By John Walsh

Last updated at 11:29, Monday, 30 April 2012

CAPETOWN was fancied by a number of good judges to be forcing the pace in the 2012 HTA puppy championship.

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She’s up there with five wins already inside the first month of the season, but has company with the West Cumbrian dog Jupiter up there on five as well.

The son of Night Shadow and Bluebird is unbeaten at St Helena for Brian Rowlandson and Joe Fearon registering victories there on four runs, while the fifth victory was at nearby Egremont over the Crab Fair trail.

Brian and Joe are hound-trailers, through and through, doing a lot to help and organise trails so their early-season successes have been well received by the trailing fraternity.

Jupiter showed his usual finishing ability to beat Discard and Valiant last Wednesday, which starts our look back at the week.

Fallen Spring beat Quiet Siskin in the senior trail while there was a dead heat in the open restricted as Loch Lomond and What Look went past together.

They were back at Setmabanning 48 hours after the first meeting and there was a different result in the seniors.

Velvet was the one who got away and although the rest were starting to make inroads they were never going to get to her and she won comfortably from Jacob McClink and Westgate Gypsy.

In the pups Believe really made her presence felt at the start, showing great climbing ability to open up a big lead in the early stages.

She was still in front when the whistles were on but faltered and allowed Jenny’s Rascal and Acacia to come through to fight out the finish. Jenny’s Rascal just held-off the challenge to register her second win.

The open restricted trail saw George Birkett’s Langdale Jack lead down the fell but was outpaced on the run to the line as The Penny Arcade and Enoch got past and had a good battle. The Penny Arcade was stronger, however, and ran on well to win.

There was a dead heat at Gamelsby, Thursday’s other meeting, with High Challenge and Artisan being inseparable over the line with Silver Dollar in third.

Chicharito took the puppy trail from Endeavour with Assert third of the 12 runners.

Further to my piece last week about a dead-heat between kennelmates, this was also achieved in September 2003 when Bob Johnstone’s Eden Ruby and Eden Ray shared first place in the veteran trail at Keswick Old Golf Course.

I am told that Bob backed a winner, but lost money on the bet!

There was only one meeting on Saturday at Low Place, Eskdale with 569 runners for the five traiI fixture.

Brian and Colin Graham supplied first and second in the senior trail as kennelmates Tagget and Velvet got well away from the opposition.

They had the race to themselves and although Velvet came down the fell better it was Tagget who took control on the run to the line and went on to win by a couple of lengths.

In the senior maidens, seven of the nine showed on the finish with a chance and it proved an eventful conclusion. Tinkerbelle gained an advantage; was passed by Come Home Sid but just when he looked like being the winner he slowed near the line and allowed Pip’s Lad through to take the honours.

In the puppy trail, several of the youngsters put themselves out of contention early on when they missed the run up the fell.

That allowed several to get away, including Jenny’s Rascal and Shameless who dominated the trail.

But Jenny’s Rascal didn’t stay to a true course and it was Shameless who finished best to go clear and win with a lot in hand.

Glory, who had been in contention with the front two for a while, kept on well to finish third.

There was a similar occurrence in the open restricted when the majority of the 15 runners missed the turn which took them along the side of the wood.

Miterdale One and Malinda benefited most and were able to build up a massive lead before the pursuers started to get after them.

There was still just the two to fight out the finish and although Malinda came with the lead it was Miterdale One who went past to win by about a dozen yards. Cancellara finished in third.

Sensation led for a long way in the veterans trail but Tearaway Lady, who has often run well at Low Place over the years, timed her challenge perfectly to come through for the win. Black Poppy was just behind in third.

In the senior trail, Arthur and Irene Temple’s Dairy Diamond came with a good lead for her third win of the season, and although Colleen made up considerable ground up the hill she was 30 yards adrift at the line. Jacob McClink finished fifth after being overtaken by Kerrymore and Black Eyed Pea up the hill.

Compensation for the Loan family came in the senior maidens, when Jack’s Lad beat Wattmore by five yards, with Hey Jude 10 yards further back in third place, and these were nicely clear of the rest.

