Hound Shows

Summer 2009

An Explanation by Martin Letts MFH

Summer shows of Hounds hold the interest of Masters, houndsmen and women and their walkers because they provide wider comparison of looks than just inspection at home.

Conformation of hounds, horses and farm stock is important as merit flows down from one generation to the next, as do faults.

As in machinery, a well-balanced design allows fluidity of movement which contributes to speed, stamina and activity in old age.

A good judge, of course, favours his own brand of stock, but has to recognise quality across the various breeds or types of stock before him.

The main show for the north is Harrogate in July.  The College Valley took entries in most classes but did not find favour with the judges amongst a score of packs displaying a heavier type of hound.

In contrast, at the Scottish Show near Moffat, where there were separate classes for hill and orthodox hounds, the College Valley picked up first and second in most classes with two fell huntsmen adjudicating.

There are local Shows at Bellingham, Pennimuir and the Roman Wall and we won our share at all three.

However, what is more rewarding for the breeders of our hounds is their reputation for work in the UK and elsewhere.

We gifted a litter to the Exmoor and representatives of that mating are hunting on the moor, in Warwickshire and at the VWH in Gloucestershire and showing promise.

The VWH already has experience of College Valley blood which was mentioned in the Hunting edition of Horse and Hound, as indeed do the Teme Valley and the United in Wales, the Middleton and Goathland in Yorkshire, across the Atlantic and with the Blencathra and Coniston in the Fells.