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The Bitch Produce – congratulations to Joanna and Martin and Thorn Dancer ,a great follow-up to last years success with Thorn Fire and commiserations to Lynn and Norman with Persian Bay ,so near, so far.

What else this week-camera for sale – the camera used for assisting the Judge isn’t up to scratch. Do we need a new camera, anybody got a few grand to spare or should we go back to the old system of the Judge and catchers . I once paid out on the fourth at Martindale- the Judge and the first four catchers backed it.

Snap of the week is it  yours truly ‘bad back and all’ or perhaps the wide angle shot of winning owner Jimmy Batty.

Question was Les Reid a scout in his younger days? – answer NO! couldn’t undo knot in dog coat at Ward Hall.

Unfortunate at Grasmere but don’t knock the trailers .They are thin on the ground and most of them are thin on top,

Trainer of the week Jim Batty who had kept Ladybird under wraps that well that even Norman and Mike didn’t know, mind everybody else did!

Plenty of visitors at Grasmere supplied them with binoculars  ,courtesy of Mike Watson.

What about Ken Bunting ,knocking on ninety, up the fell at Grasmere scouting.

Tried to phone me! never heard it.’ bloody useless you are’ he said as he stood by the car. So I rang him from two feet away -phone rang in his pocket and he didn’t take a bit of notice. Tous Chez.!

What was Lisa , Caroline and Sarah laughing at  -at Ward Hall.  Glaister behind a bush.

Failure of the week the bloody PA system- hear it in Staveley ! You ‘d have thought

Norman Collier had made a comeback- you couldn’t hear it in the next car.

Had an E-Mail from Len Birkett -hasn’t been trailing this season- why pay when I can read it all for free,-Tightarse!-oops swore!

Finally – got James Irving going home from Grasmere-‘owt for the trailers’ -he only had a fiver – I grabbed it before he asked for change.

Oh, by the way does anybody know where we can acquire a ski-lift for Cunswick and while were here did anybody see John Toni Palmer’s face when Ian Donaldson shopped him for’ getting in for nowt’ Ta John that  will be 15 quid or 20 fags.!

Once again we’ve attracted the media through television and facebook. The cameras were at lazonby on Saturday, with Penelope Keith, filming for Channel 4 and More channel on Sky and Fleety ‘s Kendal video has gone viral all over the globe – I wonder what they make of trailing in Outer Mongolia?

On the trailing front we recorded identical times for two trails at  Coniston ,it’s a good job the seniors on Saturday weren’t identical to last weeks time!

Talking point of the week -the International is approaching and what happens? three pup maidens lose their maiden tag- getting them ready ?

.Caroline didn’t need  telling how to find this weeks venues but – there aren’t any videos for Goosewells first three trails- She couldn’t point the camera in the right direction- nice picture of grass, trees and somebody’s rear end(bum), not proper to say arse.

Miss of the week. Catchers of the first two home at St Helena – Try Again  and Celtic Malone – to be fair even Jake couldn’t have tackled Try Again and Gerard , well!

Bitch Produce on Saturday – trying out a re-assembled PA system -tried it out on the front street last week -put all the birds to flight and changed the flight path of a jumbo. Want to know the winner then come to Cunswick Fell and find out ! Alternately you should be able to hear the tannoy in Staveley.

Driver of the week Sharon Taylor with ENID’S car- reversing , mirrors are for make up -aren’t they?

It’s a small world – Deb, the dog world photographer ,has just moved to Bovey Tracy in Devon and lives in the same street as my late wife’s best friend.

Deb was at Goosewell on Monday which is Moor Farms trail ,which is the only trail the friend attended – those with a good memory -she was the blonde in the convertible who drove into a mire and got stuck . She had plenty of willing helpers to push her off the field. I say I say I say!.

International entries CLOSE SAT 13th at 12am

For the record there are 16 Foxparkes entered and one is Halalooya spelt the Napier way.

Members please note that the COLD FELL meeting on Wed JULY 1st will not be the same trail as the FESTIVAL meeting.

The Produce trail at Kendal on Saturday ,after last weeks preview, will have a few slight alterations regarding the last wall and the gates. And don’t forget entries close next week for the International.

No trails last Saturday so a couple of adventurous trailers took to ‘riding on a tractor’ .They were last seen heading into the sunset like a couple of ‘troopers’.

At Kirkstone on Tuesday we lost a hound and at around ten in the fading light Nick Wilson , who had already ‘run’ an old dog trail, and a sprightly age of 74 ,walked the length of the finish to recover ‘Glen’ and — carry him back to the ‘field’. Nick and Christine were under the watchful eye of Patrick and Jane who were ‘struggling ‘ to get home and guided them to the hound. Thanks all !

