The hound trailing season finally got under way on Saturday with a five-card meeting at Wardhall.

First up was the senior race in which 23 took to the trail, which is classed as a fields and dykes trail. Coming on the finish two had broken clear of the field and were having a great battle at the last fence.

Last year’s puppy champion Acorn fell back, leaving the final phase of the trail open to Sophie Steele’s Miterdale Shadow to claim his first victory of the season.

Reg Smith’s Acorn battled on to take second with Glenis and Raymond Farren’s Mystery Bound in third.

Twenty-eight juniors took to the trail, which was going to be an eye-opener for some of the pups as they had never encountered the number of jumps and terrain in their training.

But they took it all in their stride and coming to the finish three had broken clear.

The first two had a good advantage over the third hound and Joseph Abram, Nicola and Darren McMaster and Sharon and Adam Taylor had a one-two with Silver Mist and Silver Dancer while Keith Lynch and Darren McMaster’s Wait And See took third.

The open maidens was a highly competitive race with Joy and Brian Lister’s Release The Beast claiming the spoils ahead of Brian and Erin Rowlandson and Joe Fearon’s Blue Diamond with Tanya Satterthwaite’s Trev in third.

Ten veterans ran with Martin and Molly Burrow and Joanna Satterthwaite’s Thorn Fire taking a comfortable win ahead of Jenny Horn’s Spring Dazzler and Joy and Brian’s McCoy.

On Monday Potters Park played host where Denise Bland’s Jenny’s Aura took the win by a length from Acorn and Huntsman’s Major.

In the pups, Brian Graham and Julie Burkinshaw’s Young Harry was prominent throughout to take the win ahead of Jenny’s Quest and Anthony, Sophie, Katie and Alfie Steele’s Miterdale Fortune.

In the highly competitive open maidens there was a birthday win for young Alana McGee as her charger Apache romped home to beat Geoff and Gillian Higgins’ Kinniside Dan and Brian, Erin and Joe’s Blue Blaze.

Ending on a sad note, lifelong follower of hound trailing Jackie Steele has died.

Jackie along with husband Alec had a lot of success over the years. Jackie died peacefully with her family around her.

FIXTURES

Sat 11 – Potter’s Park H, P, OM, OR, V, 12pm;

Tues 14 – Wardhall, H, P, OM, AI 6pm;

Wed 15 – Cold Fell H, P, OM, AI 6pm;

Thurs 16 – Wardhall, H, P, OR, V 6pm.

RESULTS:

Monday, July 6

Potter’s Park

Hounds: 1, Jenny’s Aura; 2, Acorn; 3, Huntsman’s Major; 4, Crazy; 5, Miterdale Steel; 6, Kinniside Sam. 17 ran, time 28.43

Pups: 1, Young Harry; 2, Jenny’s Quest; 3, Miterdale Fortune; 4, Silver Dancer; 5, Tommy’s Lass; 6, Foxparke Jog On. 30 ran, time 19.58

Open Maidens: 1, Apache; 2, Kinniside Dan; 3, Blue Blaze; 4, Kinniside Jacko; 5, Overwater Flash; 6, Overwater Robert. 37 ran, time 17.28

Saturday, July 4

Wardhall

Hounds: 1, Miterdale Shadow; 2, Acorn; 3, Mystery Bound; 4, Huntsman’s Nimrod; 5, Babycham; 6, Cuckoo Lane. 23 ran, time 27.24

Pups: 1, Silver Mist; 2, Silver Dancer; 3, Wait and See; 4, Meadow Misty; 5, Cracking Last One Two; 6, Canny Style. 28 ran, time 19.28

Open Maidens: 1, Release the Beast; 2, Blue Diamond; 3, Trev; 4, Cracking Spirit; 5, Kinniside Dan; 6, In the Red. 26 ran, time 17.03

Veterans: 1, Thorn Fire; 2, Spring Dazzler; 3, McCoy; 4, Starlight; 5, Thorn Dancer; 6, Meadow Josie. 10 ran, time 16.45

All-In: 1, General James; 2, Blue Blaze; 3, Black Legend; 4, Meadow Spot; 5, Foxparke Golden Balls; 6, Hunter’s Dale.