IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2011
24
ACROSS THE POND
An Old English Puppy Show, Rydal Fell Hound Show, and a Hunt Open Day By Jim Meads
North Shropshire Hunt Puppy Show Huntsman since 1985, Martin Jarrett, showing the Young Bitches to the Judges Otis Ferry, MFH (South Shropshire) and David Seels (North Staffordshire).
North Shropshire Hunt Puppy Show, August 6, 2011 Couple of Young Hounds being shown by their excited walkers.
North Shropshire Hunt Puppy Show The five Joint Masters: Pip Harney, Andy Wheals, Phil Jones, Will Warner, Tullis Matson.
North Shropshire Hunt Puppy Show Champion Young Hound, “Rascal” (by Belvoir “Ranger”).
Rydal Hound Show, August 11, 2011 Judging Foxhounds between the rain squalls.
Having spent the summer photographing a seemingly endless assortment of white or lightcolored hounds, it came as a pleasant change to visit the North Shropshire Hunt Puppy Show, where the pack comprises mostly black and tan Old English Foxhounds. The venue was at their temporary kennels at Haston Farm, to the north of Shrewsbury, but I was reliably informed that the brand new, purpose-built kennels would be ready well before the opening meet. The sun was shining as the five Joint Masters, Pip Harney, Phil Jones, Tullis Matsen, Will Warner, and Andy Wheals, welcomed their guests, and a large crowd had gathered by 4:30 when the judges, Otis Perry, MFH South Shropshire, and David Seels, who hunts the North Staffordshire Hounds, entered the show ring. This year there were three couple of young doghounds and five couple of bitches from the five litters bred by four different stallion hounds, including two by Belvoir “Ranger” ’05 and one by Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn’s “Parker” ’08. Now in his 27th season as huntsman, Martin Jarrett had his young entry well training and in fine condition, which always helps the judges. In the doghounds, first place went to “Doric,” by Belvoir “Ranger” ’05 x Sir W. W. Wynn’s “Doubtful” ’08, while in the bitches, top spot was taken by “Rascal” (by “Ranger” x “Pocket” ’07), and it was she who took the Championship. In an exciting extra class, which brought much impromptu advice and applause, the best looking couple were the sisters “Grammar” and “Graceful,” to the delight of Clare Churchill, who managed to control her happy puppies in the ring. Then we all took afternoon tea as the sun set. My final major hound show of the 2011 season came on August 11, and as I left home at 5:30 to drive the 183 miles to Rydal, in the Lake District of northwest England, it was dark, chilly and wet. When I pulled into the showground three hours later, the rain had almost stopped, but low clouds were preventing us
from seeing the Fells (hills) in all their majestic glory, although hundreds of hardy foxhunters were making their annual pilgrimage to Rydal for the year’s biggest show of Fell Foxhounds. Proceedings began as usual, with the local pack, the Coniston’s puppy show, with all hounds being shown by their walkers. This year the judge was new Eskdale and Ennerdale Huntsman George Wilkinson, and no less than 55 Fell Foxhounds came under his scrutiny. Eventually, the Coniston Champion was announced as the Entered Bitch “Rival,” walked by Alan Cummings, and to prove her class, later in the day she became overall Champion Bitch. Then the Open classes began, with Charles Frampton, MFH Portman, and Chris Ogilvie, a former Coniston huntsman, now living in Scotland, doing the judging. The prestigious Group of Five Hounds, the Dog Couples, and the Bitch Couples were all won by the Ullswater, whose Huntsman since 1996, John Harrison, formerly hunted the Toronto and North York Hounds in Canada. The young doghounds class was won by Barry Todhunter with Blencathra “Rebel”; the Entered Dogs went to Ullswater “Stormer,” and the young bitches to their “Chorus,” with the senior ladies class won by Coniston “Rival.” In an exciting Fell Hound Championship, the tricolor went to Ullswater “Stormer,” to the delight of John Harrison and Joint Master Ron Barry, a former top professional steeplechase jockey.
Rydal Hound Show Champion Beagle, Newcastle & District “Wisdom.”