We appreciate all the help we get and that includes scouts that are willing to stop on the road all through the trails even if they fall arse over tip,roll over,dust yourself down and start all over again.

The sweets are in the car ‘help yourself’ famous last words- none left – Satterthwaite!

A couple of visitors, on being asked ‘How did you find about the trails ? replied ‘ we met the trailer laying the trail and he directed us here. Should have shown them round (a couple of spares) it’s not far from Cheltenham for a night trail! is it !

I wonder if Nicola will bring me back some clothes pegs from Appleby – according to Robyn all she is likely to bring back is last nights drink- carrots and tomatoes.

No problem with directions -well ! Coniston ,Kendal and Kirkstone.

The only problem was the senior lady on the Newlands road, who was ,under the circumstances, made to reverse( the hog roast van has only forward gears) she only had ten yards to the wider bit but it took her five minutes. God love her-she was shaking like a leaf and in that few minutes had heard a completely new language.

Timely reminder GREAT NORTH SWIM SAT 13TH JUNE avoid the A 591 through the Lake District. between Ambleside and Windermere.

What’s happened this week?

The International trail has been confirmed as Wintershields nr Bewcastle on Sat 27th of June- the route will be posted on the website.

Also directions for Cunswick Fell on Sunday – From Windermere -turn right down the hill into Kendal ( Queens Drive) and follow the signs . Any other direction follow the signs for Windermere out of Kendal and turn left up the hill -same road ( different direction )

First a misunderstanding when Arizona didn’t run  at Bridekirk on Monday I referred to Persian Bay had a better chance of winning. This, in no way was a reflection on her chances. Anyway the ‘Whitehaven’ said the same’.! And also a correction to the news -Foxparkes are Nicola Napiers and not Nicola McMasters  – Just thought of a name ‘Silver Fox Park’

Caroline, well she’s getting the hang of things , but at Lazonby on a clear sunny afternoon we were packing up to go and ,then, suddenly ;rain!- Out of a clear sky came water,’ bloody hell it’s raining’! but where from? – I’ll tell you ! out of the windscreen washer – next line from a wet Chairman -censored !

Television is with us again -This time Lazonby on Saturday week- Penelope Keith on Channel 4 -best bib and tucker and no swearing!

How to get leggings over footwear- cut them to three quarter lengths- you might look a plonker but it works ( refer M. Watson)

Unluckiest people of the week -them daft buggers camping on Walna Scar in a

howling gale with their transport ‘ankle deep’

Kirkstone on Tuesday and in the raffle will be a two packets of tea bags donated by Lisa Crosby and Wendy Martin ( explanation ! see them)

Look of the week – Jim Batty on being told the camera favoured Huntsmans over Rooster.

Funniest action of the week- Paul Airey catching his pup at Lazonby ( see video)The headline reads ‘ I’m sure I run my pup in this race’

To watch the videos on the houndtrailingassociation web site.

On the Home page click on the YOU TUBE icon on the left hand side of the info bar.If the video is not in the posted videos then click on videos.

Baz’s blog: Where should we start ? A pig in a poke or something similar. For some time we have had a problem with the ;Lazonby pigs’ but on this occasion because there are no piglets we didn’t anticipate any bother. The few pigs that were there stood behind a waving stick but one inquisitive boar decided that the photographer leaning on the gate presented an inviting challenge. So avoiding the stick it approached the unaware person and gently nudged him up the butt and with a grunt nudged more firmly. Alex looked over his shoulder , ‘GO AWAY’ he said or something to that effect and to me ‘what you laughing for’. I was thinking ,not a pig in a poke but a ‘poking pig’

Tea van: last chance for a brew and a chocolate cake.- You can have the last two pieces of cake for nowt ,said Steve. Ta !

Just then one of the ‘boys’ passed ‘ Owt left’ Baz he said and promptly I sold him one of the free pieces of cake for a pound. 1-0 to me but prepare for pay back time.

The camera has been in action now for a number of years and on Tuesday at Rusland for the first time a hound ran through the legs of the stand and it hardly budged an inch, I think its name was ‘contortionist’.

There’s seems to be concern over the venue for the International. The BHTA are in charge but the Chair and vice-chair will be checking the venue on Tuesday.

