October - November 2012:June_July '08
10/12/12
12:30 PM
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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012
Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show Suffolk Huntsman Sean Hutchison and whipper-in Will Parker taking hounds to their lorry at the end of the day through floodwater on the show ground!
The Brecon & Talybont Foxhound packs combined in 1996 and have since operated as one unit, hunting country which has a vale, woodland, and open hills rising to 2964 feet at the summit of the Brecon Beacons. Their kennels are alongside the Brecon Canal, busy with cabin cruisers in the summer, and since 2011 former Toronto & North York Huntsman Mark Powell and his Whipper-in wife Emma, who are both Welsh, have been in charge of the pack of mostly Welsh Foxhounds. Since 1962, Sir Martyn Evans-Bevan has been Master (latterly as the longest serving MFH in the country) with Geraint Phillips and Roger Price as Joint Masters for the past six seasons. This year’s puppy show, held at the freshly painted kennels and judged by Gary Barber and Charles Owen, Joint Masters of the Pembrokeshire Foxhounds, had greater than usual significance, as it was the last for Sir Martyn EvansBevan, who has retired after 50 years in office. There was an assortment of puppies with smooth and broken coated hounds among the 1½ couple of dogs and 4 couple of bitches. Interestingly, the top young doghound, also Champion, was “Kickback,” while his sister “Kindly” was best bitch. Their breeding is unusual, as they are by Fife (Scotland) “Billinge” out of Windy Hollow (USA) “Kitkat,” so are full of Ben Hardaway’s famous Midland “K” line! Top puppy walker was Whipper-in Ann Bowen. After she had received her prize, attention turned to Sir Martyn, as his retirement brings to an end an iconic era in this history of the Brecon Hunt. Speeches were made, tearful eyes were wiped, and after his presentations, a huge iced and decorated cake made by Emma Powell was ceremonially cut and carved, so that everyone was able to enjoy the cake and wish Sir Martyn “Good Luck” in his retirement, with many thanks for his 50 years as Master. In 1903, the Border Counties (North Wales) Otterhounds were formed, with a wonderful country containing superb rivers such as the Conway, Dee, Dovey, Severn & Weaver. During the 1960s and 1970s, tremendous sport was enjoyed under the mastership of Ray and Jackie Williams, until in January, 1978, the otter achieved “protected” status. So packs turned to hunting mink, resulting in several changes in mastership, including three members of the Newton family. When Mark Newton resigned at the end of the 2011-12 season, the hunt was in difficulties, but a completely new setup was arranged, with David Lowe as Chairman. A young couple, Stuart Roscoe and Stephanie Dawson, who both held office with the Tanatside Foxhounds, were appointed Joint Masters, and amazingly, they organized new kennels and a fixture card to enable hunting to begin at the end of May, 2012!
My visit – the first day’s hunting of my 63rd season – found me at Llangedwyn Bridge to hunt the River Tanat, where I was joined by about 40 keen followers, including David Lowe and daughter Amy; former Master and Huntsman John Newton; and Peter Cooper, a former Master of the Three Counties Mink Hounds. Then the hounds arrived with Huntsman Stuart Roscoe, MH, and his Joint Master Stephanie Dawson, with a brace of Terriers. Hounds are a mix of Welsh, English, and Old English Foxhounds. After a stirrup cup or two, they were taken to draw; luckily the river had returned to a normal level after all the heavy rain. Soon they began to speak, and we made our way along the riverbanks, pushing through really thick and lush undergrowth with difficulty. An enjoyable day followed, with much exercise and banter and wet feet, before “Home” was blown and the Joint Masters were congratulated on the success of their new venture. All too soon, the final major hound show of my summer schedule arrived. This is Rydal, the most important Fell Foxhound show of the year, and it takes place on the most beautiful showground of all, sited as it is in the Rydal Hound Show Lake District of northwest Champion Beagle Doghound Old Berkeley “Murcott.” England. As well as classes for Fell Foxhounds, there are rings for Harriers, Beagles, and Terriers. Of course the day began wet, but a large crowd of knowledgeable hunting folk turned up, and by the time proceedings began with the local hunt, the Coniston’s, puppy show, it was still pouring. Blencathra Huntsman Barry Todhunter, enveloped in rain gear, judged and awarded the Champion Trophy to “Sonnet,” walked by Alan Cummings. At midday the rain stopped, and the Fell Hound Judges, Otis Ferry, MFH, and Heythrop Huntsman Julian Barnfield, took center stage, with the Best Group of Five Hounds being won by the Ullswater, shown by former Toronto and North York (Canada) Huntsman John Harrison. The Eskdale & Ennerdale had the Best Couple of Doghounds, while Coniston Huntsman Michael Nicholson showed the Best Couple of Bitches, which also took the Couples Championship. Then came the class for Unentered Doghounds, won by Melbreak “Poacher,” with the 2011 Champion Ullswater “Stormer” heading the older dogs. The Young Bitches Class was won by the impressive Melbeak “Duchess,” while the Senior Bitches, in the biggest class of the day with 63 entries, went to Blencathra “Melody.” The Fell Championship was won by the unentered bitch, Melbreak “Duchess,” to the delight of young Huntsman Edward Liddle, with Ullswater “Stormer” Best of Opposite Sex. In the Harrier ring, the Holcombe, Pendle Forest & High Peak won classes, with the Championship going to the entered dog, Pendle Forest & Craven “Forger,” with Reserve being Holcombe “Barrister.” There were large entries in the Beagles, where the Old Berkeley, Hunsley Beacon, Newcastle & District, and the Warwickshire won classes. The Champion was the entered bitch Newcastle “Wisdom,” and the Best of Opposite Sex was Old Berkeley “Murcott.” After lengthy discussions between the combined judges, the Supreme Championship went to the Beagle, Newcastle “Wisdom,” with Master since 1983 Rupert Gibson accepting the Bruce Logan Memorial Trophy from his daughter, Claire Logan-Stephens.
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Brecon & Talybont Hunt Puppy Show Huntsman Mark Powell showing the young hounds to the judges Gary Barber, MFH and Charles Owen, MFH.
Brecon & Talybont Hunt Puppy Show Huntsman Mark Powell with the champion young hound “Kickback.”
Border Counties Mink Hounds, July 21, 2012 The new Joint Masters Stuart Roscoe (Huntsman) and Stephanie Dawson, bringing hounds to the meet at Llangedwyn Bridge.
Rydal Hound Show Grand Champion Foxhound Melbreak “Duchess” with Huntsman Edward Liddle.