It was a sad week as hound trailing lost two stalwarts in Jackie Steele of Skelsmergh and Terence McVeigh. Terence, a lifelong supporter of hound trailing in the Whitehaven area, lived in Cleator Moor and had many a success with his hounds over the years.

Wednesday saw the second in the Wardhall Series where Caroline Clough and Barry Laidler’s three-year-old Best Mate claim his first victory of the 2020 campaign after being prominent throughout. He won from Alan Blacklock’s Babycham with Reg Smith’s Acorn in third.

The pups saw a shift round in the first trio to the previous Saturday where Nicola and Darren McMaster’s Silver Dancer strolled to an impressive victory over Keith Lynch and Darren’s Wait and See and Sharon Taylor and Nicola McMaster’s Silver Mist.

In the open restricted Brian and Joy Lister’s Release the Beast continued his winning streak at the venue by taking the spoils over Geoff and Gillian Higgins' pair Kinniside Sandy and Kinniside Dan.

Saturday was a return to Potters Park to what would normally have been Whitehaven Area’s Festival of Hound Trailing.

A five card meeting was put on which saw Alan Blacklock’s Limber take a narrow victory from Caroline and Barry’s Best Mate on the line with Acorn in third.

A highly competitive field of 32 took to the puppy trail and it was an open finish with a number of dogs in contention.

In the end Denise Bland’s Jenny’s Quest got the verdict ahead of Robyn, Ellie and Grace Napier’s pair Foxparke Bugaboo and Foxparke Jog On.

In the open maidens Debbie and Alana McGee’s Nashville stole a march over the field and went on to claim a comfortable impressive win giving Alana a birthday treat. In second was Ellie and Grace’s Foxparke Parma Violet ajead of Brian and Erin Rowlandson and Joe Fearon’s Blue Diamond.

The open restricted saw a similar domination to the maidens as Billy Birkett’s General James romped to an easy victory in the fastest time of the day ahead of Emily Irving’s Overwater Flash and Anthony, Sophie and Katie Steele’s Miterdale Copper.

The veterans brought a second victory in the grade for Martin and Molly Burrow and Joanna Satterthwaite’s Thorn Fire ahead of Jenny’s Delight and Thorn Dancer in third. Top tipster was won by Christine McGee with 20 points.

Fixtures

Thurs 16 – Wardhall, H, P, OR, V (6.00); Sun 19 – Helton H, P, OM, AI (1.00); Mon 20 – Potter’s Park H, P, OM, AI (6.30); Wed 22 – Cold Fell H, P, OM, OR (6.00); Tues 21 – Dearham, H, P, OM (6.00); Thurs 23 – Dearham, H, P, OR V (6.00).

July results:

Saturday 10

Potter’s Park

Hounds: 1, Limber; 2, Best Mate; 3, Acorn; 4, Miterdale Steel; 5, Crazy; 6, Hawkswood. 24 ran, time 28.21

Pups: 1, Jenny’s Quest; 2, Foxparke Bugaboo; 3, Foxparke Jog On; 4, Wait 'n' See; 5, Silver Dancer; 6, Kinniside Sandy. 32 ran, time 18.01

Open Maidens: 1, Nashville; 2, Foxparke Parma Violet; 3, Blue Diamond; 4, Foxparke Mo Farren; 5, Foxparke Rambling Rose; 6, Blue Bolt. 24 ran, time 17.08

Open Restricted: 1, General James; 2, Overwater Flash; 3, Miterdale Copper; 4, Silver Dusk; 5, Hunter's Flame; 6, Foxparke Jiggly Puff. 16 ran, time 16.43

Veterans: 1, Thorn Fire; 2, Jenny’s Delight; 3, Thorn Dancer; 4, Spring Dazzler; 5, Ladybird; 6, Kaiser Sosa. 10 ran, time 17.29

Wednesday 8th

Wardhall

Hounds: 1, Best Mate; 2, Babycham; 3, Acorn; 4, Huntsman’s Nimrod; 5, Miterdale Shadow; 6, Limber. 22 ran, time 26.02

Pups: 1, Silver Dancer; 2, Wait ‘n’ See; 3, Silver Mist; 4, Kinniside Sandy; 5, Miterdale Favour; 6, Jenny’s Quest. 20 ran, time 16.56

Open Restricted: 1, Release the Beast; 2, Kinniside Jack; 3, Kinniside Dan; 4, Denton Balboa; 5, Oakbank Izzy; 6, Solitaire. 15 ran, time 16.23

All-In: 1, Meadow Spot; 2, Tom Thumb; 3, Foxparke Billy Elliot; 4, Trev; 5, Foxparke Golden Balls; 6, Foxparke Just Got It. 14 ran, time 16.48