Capetown and Believe had the puppy race between them coming down and across the road, but it was Capetown who pulled away strongly to win her fifth trail for the Wilson, Stainton and Pimbley partnership by thirty hards. Canny Girl ran on into third place.

The previous week, David Clifford and Michelle Addison’s Eden Rosa beat Thorn Dolly narrowly in the open non-winner trail, but this time, in the puppy maidens, there was no danger to her, as she came with a good lead and won as she liked. Thorn Dolly was second again, and Hurry On took third.

The All-In saw the Saunders, Appleby and Pounder's pair Border River and Simply Rascal split by Ryan’s Lad at the tape in a very close finish.

There were also trails at Gamelsby on Sunday and conditions were pleasant again for the three-race meeting.

In the senior trail, Hello Dolly was prominent early on but did not figure at the business end where Artisan, who finished second to the champion in last year’s puppy title race, had too much in reserve and beat Crusader.

Silver Dollar finished well to take third.

There was a good finish for favourite backers in the puppy trail when the well-backed Chicharito came storming through to take long-time leader Endeavour within 10 yards of the line. Black Rose was best of the other 10 to take third.

The Puddle Jumper looked in line for a win in the open maidens but he couldn’t see out his race and allowed Brannigan to come through and win by two lengths with Rush finishing in third.

At Nook Farm (St Helena) on Monday, Fallen Spring and Sawdust had pulled clear of the other seven and had the finish to themselves. Fallen Spring prevailed by a length with Delahoya in third.

Jupiter joined Capetown at the head of affairs in the puppy table with his fifth win. But he had to work hard for at one point it looked as though he had veered off a straight course. However he righted himself in time and flew to the line to record a thrilling win from Valiant and Huntsman’s Hero.

In the open maidens, This Is It had opened up a massive lead out on the fell but that was dramatically reduced when they came back into view. However, showing tremendous determination This Is It held on to see off the challenge of Celtic Spirit and Foxparke Lady.

At Lazonby Fell on Tuesday, there were plenty of hounds and a very close race ensued in the senior trail.

Mayflower was just a neck in front of Westgate Gypsy, and they finished a long way ahead of the chasing bunch, who were led in by Momentum.

The first two pups onto the finish scaled in the last field, and the next bunch joined them, all seeming uncertain where to go. In the end it was quite a dash for the line, the winner being in-form Eden Rosa, one of the original leaders, who beat Howgill Black Mist and Westgate Belle. This was Eden Rosa’s third win in 10 days. Although it was virtually a puppy maiden trail, they ran it well in a fast time.

There was just a nose in it in the open restricted race, Rose edging out White Diamond, and these two well clear of the rest.

Thursday 19 April
Setmabanning
Hounds: 1, Velvet; 2, Jacob McClink; 3, Westgate Gypsy; 4, Corinna; 5, Mayfly; 6, Huntsman's Echo. 9 ran, time 26.54
Pups: 1, Jenny's Rascal; 2, Acacia; 3, Believe; 4, Westgate Belle; 5, Eden Rosa; 6, Two Tone. 20 ran, time 15.52
Open Restricted: 1, The Penny Arcade; 2, Enoch; 3, Langdale Jack; 4, Malinda; 5, Jordan's Tyke; 6, Casey's Lass. 21 ran, time 16.21
All-In: 1, Colleen; 2, Mayflower; 3, Hey Jude; 4, Jenny's Dream; 5, Jack's Lad; 6, Sundown. 15 ran, time 16.06

Gamelsby
Hounds: 1=High Challenge and Artisan; 3, Silver Dollar; 4, Hello Dolly; 5, Hunter's Lane; 6, Crusader. 13 ran, time 26.41
Pups: 1, Chicharito; 2, Endeavour; 3, Assert; 4, The Look; 5, Black Rose; 6, Hurry On. 12 ran, time 17.29.

