FOR the first time since the championship was introduced in 1986, there’s been a tie for the veterans’ title.

Outrageous and Sophisticated Lady could not be separated at the end of the season.

It means, of course, that Outrageous has put back-to back titles together in the veterans’ grade – and that’s only been done once before, by Sooty in 1998 and 1999.

Going into the last trail of the season at Millstone Moor, Outrageous held a one-point lead over Sophisticated Lady.

Calzaghe won from Sophisticated Lady with Outrageous only a poor third and that resulted in the first ever veterans’ tie.

Brian Graham, owner of Outrageous, said: “I think that was a fair result because both dogs had their problems during the season. Outrageous had a trapped nerve in her back for the last month and Sophisticated Lady had a spell off earlier.

“It’s also a fact that connections for both hounds travelled all over to take part in veterans trails and the fact that we shared it was good in the end.”

Peter Scott, one of the Cleator Moor owners of Sophisticated Lady agreed, and paid tribute to the Graham kennel who had become rivals for the crown.

“We have got to know Brian and his father Johnny well during the season and they are smashing people. Sophisticated Lady got lost at Wythop in September and it was Brian and Johnny who were the first to go out looking for her.

“She found her own way back before dark eventually but it was a great gesture and that’s what sport is all about,” he said.

Outrageous had started the season, as she had ended the 2008 campaign, with Julia and Graham Burkinshaw – but an unfortunate fell-walking accident again changed kennelling arrangements.

Brian said: “Outrageous had gone to Julia and Graham about July time in 2008 and they saw it through to take the veterans tile. She came back to Bassenthwaite for the winter and then returned to the Burkinshaws for the start of the season.

“Unfortunately in August Julia slipped and fell while we were out walking on the fell and she suffered a badly broken leg.

"As a result of that Outrageous came back to us at Bassenthwaite and we had the job of continuing her title challenge.

“Although she had a back problem in the closing weeks we kept her going and the third place on final day was good enough for a share of the title.

“I’d just like to thank Julia and Graham for they had her over the first half of the season, and also to my dad Johnny for without his efforts I wouldn’t be able to manage because of my work commitments.

“I think Julia and Graham deserve a lot of praise because they’ve been involved with three veteran champions Bretton and Outrageous twice) and before that had a couple of runners-up in the same grade with Bretton and Merry.”

And what of Outrageous for 2010? Will she stay in training in a bid to become the first hound to land three veterans tiles?

“That won’t happen. She’ll have two or three runs but we certainly won’t be looking at winning the championship with her again,” he says.

Bretton is in the Graham kennel, but now retired after suffering a serious injury last season but two of her progeny when mated with Dairy One will be running as pups.

Tagget is a bitch which Brian has in co-ownership with former Aspatria and Cumbria rugby union star Les McTear while the dog Kingdom is in joint ownership with Julia Burkinshaw.

Brian also hopes to have a bit of fun, too, with Velvet, who picked-up one or two trails last year.

Sophisticated Lady will be a candidate for next season’s veterans championship because the co-owners intend to keep her going – and will make a determined bid for her to retain the title.

Peter Scott owns her in company with brother Harold, whose wife Janice and teenage daughters Jenny and Helen are also involved in a real family affair. Even the brothers’ 78-year-old mother Mary plays her part by making-up all the meat and feed.

Pal Richard Chadwick is a key member of the team, and was he one who saw the bitch’s potential by backing her early doors to win the veteran s title.

Peter says: “Harold and I have been in the sport for 30 years and this is our first champion so it’s been rather a special year for us.

“Another of our hounds Jealousy gave us our first win at a major HTA trails when she won the maidens at the Produce meeting and a week later won the same grade at the international.

“So it’s been a special year for us and it was terrific to have a champion after this length of time. Although the tile was shared in the end I’m like Brian and agree it was the fairest result.

“We went all over to get Sophisticated Lady into veterans trails. Some were just places on the map until we got there but it paid off in the end.”

Sophisticated Lady is by Joe Mather’s Southern Dale out of Bill Porter’s Lot of Fun and was in trouble as a puppy, forced to call it a day earlier because of yellow cards.

“She wasn’t aggressive with it but bumped into one or two rivals, so she didn’t see much action until we brought her back in 2007 when she won an open maidens. She’s never been a problem in running after that,” said Peter.

The Keswick Area presentation night is being held on Friday, February 5 at Rosthwaite Institute at 7.30pm. There will be a hot and cold buffet, music by Phenomenon and tickets are available from Christine Brownlee (01768) 777647 or Carole Jackson (01768) 777677.

At the Cockermouth and Workington Area presentation evening on Friday at the Hundith Hill Hotel, Lorton several cheques were handed out to local good causes.

Receiving £100 each were: Cockermouth Show, Buttermere Show, Loweswater Show, the Air Ambulance, Hospice at Home, Bridekirk First Responders, Vale of Lorton First Responders and Cockermouth Mountain Rescue.

Another £150 was given to Greysouthern Young Farmers from money raised at Dearham trails.

The picture alongside is of Nicola McMaster with Tarantino and Laura Steele with Quiet Swallow with their trophies which they received at the presentation evening. From the top are Richard Chadwick and Peter Scott with Sophisticated Lady; Brian Graham and father Johnny Graham with Outrageous and then Julia Burkinshaw standing behind Brian Graham (Outrageous) and Graham Burkinshaw (Bretton).

Tarantino won the area seniors and the senior trail at Cockermouth Show whilst Quiet Swallow was the top area puppy.

Can I close this week by reminding you of the Aspatria and Wigton Area presentation night which is in the Stocksman at Wigton on Saturday, January 30 (7-15pm).

Tickets cost £12 each and entertainment is by John Christie. Anyone wanting to get hold of a ticket should ring Dickie Smithson on 016973 71459.

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