Poignant New Hound Handler Trophy For Grasmere Sports and Lakeland Show

A brand-new and rather poignant trophy is on offer to hounds (and their owners) heading to Grasmere Sports and Lakeland Show on Sunday, August 28.

The Chris Swainson Trophy has been created in memory of the Show’s hound trail manager, Chris Swainson, who passed away during the pandemic after 50 years of being involved with the hound trails, having started as a young boy.  

The Chris Swainson Trophy will be awarded to the best young handler on the day, technically aged under 30 but likely to be a child who has assisted with preparing, slipping and catching the dogs for the races.

Preparing a dog for a hound trail will entail ensuring they are in tip-top condition, having followed a healthy diet and got into good physical shape for the task ahead.  That task is one of navigating the undulating fells terrain, following a specially laid aniseed trail, and completing the trail from start to finish in the fastest time.

‘Slipping the hound’ can be translated as letting the dog loose, as the starter dramatically announces the start of the race – the point at which the majestic and beautiful sight of  hounds head across the fells can be enjoyed, amidst all the encouragement and hullabaloo that arises.

Catching the dogs entails making sure the dog is recovered and correctly allocated any placing in the race, once it has completed the course and crossed the finishing line.

There will be four hound trail races at Grasmere Sports and Lakeland Show.  In the first three - the Puppy Trail, the Open Restricted Trail and the Veteran Trail – the hounds all run a distance of five miles, with finishing times typically being between 18 and 22 minutes.

In 2019, the last time the Show was staged, the Puppy Trail could not be run, due to weather conditions, but the Open Restricted winner – Manna – completed the course in 24.02 minutes.  The Veterans Trail race was won by Tommy’s Legacy in a time of 21.08.

The fourth hound trail race at Grasmere Sports and Lakeland Show is the Senior Hound Trail – the prestige event, which again takes dogs from the showground and up and down the fell but this time over a 10-mile course.  Amidst lots of shouting, calling and banging of dog bowls, the winning time here is usually between 32 and 34 minutes. In 2019, Bedazzle won in a slightly slower time of 37.07, perhaps suggesting a slightly trickier trail that year.

Trails are laid by ‘Trailers’ who head to a halfway point together and then separate, with one laying the trail to the start and the other completing the trail to the finish line.  As the trails are specially laid, there is no chance of any practice sessions being held on the fells in advance, so it’s all down to the strength, stamina and scent detection skills of a hound on the day.

Grasmere Sports and Lakeland Show’s Sports and Field Manager, Deborah Black, says, “We were so saddened by the passing of Chris, at a time when Grasmere Sports was forced to cancel due to Covid.  However, we are delighted to have our new and special trophy to commemorate him and we are sure his family are very proud.

“Chris’s legacy lives on through our new Hound Trail Manager, Mike Thornton, and our hound trail races remain in great hands.  We shall be delighted to see the Chris Swainson Trophy presented to one dedicated young handler.”

More information about Grasmere Sports and all of its other events, including Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, a host of children’s sports and activities, music and a variety of challenges and competitions, is available at www.grasmeresports.com Early-bird, special priced online tickets are on sale there, with adult tickets costing £11, children’s £5 and family tickets £28.                                                                                                                  

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Editors notes

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show is an iconic event taking place in the heart of the English Lake District on the August Bank Holiday weekend. Its long historic roots date back to 1868 and it is renowned for its fell running, hound trails and Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling competitions, as well as being a fantastic family day out.