Hounds go missing for a variety of reasons but on Saturday at Lamplugh we were missing ‘Caspar’ aka Foxparke Invisible ( no puns) He was seen by the pup trailer but had apparently had disappeared, only to turn up in Cleator having been found ‘lost’ early in the afternoon.  We must thank them for finding and looking after ‘Caspar’ but you had thought being from the ‘moor’ they’d recognise a trailhound.

Met a gentleman on Tuesday at Rusland, who was visiting his roots in Langdale ,on holiday from Indonesia. He was saying his relations trailed many years ago and had a hound called ‘Ladysmith’ which won five trails in 1953. Anybody remember it?.

Saying of the week: this week it’s a picture:

The picture of two ladies faces after the non-winners at Bridekirk.

Cathy with a grin as wide as a ‘mile’ with Irish Pride and Lisa crying her eyes out with joy because she had finished second with’ Cool Return’. That’s what it’s all about, you can’t bottle it or sell it on e-bay, it was the ringtone on my mobile ‘ magic moments’, even Tony was welling up.

The Border HTA present the 50th running of the INTERNATIONAL TRAIL MEETING.

With kind permission from Mr Arnold Maw this event will be held at

                             WINTERSHIELDS nr BEWCASTLE.

ON SATURDAY  27th JUNE 2015.

£ 500  SENIORS   AT                  1.30 pm sponsored by the HTA & Border HTA.

£ 300  SENIOR MAIDENS AT     2.15 pm.

£ 400 OPEN PUPS  at                 3.30 pm.

£ 300 PUPPY MAIDENS AT        4.00 pm.

£ 300 OPEN RESTRICTED AT   4.30 pm.

£ 300 VETERANS  AT                  5 00 pm.

£10 for 7th in each trail.

Fiftieth anniversary rosettes for ticketing hounds. Sponsored anon.

AD £6 Entry fee £1 Entries close on SAT 13th JUNE.

All entries to Brian Shaw or Barry Laidler.

Well! .Did you catch BBC’s radio 4 programme open country? What a good advert for our sport, professionally done and, although it was on radio, a picture was portrayed that even the most sceptical could follow. Thanks to the BBC for the time and effort.

Whilst on the subject of the media. We have  been in contact with the producers of another outdoor programme and hope they will be filming in the near future.

What has been ‘going on’ this week.

Poor Steve (tea van) can’t do right – Lamplugh – The trail field slopes-he parks at the bottom and the people who park at the top have a bit of a trek ,so, he now parks at the top and consequently those who park at the bottom have to trek to the top. Can’t please everybody – but Ructions has the answer – drive there!.

We are having a laal bit of trouble with the wild west -aka- Wyatt ,Sundance and Butch .’Butch ‘was corralled at Oulton and walked back to the field, in the meantime Anne was misinformed and came to the first road to recover ‘Butch’.

Only to discover her hound was back where she’d just come from.

‘What yer doing here gal ,high tail it back to the field!!

The reason why the hound was walked back to the field– ask Cathy and Nicola about the state of  my ‘bus’ after giving their hounds a lift home.

Saying of the week- apparently I said it , according to ‘Squaky’  but I can’t remember what I said..

Caroline’s navigational skills have improved but I don’t think running a temporary red light at 50 mph, even if the road is empty, will get her on top gear.

Question?  Did Arthur, after’ Diamonds’ win tip ‘ Riley’ £2 and did Steve return ‘Temple’s boots.

Da Look had a night out last week or so we thought -apparently he had booked in at a B/B- ‘ It’s bloody cold out there’.

Ever had a thought why somebody might add your name as a part owner -I had- and I found the answer. Who?  tips the trailers!  — MOI !!!! and the hound- Harry’s Owner.

I’ve remembered what I said – ‘ Which one of those two white ones won? reply – There is only one -put that on the website before you go to specsavers.

The International committee will be meeting on Sunday to pick the venue for the forthcoming meeting on Saturday June 27th. This will be the fiftieth running and we will be trying to make it a bit more special already we have a sponsor for specialty rosettes and we hoping for more sponsors to come forward.

by the way on the question of ‘ how many former Champions have won a maiden trail at 7y old. Mayfair -Ambleside Sports.

What’s been going this week – Well! although I really shouldn’t say anything about Carolines directional sense – I couldn’t let,  turning  left in the center of Keswick on the Borrowdale road when we were heading for Lamplugh , go. But it’s not as bad as Nick Wilson going to Corney via Whicham Valley . I am sure there is a sign saying  Corney Fell over Duddon Bridge.

Kirkstone on Monday and the radio 4 presenter asked ‘ does the starter use a gun’

tongue in cheek answer ‘********************’. Same person, on seeing Wendy putting a match where a match shouldn’t go, ‘that’s a good idea to make them go to the toilet’  .That’s radio 4! I know what a hound man would have said!

