IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
20
ACROSS THE POND
Three Major Hound Shows By Jim Meads
Welsh Hound Show, July 2013 Champion Welsh Doghound (right) Gelligaer Farmers’ “Topper,” Huntsman Martyn Arnold. Champion Welsh Bitch (left) Teme Valley “Tally,” Huntsman David Savage. Back (l-r) David Jones, judge; Neville Owen, steward; Eirfyl Price, judge.
Welsh Hound Show Best Welsh Dog and Bitch Couple Llanwnnen Farmers “Gypsy” and “Gomer” with Ianto Evans, MFH.
Welsh Hound Show Best Couple of Welsh Doghounds Llanwrthwl “Tudor” and “Brenin,” Huntsman Mark Jones. Welsh Hound Show Champion English Bitch Duke of Beaufort’s “Bobtail.”
Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show, July 2013 Best Unentered Doghound from Restricted Packs Vine and Craven “Pagan.”
Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show, July 2013 Best Couple of Unentered Doghounds V.W.H. “Steptoe” and “Dealer.”
Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show, July 2013 Champion Bitch Duke of Beaufort’s “Rapture.”
The Wales & Border Counties Hound Show is the premier one of the season for Welsh Foxhounds, where every huntsman dreams of winning. This year, entries were up, especially in the Unentered classes, where the top young doghound came from my home pack, the David Davies, with huntsman’s wife Amy Bradley showing “Butcher.” Gelligaer “Topper” headed the older dogs, with L l a n w r t h w l “Brenin” and “Tudor” winning the Couples. The unique Dog and Bitch Couple was taken by Llanwnnen “Gypsy” and “Gomer.” David Davies’ “Glider” ran away with the Stallion class, with Welsh Hound Show, July 2013 Best Unentered Welsh Doghound Gelligaer “Topper” David Davies “Butcher,” Amy Bradley. being named as Champion Dog. In the bitches, Gelligaer “Dancer” took the Unentered, with Teme Valley “Tally” leading the older bitches, while a very old pack, the Penrhiwfer, scored in the Couples with “Damsel” and “Dimple.” Teme Valley “Tally” took the female Championship. There was also a ring for English hounds. In the Dog classes, there were wins for the South Shropshire, North Cotswold, Bicester & Duke of Beaufort, with the Champion being Beaufort “Sampson.” In the Bitches, wins were had by the South Shropshire, North Cotswold, Cotswold, and Beaufort, who took the Championship with “Bobtail.” Next came the most famous show of all, the 125th renewal of the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show, the 67th I’ve attended with a camera! Entries were down through kennel cough, and classes for Old English hounds had to be cancelled, but still a large crowd gathered in their seats in the hallowed arena. In the first doghound class for young dogs from a Restricted pack, the result brought much applause for the winner, Vine & Craven “Pagan.” This was the first time I can recall this pack scoring at Peterborough. In the Unentered Couples, V.W.H. “Dealer” & “Steptoe” took top spot. The Restricted Couple of Entered Dogs brought another surprise when the East Sussex & Romney Marsh won with “Ragtime” and “Rambler.” The two-couple was headed by the North Cotswold, and then came the eagerly awaited appearance of Ardingly Champion, East Sussex & Romney Marsh “Dante,” who duly won the Stallion Class. “Dante” then proceeded to win the Dog Championship, bringing the loudest cheers heard at Peterborough for years. In the female classes, the East Sussex & Romney Marsh’s winning run continued when their “Bunting” took the Unentered Class, with the Couples going to V.W.H. “Pumpkin” and “Strawberry.” In the Restricted Entered Couples, the Bicester took the top prize with “Pampas” and “Parable,” while the Two-Couples were headed by the Beaufort, who also took the Bitch Championship with “Rapture.” The season’s final major show was held at Rydal in the Lake District of northwest England, and this is a Mecca for Fell Hounds, always drawing a big crowd.
Rydal Show, August 2013 Ullswater Huntsman John Harrison showing the Best Group of 5 Fell Hounds.
After the Coniston Puppy Show, the first open class for a group of five hounds was won by the Ullswater, shown by Huntsman John Harrison, and then the Coniston won the Couples for Michael N. Cholson. In the Fell Dog Classes, the Blencathra won both, with “Sergeant” and “Rebel,” for Barry To d h u n t e r, while in the Bitches the Rydal Show, August 2013 Best Group of Harriers shown by the Pendle classes were Forest and Craven. won by Ullswater “Barmaid,” and Coniston “Lyric,” with the latter being awarded the Fell Championship. For the Harriers, the two most successful packs were the Pendle Forest, with the Dog Couples and Best Group, while Rydal Show, August 2013 the Holcombe took the Bitch Champion Harrier was Holcombe “Batman.” Couples, then the Championship with “Batman.” The Beagle ring was monopolized by the Newcastle & District, who took the Group, the Reserve Championship with “Warrior,” and the Championship with “Wisdom” for the third successive year, to the delight of Master since 1983 Rupert Bigson. In the Supreme Championship, Coniston “Lyric,” shown by Whipper-In M i c h a e l Burton, took the splendid Bruce Logan Cup.
Rydal Show, Supreme Champion of the Show Coniston “Lyric,” shown by whipperin Michael Burton. Behind are Fell Hound judges Sandy Wilson and Andrew Bobb.