GEORGE Birkett's charges filled the first two places in the longer puppy trail at Coniston Tops on Sunday, writes Lynn Pawley.

The race developed into a good contest between the first three hounds and just a length separated the Little Langdale-based pair at the line.

Langdale Star (Milan-Eternal) was in front for much of the trail and did enough on the finish to hold off the challenge from its kennel mate Langdale Leader (Langdale Lad-Grey Dawn).

A litter brother to the last named, Super Cool, owned by Peter Green and Barbara Jones, was a further length adrift in third.

There were seven runners and the winner clocked 10 minutes 26 seconds.

Elizabeth Oldcorn and Ryan Burrow's Mill Dawn (Rockwell-Mary Ellen) repeated its win of the previous weekend in the shorter trail.

The Cark-based bitch put in a solid driving display, taking the initiative from the off and striding out well on the finish to beat John and Gillian Thompson's Dark Dawn (Langdale Lad-Grey Dawn) by ten yards. Dene Gundry's Glendene (Addison-Athena) was third of the four runners and the time was 4.53.

Fifteen hounds were slipped in the senior trail and John, Kim and Tom Storey and Margaret Martin's Chieftain again showed its well-being when winning by a distance.

The Sawrey three-year-old established a good lead on the first half of the trail and pulled further clear on the run for home, recording a time of 9.18.

Barbara Jones' Super Hero (formerly Langdale Hero) was second and Melanie and Diane Laidler's Roman was third.

Trials were also held at Longsleddale on Wednesday and Saturday and Ricky Deacon's Gypsy (Geronimo-Marigold) maintained its unbeaten record at the venue, winning on both occasions in very good style.

At the first meeting the Cockermouth youngster came off the fell with a comfortable lead and strolled home well clear of its six rivals.

Its litter sister and kennel mate Jodie produced a quick turn of foot on the finish to come through and take second place ahead of Steve and Val Proctor and Harold Pearson's Tobago (Rockstar-Thornways).

At the weekend there were five runners and the bitch hound went into an early lead and was hardly headed.

On this occasion the youngster pulled away in the closing stages and had 50 yards to spare at the line over Nick and Tricia Wilson's pair Howe Bess (River Hunter-Encourage) and Buckshee (River Hunter-Allegra). Howe Bess is co-owned by Roger Westmoreland.

Claire Waite and Gaynor Hall's Sooty Storm was again prominent in both senior trails.

On Wednesday, the Ulverston-based two-year-old took the lead approaching the finish and ran on well to deny Alec and Jackie Steele's Seven Nights and Banshee by a couple of yards. There were 14 runners.

On Saturday in a 12-strong field the dog hound was a touch unlucky as it tumbled at the final jump, but rallied well to take third.

Joe, Gordon and Vanessa Simpson's Kendal-based three-year-old Hollywood took the honours by a length from Joan, Liz and Charlotte Stobbart's Galileo.

Open trials will be held at Sandale on Sunday, February 22, at 2pm. There will be a trial for juniors followed by one for seniors and the length is expected to be approximately nine minutes.

n Carol Smith (of Carol's Kitchen) has donated £25 to each of the HTA's seven areas for the purposes of sponsoring a trail during the 2004 season.