Enthusiasts Gather For Spirited Hound Show Competition

By J. Harris Anderson, Managing Editor

Hound shows continue to attract avid devotees of hunting, both mounted and on foot, as enthusiasts gathered from Florida to Massachusetts and Virginia to Kansas in the spirit of friendly competition to see whose hounds would take the top awards. The only hitch in this year’s schedule was the unfortunate need to cancel the Carolinas show due to an outbreak of kennel cough. Temps were unseasonably high in Kansas for the Central States show but, happily, conditions were mostly perfect for the other regional gatherings.

Southern Hound Show • April 15, 2023

Perfect weather and blue skies graced the 15th Southern Hound Show held at Live Oak Plantation, the home of joint masters Marty and Daphne Wood, in Monticello, Florida, on April 15th

Nigel Peel, ex-MFH and Huntsman of the North Cotswold and Thurlow, was scheduled to judge in 2020 and 2021 when all shows were cancelled, and he was unable to come in 2022. However, he made the trip this year to join fellow Brit Richard Tyacke, ex-MFH and Huntsman of Sir William Watkins Wynn, to judge the nine packs of hounds that attended the show. Ordinarily, the second judge is from a pack in North America. But given this year’s situation, an exception was made. Peel and Tyacke were capably assisted by apprentice judge Sean Cully, Master and Huntsman of Pennsylvania’s Rose Tree - Blue Mountain Hunt.

The final judging resulted in a win for the home team as Live Oak’s Trusty ’19 was crowned Grand Champion of Show. She moved into the championship round after being dubbed Champion Bitch and winner of the Brood Bitch class. Reserve Grand Champion was Fox River Valley Farmer ’21, Champion Dog Hound and Stallion Hound winner.

Carolinas Hound Show • Scheduled for April 29, 2023

Sadly, due to kennel cough that was running rampant in North Carolina and many other parts of the Eastern US, it was necessary to cancel the 2023 Carolinas Hound Show. The organizers are confident the show will be back next year but thought this was the best and healthiest decision for everyone.

Central States Hound Show • May 6, 2023

The 2023 Central States Hound Show was again held at the Blue River Farm, home of Dr. Steve Thomas, MFH, and Mrs. Thomas of the Fort Leavenworth Hunt, in Stilwell, Kansas. Five hunts competed from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Schedule conflicts prohibited the hunts from Nebraska and Illinois from attending. A reception was held on Friday night before the event to recognize the exhibitors and to introduce the judges, Charles and Boo Montgomery, from The Mells Foxhounds.

The weather for the show was unseasonably hot but the judges and ring steward, J. Nick Badgerow, moved things along quickly and the judging finished by early afternoon before the temperature reached 90 degrees. The junior handler class and horn blowing competition were held during the lunch break.

The junior judging program, developed by the MFHA this year, was introduced and very wellreceived, with a number of competitors following the guidelines and trying to match wits with the judges in the ring. In the end, there was a tie for first place between the two competitors from the Bridlespur Hunt: Abri Fleischli and Clara Bommaritto, both from the Bridlespur Hunt (MO).

Exhibitors met with the judges after the event to hear the final results and the judges’ comments on the hounds and the day. The Best Hound of the Show was Harvard Gidget ’21, the Champion English/Crossbred Bitch. The nod for Reserve Best went to Brazos Valley Dugley ’21.

It was another successful Central States Hound Show!

New England Hound Show • May 21, 2023

Tyrone Farm, home of Bill and Diane MacLaren, Pomfret, Connecticut, was the site of this year’s New England Hound Show, hosted by Tanheath Hunt. Leilani Gray, who recently rose to the Huntsman’s role at Hillsboro Hounds following the retirement of her husband Johnnie, made the trip from Tennessee to judge the show. Six hunts from four states—Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire—made the trip to compete for the regional accolades under perfect weather conditions.

It was a good day for the Norfolk Hunt. Their Mistle ’22 topped the Champion English Bitch class and went on to be tapped Best in Show. Norfolk Millie ’22 and Midnight ’22 won Best Couple of Dogs or Bitches. In the two-legged classes, Norfolk Huntsman Steve Farrin won the horn blowing contest and their Matthew Barnhart, with Export ’20, was crowned Junior Handler Showmanship Champion.

Tanheath Chase took Reserve Best in Show honors and Wentworth Hunt Club, led by Huntsman Rachel Duffy, was tops in the Pack Class.

Virginia Foxhound Show • May 28, 2023

All five rings were buzzing at this year’s Virginia Foxhound Show as 42 hunts from across the US brought an estimated 700 hounds to compete in the nation’s largest hound show held at Morven Park, Leesburg, Virginia. To accommodate all hounds from the four breed categories—English, American, Crossbred, and Penn-Marydel—the Crossbred class is split into two rings, one for hunts with less than 35 hounds in kennels and those with 35 or more.

Presenters, volunteers, and spectators enjoyed pleasant springtime weather on the Sunday of Memorial Weekend. The prior evening included the annual Members Reception at the Museum of Hounds and Hunting NA followed by the Virginia Foxhound Club’s dinner, where the horn blowing contest saw Green Spring Valley’s Ashley Hubbard take the prize for the second year in a row.

