IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • JUNE/JULY 2013
7
BEAGLING
National Beagle Club Spring Beagle Trials 2013 By John J. Carle II, ex-MFH
Reedy Creek 5 Couple with Tom McElduff, MB and Huntsman.
Glenbarr 3 Couple Katie Gilbert, whipper-in; Billy Bobbitt, MB. Their 5 Couple produced the highest scored run of the trials in a winning effort.
Mother Nature always seems to have a surprise for the National Beagle Club, and for the Spring Trials at Aldie, Virginia, she brought back winter as an April Fools’ joke: upper 20s, heavy frost, iced-over ponds, and a wicked north wind, all under bluebird skies with a milky haze on the horizon. In response, the countryside was still winterbleak, with only the occasional autumn olive showing the slightest vernal optimism. The three-couple packs faced formidable odds, to which many succumbed, but a few overcame. Ben Venue had the unenviable draw – first down – but proceeded to produce a very good run by resolutely defying the conditions, keeping after their quarry and generally ignoring the temptations of night lines. Not until mid-morning thereafter did another pack run consistently; then Octorara showcased their traditional perseverance, keeping their quarry moving (though in bursts) under conditions that varied from still, sun-baked woods to an icy wind whipping in the open. One of the high points of the day was the debut of Bennett Barclay’s Hermit Hollow pack. His three-couple consisted of six gray-faced veterans, aging stars drafted most generously from the best packs around. Unfortunately they encountered some of the worst conditions of the day; yet these hounds made the most of it, raising hoarse, quavery voices as they struggled to carry any line. Never admitting defeat, they made an admirable showing. As Jeep Cochran remarked, “Most of Bennett’s hounds have been hunting here longer than Bennett.” Hills Bridge opened the bidding Thursday morning, crunching on heavy frost and shivering in 23 degree chill. This lovely, level pack’s enthusiasm is hair-raising and contagious, and it is matched by that of their Huntsman, Miki Crane, MB. When they opened on night lines, she hustled them forward, and when a rabbit got up, there was little break in the action. Same scenario at checks, so that deciding what was smoke and mirrors and what was a true line only the Miki Crane, MB, whose judges – Alan Forney and Dee Hills Bridge pack won Phillips – seemed able to discern. the highest scored pack And they were impressed. Of the of the trials.
remaining packs, only Old Chatham, Jack Kingsley, MB, carrying the horn, had any success; and they flew! With the most melodious cry, they drove their rabbit hard for a good chunk of their allotted time, until she popped through a hole in the sieve-like enclosure fence. In the judges’ final three-couple tally, Hills Bridge edged Ben Venue, followed by Old Chatham and Middletown Valley. Prior commitments cut short my visit to Aldie, but I did get to enjoy Glenbarr’s wildly thrilling – and winning – run in the five-couple. High atop the far western hillside, Billy Bobbitt’s pack kept the adrenaline flowing with a helterskelter, sometimes discombobulated but always fiercely deterMandy Bobbitt, MB, and her mined performance. How many rabbits were Bedlam 3 Couple with whipper-in Billy Bobbitt, MB (Glenbarr). actually up was impossible to discover as hounds raced from thicket to thicket, their high cry frantic with desire. But they stuck to one for most of their time with such relentless passion that they earned their reward with a flourish. Tipping his hat to the judges with five minutes to go, Billy wisely opted to end on this high note. Earlier, the Reedy Creek five-couple put on one of the best performances of their Aldie career. When Tommy McElduff, MB, decided to break in his new brush pants and dove into a dense creekside briarpatch, his hounds responded euphorically. A no-nonsense, lemon-and-white doghound drafted from Larry Bright’s crack Octorara pack seemed to be the catalyst that both inspired the pack and held it together. So when they busted a huge cottontail from its bed, they were all business: driving hard, honoring each other, and working out bothers unaided. And they were nearly impossible to stop when “Time, Reedy Creek” rang out. Tommy’s grin said it all! Unfortunately, their find came too late, or a good ribbon would have been theirs. Then I had to leave, and so missed some really good
Dawn and Bennett Barclay present the Hermit Hollow Beagles to judges Alan Forney and Dee Phillips
Sherry Buttrick, MB, with the Farmington 3 Couple. Farmington won the 8 Couple class.
hunting the rest of the trials. Glenbarr’s run held up in the fives to edge Hills Bridge, Sandanona, and Orlean. I am especially sorry to have missed Farmington’s return to glory-land. With a performance that Alan Forney later described as “the best eight-couple run I’ve seen at Aldie” (and he’s seen plenty!), Sherry Buttrick’s beauties swept the board. In their wake came Mandy Bobbitt’s Bedlam, Hills Bridge, and Old Chatham. Mother Nature, at last, smiled. Sorry I missed it…but there’s always November!