This Saturday is the 2020 Bitch Produce stakes which will be held at Helton and the running is clean open fell.

Among the contenders battling for the prestigious prize that have been consistent recently are Bretton, Canny Style, Foxpark Bugaboo, Silver Dancer and Silver Mist, but this is an open race and any one of the registered bitches could take the title.

On Tuesday a return to Cold Fell saw Reg Smith’s 2019 puppy champion Acorn take the spoils ahead of Denise Bland’s pair of Huntsman's Nimrod and Huntsman's Major.

The weather came in for the shorter trails where visibility was reduced and Brian Graham and Julie Burkinshaw’s Young Harry beat Emily Irving’s Overwater Loui and Denise’s Jenny's Quest. The open maidens were cancelled and the open restricted went off late with Stuart Smith’s Prospect Spring overhauling Lisa Whitfield’s Black Legend and Emily’s Overwater Flash.

Thursday saw two fixtures. In the second of the Low Place trails Roy Laidler’s Cuckoo Lane took the first of his three wins in five days to beat in Sophie Steele’s Miterdale Shadow, with Tony Jackson and Ian Rudd’s Kinniside Mick in third. The pup trail verdict by a couple of lengths went to Linda Neale and Mark Bryden’s Eagle Rock with Nicola and Darren McMaster’s Silver Dancer and Geoff and Gillian Higgin’s Kinniside Sandy in third. The open restricted proved an easy victory for Martin and Molly Burrow and Joanna Satterthwaite’s Thorn Dancer from Blackeyed Mist and Ian Fleet and Jayne Petersen’s Solitaire.

Oulton was also on Thursday where Denise got a one-two with Huntsman's Nimrod and Huntsman's Novice, with Crazy in third. Emily Irving's charge Overwater Louis beat in Jenny's Quest and James and Ava McClellan’s Miss Ava. In the open restricted Emily pulled off the double as Overwater Flash beat Jenny Horn’s Spring Dazzler and Ellie and Grace Napier’s Foxparke Shakalakaboomboom.

Saturday saw a return to Lowick which was cancelled on Wednesday due to adverse weather conditions. In the seniors Cuckoo Lane beat Jenny's Oracle and Hawkswood. The pups saw Jenny's Quest hold off Miss Ava and Insane. In the open maidens Norman and Lynn Brown’s local hound Amber Bay took the spoils ahead of Katie Steele’s Red Mist and Alec Steele’s Oakbank Izzy. The open restricted saw Lee and Hayley Wall’s two-hour journey pay off as Denton Balboa beat Andy Horn’s Show Biz and Sophie Steele’s Miterdale Copper. The veterans produced an interesting finish where the actual winner finishing ahead by a distance not claiming the win as she finished in the wrong field, leaving Norman and Lynn’s Persian Bay get the win ahead of Mysterious and Thorn Dancer.

Sunday saw the first of the Millstone Moor series where nine seniors took to the trail but unfortunately they all failed to complete.

The pups saw a verdict on the line as Wait and See got up ahead of Overwater Loui and Miss Ava. The open maidens saw another great battle with Foxparke Mo Farren holding off Thorn Fire with Foxparke Parma Violet in third.

The open restricted saw Caroline Graham and Denis Reay’s Hunter's Flame hold off Nicola and Darren’s Silver Dusk with Debbie and Lana McGee’s Nashville in third.

Monday saw a return to Low Place where Cuckoo Lane claim his third win in five days ahead of Stuart’s Prospect Spring and Ian Donaldson’s Miterdale Steele. The pups saw Eagle Rock claim his second win at the venue and Explore won in the open restricted.

Fixtures:

Sat 19 - Helton - Bitch Produce - H, M, BP. OP and OR (H, 1.00pm) Plus Puppy Show - All to Pay

Mon 21 - Kirkland - H, P, OM (H, 5.00pm)

Tue 22 - Millstone Moor - H, P, OR (H, 5.00pm)

Thurs 24 - Seaton - H, P, OM (H, 4.45)