There was much to smile about at Great Yorkshire Show this week following two fabulous days of showing, with the beagles and harriers’ classes held on Tuesday 9 July, followed by the foxhounds on Wednesday.
Despite the heavy downpours that persisted throughout the day on Tuesday, the quality of hounds shone through, with 12 packs of beagles put before the judges, and an appreciative crowd which included many school children that were visiting the show. Harry Gosling MFH (Dartmoor Hunt) and Lucy Wray, joint-master of the RAC beagles presided over the doghounds during the morning which resulted in the Holme & Colne Valley Radley College Bailiff landing the championship, with Newcastle and District Blackthorn taking home the reserve title.
The master of the Chilmark and Clifton Foot, Paul Jelley, was judging the bitches in the afternoon alongside Neil Hargreaves, where the North Devon Beagles were rewarded for their long journey, taking home both the championship with Chilmark and Clifton Foot Breezy and the reserve with Clover.
In the harrier ring, where five packs were showing hounds, the judges throughout the day were Adam Waugh MFH (College Valley/North Northumberland) and Laura Shillam, the master and amateur huntsman of the Axe Vale Harriers. There was success for the Holcombe Harriers who took home the doghound championship with Percy, with Dart Vale South Pool Modbury Baskerville being awarded reserve. In the bitch hound classes, it was the turn of Waveney Lapwing to take the honours in the championship, with Holcombe Hopeful taking the reserve title.
An incredible 20 packs of foxhounds were represented on Wednesday with a great atmosphere and a good crowd surrounding the ring all day. Matt Ramsden MFH (Duke of Beaufort’s) and Rory Knight Bruce had the honour of judging the doghounds where there were strong contenders for the Yorkshire and Old English championships as well as the overall titles. Percy Spyro landed the Old English doghound championship, with Zetland Asteroid taking the Yorkshire title, before Tynedale Jesmond was awarded the overall accolade of doghound champion, with the Bicester with Whaddon Chase taking the reserve spot with Biker.
In the afternoon, it was the turn of the Tynedale’s joint-master and huntsman, Charlie Shirley-Bevan to judge the bitch hounds with Jason Wood MFH from the United. The Percy again took the honours in the Old English bitch hound championship with Sparkle, with the Zetland capping a successful day by taking the Yorkshire bitch championship with Asset. The bitch hound championship went to the Duke of Beaufort’s Fortune, with the Bicester with Whaddon Chase again making their long journey worthwhile by taking the reserve title with Bramble.
Three young handler classes took place across the two days which drew great support from the crowd surrounding the rings. Eleven-year-old Sophia Bland won the harrier class with Vale of Lune Fenwick, while Charlie Anderson, 11, representing the Cumbria Beagles won the equivalent competition with Lucan. On Wednesday, the title of young handler went to Isaac from the Middleton Hunt who was showing Pistol. We all look forward to watching these young handlers as they progress and develop their passion for working with hounds – there is no greater incentive to ensure we protect hunting’s future so that all of those competing in these classes have as much enjoyment from following hounds as the generations before them.
On both days there was a parade of hounds in the Countryside Arena which was widely supported, as was the parade in the main ring on Thursday, 11 July.
Throughout the course of the four day show, which culminates today (12 July), hunting videos provided by the Countryside Alliance could be watched playing on a loop on screens within the Countryside Voices marquee beside the Countryside Arena.