Conversely, the next day’s culmination saw a ten year dry spell end as Live Oak’s Frisky ’21, English ring champ, captured the Grand Championship of the Show. The last time Live Oak took the top spot at the Virginia show was with their Farrier in 2012. This year’s Virginia win came just six weeks after their Trusty ’19 was crowned Grand Champion at the Southern Hound Show. For Reserve Champion, Dr. Marvin Beeman of Colorado’s Arapahoe Hunt chose Goshen Hounds Killarney ’19, American ring winner.

Going into the final judging, it was a foregone conclusion that both the Grand and Reserve Champions would be bitches as the females dominated in all five rings.

Bryn Mawr Hound Show • June 3, 2023

Bryn Mawr holds the distinction of being the oldest and longest-running hound show in North America, tracing its founding back to 1914. It’s also a six-ring show as, in addition to the four foxhound breeds, beagles and bassets are also shown. The champions from all six rings then compete for the Grand Champion of Show award.

33 hunts brought hounds to compete in this year’s show, held on the grounds of Radnor Hunt in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Faced with a half dozen impressive Grand Champions from the six breed categories, the judges carefully considered all factors to agree on the choice of Best in Show. When the deliberation concluded, the nod went to Orange County Hounds Briefcase ’22. The win was a repeat for the venerable Virginia club as their Pimple ’19 took the Best in Show award last year.

The Reserve award went to Sandanona Harehounds Radiant ’22, who took home the Champion Basset trophy for the Millbrook, New York, foot pack. This was another repeat as Radiant was also chosen for the Reserve spot at the 2022 show.

Southwest Hound Show • April 22, 2023

The Southwest Hound Show was held at the Brazos Valley Hounds kennel in Paradise, Texas. Brian and Lindsey Kiely made the trip from Maryland to serve as judges and share in the Lone Star State camaraderie. The event featured strong competition from Cloudline Hounds (TX), Fort Leavenworth Hunt (KS), and Bijou Springs Hunt (CO).

Joey DeGross showed Cloudline Miller in the Crossbred ring and then to be awarded the Reserve Grand Champion of the Show. Other participants in the Crossbred ring included Dr. Steve Thomas, MFH, with the elegant Fort Leavenworth hounds, and Nancy Mitchel from Bijou Springs.

Under the practiced assessment of the Kielys, the Masters Cup Grand Championship went to Brazos Valley Dugley ’21, who dominated in the American ring. Dugley was proudly bred and raised by Bobby and Sandy Dixon, MFH.

Brazos

Field Hunters

MFHA Field Hunter Championship Finals Morven Park, Leesburg, Virginia, May

27, 2023

As part of the Masters of Foxhounds Association Centennial Celebration in 2007, a competition was held to crown the top field hunter in North America. For the 2022/2023 season, the MFHA opted to replicate this event, which drew an estimated 4,000 spectators to watch the 2007 Finals. Member hunts hosted qualifiers in each of the MFHA’s 15 districts. The top horses were then qualified to attend the Finals during the Virginia Foxhound Show weekend.

Riders competed in Hunters (jumping) and Hilltoppers (non-jumping) divisions. Juniors competed with adults for the championships as well as for a Best Junior Award. (The overall championship at the 2007 Centennial Finals was won by a Junior.)

The day began with judging for Best Turned Out, then proceeded to Under Saddle, Mock Hunt, and Individual Test for each of the two divisions. When the judges’ choices were announced that afternoon, the results were:

Hunter Division:

Grand Champion: Hero, owned and ridden by Jazz Johnson, Essex Fox Hounds

Reserve Champion: Lancelot, owned and ridden by Dr. Rae Stone, Orange County Hounds

Hilltopper Division:

Grand Champion: Princeton, owned and ridden by Cathy Gomez, Goodwin Hounds

Reserve Champion: Gotta Question, owned by Carroll Bowman, ridden by Anna Sterling, Rocky Fork Headley Hunt

Junior Champion:

Grand Champion: Gotta Question, owned by Carroll Bowman, ridden by Anna Sterling, Rocky Fork Headley Hunt

Reserve Champion: The Candy Man Can, owned by Tess Fleischli, ridden by Abri Fleischli, Bridlespur Hunt

Best Turned Out:

Grand Champion: Privateer’s Buck, owned and ridden by Beth Dombrowsky, Middleburg Hunt

Reserve Champion: Princeton, owned and ridden by Cathy Gomez,

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Contributors: J. Harris Anderson, Osmun

Photographers: Ruth Baltopoulos, Liz Callar (Lizcallar.com), Kari Fulford, Karen Kandra, Isabel Kurek (isabelkurekphotography.com, Joanne Maisano (Joannemaisano.com), Jiri Schindler, Judy Seggel, Michael Stevens, Kathy Wismer

On the Cover: Summer hound walking with Ashley Hubbard, Huntsman for the Green Spring Valley Hounds (MD). One member of the pack rises above the others in the quest for a tossed treat. Karen Kandra photo.

Illustrations: Claudia ColemaLAYOUT & DESIGN: Kate Houchin

Copyright © 2023 In & Around Horse Country®. All Rights Reserved. Volume XXXV, No. 3

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