call
015394 45200 and ask for the Gaffer.

Pups 1 General James 2 Huntsmans Loyal 3 Queen. 11Ran Time 12 mins
Seniors 1 Jenny’s Rose 2 Lady Bethan 3 Lady Anne 10 ran.
Short trail; 1 Rooster 2 Sugar Ray 8 ran

There is something rather special about a Cumbrian sports meeting , and they don’t come much better than Ambleside Sports.

The sports with is mixture of wrestling , trailing ,fell races and trade stands shows off what is unique and wholesome about our county and I think it is always an uplifting experience being there.

Five races made up the sports hound trailing programme and the best of them was the opener where HTA senior table leader Watt Next demonstrated her class with a brilliant turn of foot at the finish.

West Garth had shown with a comfortable 20 yard lead but the Brian Graham trained Bassenthwaite bitch stepped up a gear and came through to snatch a dramatic victory by half a length.

I can’t recall owner Les McTear showing the same sort of speed on the rugby field!

In the junior trail junior puppy leader Melody and one or two others came from the side suggesting they might have run on .Midnight Express ,however, made no mistake and won comfortable for John Grisedale.

Neil Brown of Seaton was celebrating after Matrix had opened his account in the two year old brigade. This son of West Garth was an easy winner from Langdale Rover and Grange Hill.

Not so happy was Peter Green of Windermere, after his Super Club threw away her winning opportunity in the open grade event.

Coming to the final gate with a massive lead Super Club suddenly veered off towards the parked cars.  Peter moved off the finishing area at which point Super Club resumed her run to the line.

But , although Peter returned to his position and Super Club crossed the line ahead of the rest , the disqualification was automatic – very unfortunate but correct .

The eventual winner was Margaret Wintrip, from Northumberland with Cracking Finish.

The other unlucky hound  was Tribute who had shown with a good lead in the maiden race. But approaching the gate she did a circle of the fell and let through three hounds to fight out the finish.

In the end it was the Sykes family from Arrad Foot , who took the honours with Vogue, a winner by half a length from Three Shires.

Results. Ssniors

1 Watt Next 2 West Garth 3 Tequila 4 Little Gossip 5 Mandela 6 Courtwin.

Maidens 1 Vogue 2 Three Shires 3 Meadow Star 4 Tribute 5 Brookside 6 Liam’s Lady.

Pups 1 Midnight Express 2 Melody 3 Dairy Line 4 Medici 5 Chieftain 6 Quandrill.

Two Year Olds 1 Matrix 2 Langdale Rover 3 Grange Hill 4 Checkout 5 Huntsmans Master 6 Dana

OG 1 Cracking Finish. 2 Huntsmans Music 3 Spotlight 4 Lady Tara 5 Eternal 6 Lady Helena

Sincere wishes are sent to Ricky Deacon and family at the passing of his daughter Alison, who died after a long illness.

Denis and Norma Reay were accepted as honorary members.

There were 5 recommendations .

No1 . Delete rule 55.3 . This was defeated.

No2 .Alter rule 36 . This was carried.

The owner of a hound which competes in a trail which it is ineligible will be subject to appropriate action by the relevant Area Committee under guidelines set by the Committee.

No 3 Alter rule 59 Defeated.

No 4 Addition to rule 70.2 Defeated

No 5 Addition to rule 84 Defeated.

Rule 84 Re All-in trails . Area Committees will be contacted as to providing more All-In trails.

An extra- ordinary meeting of Members of the Aspatria and Wigton area will be forthcoming to discuss the future of the Committee , whether to disband and give their fixtures to other committees or to carry on. Date to be announced.

The winner of £500 for the HTA Christmas draw was———-

Number  3 Tommy Newall .      Cleator Moor.