Deep Run Warrior 2015 stands proudly for his award photograph. Judge Mary Ewing, MFH, presents the trophy for Grand Champion of Show to huntsman John Harrison. Stud groom and second whipper-in Chelsea Ray Kellerhouse is at left.
Huntsman John Harrison loves Warrior’s entire litter. “It’s the best litter in the kennels,” he says, “and Warrior is the best-looking hound in the litter.”
Apparently the judges thought so, too. Deep Run Warrior 2015 was judged Grand Champion of Show at the Carolinas Hound Show hosted by the Moore County Hounds on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at the grounds of the Walthour Moss Foundation in Southern Pines, NC.
“The whole litter hunts well,” says Harrison. He has whelped a litter by Warrior’s brother, and he will use Warrior again as well. Harrison has bred plenty of hound show champions, but Warrior was bred by his predecessor at Deep Run, and for that breeding he credits huntsman Richard Roberts.
Warrior is by Deep Run Wimbleton 2011 out of Deep Run Berry 2012. Warrior’s great-grandfather in the tail male line is Midland Kestrel 1998, a dog hound drafted by Midland Fox Hounds (GA) to Fox River Valley Hunt (IL). Kestrel sired Warrior’s grandfather at the Fox River Valley kennels out of Fox River Valley Winnie 1999. Winnie, an English bi*ch of Cotswold and Warwickshire breeding, is much prized by Fox River Valley MFH Tony Leahy. The Kestrel-to-Winnie mating produced what Leahy referred to as “the most dominant male line in our kennel.”
So Warrior and his litter, all tail male to that Kestrel-to-Winnie mating, are the beneficiaries of a proven cross that really nicked. Another powerful bloodline, this on the dam’s side of Warrior’s pedigree, is Duke of Beaufort’s Mostyn 1992, a highly regarded sire of superbly performing hounds in the field both in England and the U.S.
Exmoor Freestone 1991is another interesting hound further back in Warrior’s pedigree. Freestone was bred by the late Captain Ronnie Wallace, and his bloodlines are familiar to Harrison, who had that same prepotent blood in some of his top showing and performing hounds when he was huntsman for the Toronto and North York Hunt (ON) back in the 1990s. Harrison regularly brought back to Canada a truckload of silver trophies from the Virginia Foxhound Show, including several Grand Champion hounds that benefitted from Exmoor Freestone.
“Warrior’s dam, Berry, is the most accurate hound in the pack,” said Harrison, “and she has a great voice.” Accuracy in a hound is a trait dear to all huntsmen; it keeps pressure on the quarry with fewer checks. Berry’s tail male line goes back to Scarteen bloodlines, and it may be from that exceptional pack of Kerry beagles that she gets her powerful voice.
Class winners earlier in the day at the Carolinas show came from Aiken Hounds (NC), Bedford Hunt (VA), Camden Hunt (SC), Deep Run Hunt (VA), De La Brooke Foxhounds (MD), Lowcountry Hunt (SC), Moore County Hounds (NC), Princess Ann Hunt (VA), Red Mountain Foxhounds (VA), Tryon Hounds (NC), and Whiskey Road Foxhounds (SC). Whiskey Road Spitler gave Grand Champion Warrior stiff competition throughout the day.
Judges were Dennis J. Foster, former MFHA Executive Director; Mason Hardaway Lampton, MFH, Midland Fox Hounds (GA); and David Raley, huntsman, Green Creek Hounds (SC). Apprentice Judge was Mary Ewing, MFH, Arapahoe Hunt (CO). Hound Show Co-Chairmen were Cameron Sadler, MFH, Moore County and Neil Schwartzberg.
Click for complete show results.
Posted June 18, 2018