Rusland Tues 17th May.

Seniors 1 Explore 2 Huntsman’s Hope 3 Langdale Ranger 4 Jenny’s Choice 5 Huntsman’s Jewel 6 Lady Bethan . 11 Ran Time 28.19. Also Ran – Try Time_ Try Again- Overwater Arnie- Jenny’s Delight- Persian prince

Pups 1 Phoenix 2 Larty Carty 3 General James 4 Yorkshire Lad 5 Overwater Roger 6 Ronnie’s Rascal. 11 Ran Time 18.39. Also Ran. Midnight Copper – Sweet Harmony – Sultan – Stand By. Kenmore

OM 1 Huntsman’s Jenny 2 Lady Anne 3 Miterdale Prim 4 Miterdale  Proper 5 Sugar Ray 6 Jimmy Nik. 22 Ran Time 15.33.

Also Ran Jade’s Jem – Langdale Jack – Black Eyed Boy – Superstition – Mystery Girl – Grange Music – Sparrowmire Lilly – Sparrowmire Angel – Billy Whiz – Come Home Alfie – Casanova – Silverbelle – Jacob Mclink – Full House – Cool Enough.

OR 1 Simply Rascal 2 Overwater Jack 3 Billy Bowe 4 Tinkerbelle 5 Kaiser sosa.  6 Ran Time17.51.

Report. Rusland valley in late spring, quiet, peaceful, hidden away, far from the maddening crowd ,that is until trailing starts and talking about hidden ask Emily, Jonty,or Graham , re ‘ the tour of Rusland valley”.

Huntsman’s Hope ,senior championship runner-up in 2014, after driving the trail for most of the way , looked to have things ‘sewn up’ when coming onto the finish with a good lead only to see it whittled away by Explore who won by half a length. Langdale Ranger was a promising third just in front of Jenny’s Choice.

There’s a saying in trailing that- once a hound gets a win no matter what grade ‘ the penny drops’ and Phoenix , winner on Sunday , arose from the ashes and simply’ flew’ to pass Larty Carty and ‘the General’ , to register her first championship victory for a smiling Joe ( he wont be smiling when he sees the scrabble board).

The maidens and a hollow victory for Huntsman’s Jenny as she came well clear of the opposition in an extremely fast time, was it right? well last year , Explore won in 15.50 and Kerrymore in 15.31 and Flawless two days later in 15.45.The applause at the end of the trail was for the popular ‘James Nicholas’ or Jimmy Nic who running for the first time in six weeks , just managed to cross the line in sixth place before flopping down ‘goosed’ .

The restricted trail attracted only 6 runners and the favourite Simply Rascal duly obliged.