Hounds were coming to the road crossing when a cyclist appeared. ‘Hurry up ‘ I shouted , he was three parts up Kirkstone and somebody is telling  him to hurry up.

Our lad had a flat battery so we pushed his van down the field– the car was driven by Garry the trailer ,an experienced rally driver. Have you tried pushing a car in gear!!!!

The two entry clerks had a chair apiece, one of them went for a stroll- who pinched the chair.?  One of the Pink Ladies?

You have probable noticed a lady taking photos and interviewing trailers . Deb is writing for ‘Dog’s Monthly’ and on Monday she donned boots and went with the starting end trailer. The last lady to attempt this got to the first wall and stopped.

And finally on Monday what do you say to somebody who remarked on the ‘sheep trod’ down the finish, with a sceptical grin, then went on to win the trail .

Weather is not bad for May, is it? Frozen at lamplugh  artic on Corney, lucky on Monday and coolish at Oulton -it’s only five weeks to the longest day.

‘Week 2.

What Colour?- A trailer of bygone days,who shall remain anonymous, but he bore a resemblance to a David Studholme ,remarked  ‘those red un’s are ‘flying’ referring to Endure ,Endeavour ,and Tan Ted to which I said we had one it was ‘lemon’ ,sometimes they were yellow and what about ginger; tan, blonde, golden, sandy ,which one ?

On the same night I picked up a ‘stray’, on pulling up

beside Susan Glaister, she looked in the car and remarked,’ that’s the only female you’ll pull tonight;

Discussion at Cold Fell ‘What’s that mountain that dominates the eastern view’

I enquired, ‘ Tony is that Great Gable’ . Tony replied’ I don’t know , is it a runner’?

By the way it is Scafell!

Saying of the week. The lighter one of the two black un’s! (Ian Rudd)

Another commentary gaff.- Marli not Marti.

Ivor and Wendy Marlins Marti or Ivor and Wendy Martins Marli

She turned left last week– this week turned right on leaving Cold Fell,

Caroline you are going the wrong way ‘ I said.

‘ Oh!  can we go this way ‘

‘ Yes but it’s longer and no chips in Keswick.

She had the last laugh it was ten minutes quicker but her name used to be Hamilton.

I’m not sure but I think young Mark Steele pointed at his dad when the first catcher said ‘Where’s Wally’.

It was nice to meet two people from Kent who visited Low Place on Wednesday.

They thoroughly enjoyed their evening and hope to return ,by the way if you fancy a run at Gravesend let me know.

One man went to mow — Question at Oulton , ‘ does anybody know where our vice-chair is he is laying the joining bit of the puppy trail and we’ve lost him’.

Apologies to Russell for 59 years old instead of 51, I went by looks!

This is a NEW weekly column dedicated to the lighter (ish) aspect of trailing.

Firstly we don’t seem to have many female trail layers, it is male dominated and why? So on Tuesday at Oulton, Joanna and Cathy have been called into action and good luck to them both and it might open the door for more lady volunteers.

Care in the community; It was thoughtful of Tanya to carry my cup of tea at Low Place but Dad had something to say ‘ Hey! She’s my carer not yours!’

Talking about carers: Had trouble fastening a new fleece. Lisa came to the rescue, she bent down to fasten it and with the help of my hand on top of her head sorted it and it must have been difficult because her face had turned red.

Had occasion to take the pup trailers to the split at Oulton, John and Graham Reid, who was being shown round. I quipped jokingly, ‘next trail here I’ll be backing Ted’.  Thursdays trail ‘Ted Tans them at Oulton!’

The vice Chair wished to use the new directional signs. ‘what are they made of ‘ he enquired. Reply, ‘Whiteboard’. How do you put the arrow on to show left or right’. Reply, ‘with a marker’. ‘But how do you remove it’—- answers on a postcard.

On the way to Oulton– turn left at Waverton and either turn right at the cross roads or go straight on directions given just before the Red Dial-guess what-turned left towards Cockermouth!.

Moral – If your hound doesn’t stop at the bait tin then grab it by the tail–anon.

Smile of the week – Sophie Steele when her hound finished second and didn’t go for a run around (see video)

Gaff of the week – Lady Bethan is in front, only, it was J L S – difference – ones a dog the other a bitch — specsavers!

A load of b**********s . There are no pigs at Lazonby- They have all been pinched

Yes there is and no they haven’t!

Carry on Trailing,

Barry Laidler

(Chairman – Hound Trailing Association)