Saturday 21 April
Low Place
Hounds: 1, Tagget; 2, Velvet; 3, Cinnabar; 4, Cavendish; 5, Desire; 6, Habana. 9 ran, time 25.26
Maidens: 1, Pip's Lad; 2, Come Home Sid; 3, Tinkerbell; 4, Sawdust; 5, Romeo; 6, Denial. 9 ran, time 28.23
Pups: 1, Shameless; 2, Jenny's Rascal; 3, Glory; 4, Miterdale Torment; 5, Huntsman's Hero; 6, Acacia. 21 ran, time 18.33
Open Restricted: 1, Miterdale One; 2, Malinda; 3, Cancellara; 4, Langdale Jack; 5, Red Pike; 6, Hunter's Rose. 15 ran, time 18.31
Veterans: 1, Tearaway Lady; 2, Sensation; 3, Black Poppy; 4, Sunlight; 5, Bowderdale Billy; 6, Shifter. 15 ran, time 18.37

Sunday 22 April
Helton
Hounds: 1, Dairy Diamond; 2, Colleen; 3, Black Eyed Pea; 4, Kerrymore; 5, Jacob McClink; 6, Rose. 17 ran, time 29.23
Maidens: 1, Jack's Lad; 2, Wattmore; 3, Hey Jude; 4, Hilly's Cruiser; 5, Jordan's Dream; 6, Glen River. 18 ran, time 31.16
Pups: 1, Capetown; 2, Believe; 3, Canny Girl; 4, Howgill Blondie; 5, Howgill Black Mist; 6, Freya. 11 ran, time 17.02
Puppy Maidens: 1, Eden Rosa; 2, Thorn Dolly; 3, Hurry On; 4, Fram; 5, Huntsman's Hope; 6, Keystone. 26 ran, time 17.16
All-In: 1, Border River; 2, Ryan's Lad; 3, Simply Rascal; 4, Escala; 5, not claimed; 6, Sundown. 35 ran, time 16.59.

Gamelsby
Hounds: 1, Artisan; 2, Crusadere; 3, Silver Dollar; 4, Annie's Bay; 5, Da Look; 6, Hunter's Lane. 9 ran, time 26.39
Pups: 1, Chicharito; 2, Endeavour; 3, Black Rose; 4, Misty Bay; 5, Assert; 6, Silver Wings. 12 ran, time 16.18
Open Maidens: 1, Brannigan; 2, The Puddle Jumper; 3, Rush; 4, Baron; 5, Owtback; 6, Plan B. 10 ran, time 16.43.

Monday 23 April
Nook Farm (St.Helena)
Hounds: 1, Fallen Spring; 2, Sawdust; 3, Delahoya; 4, Cinnabar; 5, Romulus; 6, Quiet Siskin. 9 ran, time 27.13
Pups: 1, Jupiter; 2, Valiant; 3, Huntsman's Hero; 4, Rumours; 5, Wistlo Spring; 6, Serenity. 18 ran, time 18.08
Open Maidens: 1, This Is It; 2, Celtic Spirit; 3, Foxparke Lady Margaret; 4, Hot Flush; 5, Moor Nell; 6, Alana. 14 ran, time 18.33.

Tuesday 24 April
Lazonby Fell
Hounds: 1, Mayflower; 2, Westgate Gypsy; 3, Momentum; 4, Silver Spangle; 5, Jack's Lad; 6, Minerva. 17 ran, time 25.56
Pups: 1, Eden Rosa; 2, Howgill Black Mist; 3, Westgate Belle; 4, Eden Rio; 5, Shambles; 6, Howgill Blondie. 24 ran, time 20.35
Open Restricted: 1, Rose; 2, White Diamond; 3, Casey's Lass; 4, Brannigan; 5, Glen River; 6, Mayfair. 20 ran, time 19.40.

Wednesday 25 April
Low Place
Hounds: 1, Tagget; 2, Black Eyed Pea; 3, Silver Moon; 4, Kerrymore; 5, Cinnabar; 6, Ivy Crag. 14 ran, time 27.00
Pups: 1, Shameless; 2, Glory; 3, Jenny's Rascal; 4, Two Tone; 5, Huntsman's Hero; 6, Baroness. 21 ran, time 17.23
Open Maidens: 1, Thorn Girl; 2, Jenny's Dream; 3, Tinkerbell; 4, Come Home Sid; 5, Romeo; 6, Wattmore. 15 ran, time 19.05.

First published at 11:11, Thursday, 26 April 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk