Thousands celebrate hunting and hounds at Peterborough

Thousands of hunt supporters, of all ages, headed to the East of England Showground near Peterborough last Wednesday, 19th July, to attend the Festival of Hunting and the 135th Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show.

With hound judging taking place across five different rings, as well as the inter-hunt relay and the young handlers’ class, it was a challenge for anybody to be able to watch every cup awarded to the winning connections, so we are delighted to give you a round-up regarding who took home the silverware.

In the modern foxhound ring, where more than 20 packs were represented throughout the day, Heythrop Grappler was awarded the dog hound championship by judges Matt Ramsden MFH (Beaufort) and Ollie Dale MFH (North Cotswold). Having seen his dog hound take championship honours during the morning, it was the turn of the Heythrop’s Charles Frampton MFH and Gareth Watchman MFH (Zetland) to judge the bitch hounds in the afternoon with the Duke of Beaufort’s Careful claiming the bitch hound title. 

Eleven packs were put forward in the Old English Foxhounds’ ring where it was a successful day for the North Shropshire who claimed the dog hound championship with Blandford, with the Percy taking reserve with Genesis, their winner of the unentered class. In the afternoon the North Shropshire followed up their success in the morning by taking the bitch hound championship with Arkle. 

The Dummer Beagles were awarded the highest accolade in the beagle classes with Whinchat taking the best in show prize having won the bitch hound championship, with their Petal taking reserve. The champion dog hound title was awarded to Christ Church and Farley Hill Musket, with Palmer Marlborough Wittmann the reserve.

The honour of being overall best in show in the harrier classes went to the West Country bitch hound champion, North Norfolk Blossom from the Waveney & Norfolk. It was a successful afternoon for the Waveney & Norfolk, having also landed the stud book harrier bitch hound championship with Lapwing. During the dog hound judging earlier in the day, the Holcombe were awarded the stud book championship with Aztec and Cotley Badger took the equivalent in the the West Country harrier category.

In the basset hound ring, East Lincs Voter took the dog hound championship before making an appearance in the Young Handlers’ Class with 14-year-old Bella Guy. Voter then went on to be awarded reserve supreme champion, with the supreme championship being awarded to Westerby Lateness who had earlier claimed the bitch hound title. 

Many other competitions and displays

The hound showing classes might have been the focus of the day for many, but there were plenty of other competitions and fabulous displays taking place throughout the day as well. The inter-hunt relay was well-supported with 38 teams participating throughout the junior and senior competitions. The Grove and Rufford Hunt team claimed victory in the junior event with the Quorn Hunt taking top spot in the senior equivalent.

There were 17 entries for the Young Handler Class judged by Mrs George Gemmell, daughter of renowned former master and huntsman, Ian Farquhar. The record number of entries were of an incredibly high standard, with 10-year-old Sophia Bland (pictured above) being awarded the Captain Farquhar perpetual trophy, along with a hunting horn donated in memory of the late James Barclay. Goody bags were presented to all entrants by the Countryside Alliance and the Hunt Staff Benefit Society.

Another hotly-contested event was the annual Hunt Picnic Competition which took place in the foxhound lorry park and saw more than 10 picnics judged by The Field editor, Ali Henton, Octavia Pollock and Jenny Jefferies. The Wheatland took home the Stirrup Cup basket of port which was donated by the East of England Showground, along with one of Jenny Jeffries’ books.

There was also a number of wonderful displays for visitors to the show to watch including the Blencathra foxhounds, the Sealyham terriers, the West Sussex Working Teckels and a parade of sight hounds. 

The Alliance was delighted to be a key sponsor again at this year’s event which took place for the final time at the current venue. Milton Park, near Peterborough, will be the destination for all those wishing to attend the 136th Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show in 2024. The Alliance looks forward to supporting the event again next year and for many years to come.