1984. Hound Trailing and George Orwell.

The 1984 season got underway with trails at Gawthwaite and Oulton, the winners were Victoria Lad and Stealaway , Ragman and Myra respectively.

McEwans are again sponsoring the May day trails and Bass Charington, Jennings and Matthew Brown will continue their support.   BNFL were once again sponsoring the  Whitehaven  Area to the sum of £200 +.

The International trails will be held at Greenhead in the borders, the bitch produce is in the Whitehaven area and Carlisle and Penrith will host the Dog produce.

Five Yorkshire hounds which have been in an age dispute will now be allowed to run in senior trails ,the hounds were named- Exile,  The Gambler,McKenna,By Rite and Silverdale.

The Blawith hound reigning champ River Glen had made his customary slow start to the season and in the words of our intrepid reporter,” Ronnie and Dot wont be worried ” but with the benefit of hindsight he was only to win six by the end of August

And on Saturday “The Vicar ” ( not allowed to run Sundays) went to  the top of the table , so called because he had a dog collar.

Melvin Crawford ‘s Brigsteer kennel had a treble on  Saturday,and doubles through the week with  Battleaxe – Bright Prospect and Anniversary., and he is still! talking about it .Six weeks into the season and Victoria Lad – Ardoony – Ragman head the seniors and Lady Tina – Bridleway – Bright Prospect the juniors. by the way The International trail is not at Greenhead but Rogersceugh, sound similar don’t they ?

The entries for the international are in , there are 421 compared to 512 last season.,  comprising of 41 pups 119 seniors 129 senior maidens 54 bitch pup maidens and 76 dog pup maidens of these 77 border and 3 Irish.

Forecasting winners at the big trails is an hazardous occupation, yes, but at the international he tipped Lingla Lady to win the open pups the other winners were Tsunami – Bob Job- Above Board – Sally.

Ronnie Carr, one of the most successful owners in the Borders did a good job in organising the meeting and the prizes were presented by Paul  Nicholson of Vaux breweries.,

A  William Hartley of The Knoll Thornhill writes on the merits of former hounds , he says Blencathra was one of the fastest hounds , Smoker was one of the fastest pups and the daddy of them all Perivale.

Fell View a prolific winner of 122 trails notched her first victory in 24 months when winning the senior trail at Crag farm backed down to favourite she beat Braehead lass and Dulwich

And winning the restricted trail at Torver , Ice  Cracker landed a touch for the Laidlers according to “Newsman” our lad must have had ten bob on .

The Dog Produce at Fellside was won by Roy and Avril Brockbank’s Random patch, Forward  was second and Jennings Lad third. Outsider Barton Solo won the seniors and the other winners were Cannonore, Dawn Chorus and Rambling Jack, Newsman tipped five losers, no change there.

Entries were well down last weekend the prolonged dry spell was to blame ( and they tell me ” we can train in any weather ” )

Helton promoters created a somewhat record on Saturday when they had only two entries for the pup trail, Roy Laidler’s Black Velvet finished alone has her opponent failed to finish , Sugarpot , now who does that belong to?

Fast approaching August and  leading the Championship are Largesse and Bridleway.

The Premier trails were held at Wythop and our intrepid reporter once more waded in with both feet and tipped five losers in hindsight his money should have been on Landlord- Penny Double – Bright Prospect – Mac’s Lady – Boney M.  Matthew Brown forgot to apply for a licence and therefore all drink was free. Some people didn’t know what had won until Monday.

Beetham sports and a void trail, undertime  in the seniors, once more around somebodies garden is what was needed. Fireball was the culprit

Veteran official David Harrison described Monday’s conditions as the worst ever. The swirling wind nearly lifted his car and the puppy trailer was long overdue ,they nearly called out the mountain rescue.

The senior trail at Buttermere had been run and Barton Solo had won in 44 mins and 50 secs.

And first on the agenda at the Westmorland area AGM,was a proposal by Barry Laidler to allow restricted hounds four wins per season before they are debarred.

A wet and windy end to the season with largesse and Bridleway Champions.

Next 1999