Champion American Foxhound: Orange County Kermit with huntsman Reg Spreadborough / Karen Kandra Wenzel photoFor forty consecutive years, foxhunters from the Mid-Atlantic have gathered on the day following the Kentucky Derby to give their unentered hounds an opportunity to learn what this “hound show thing” is all about. As a prelude to the major shows—Virginia and Bryn Mawr—later in the spring, this show is a bit lower key, but still a serious undertaking. Restricted to unentered hounds except for classes for Produce of Dam and Get of Sire, the emphasis is on teaching young hounds and young handlers what they can expect in a few weeks.
The show is held on a rotating basis among the MFHA-sanctioned hunts in Maryland, and this year the Marlborough Hunt in Prince Georges County served as host. On the banks of the Patuxent River on their lovely grounds for both clubhouse and kennels, the Marlborough folks, under the leadership of Masters Katherine Cawood, Patty Sasscer, and Christine Claggett, provided two spacious rings—one for foxhounds where Thomas H. Jackson, MFH, Mr. Jackson’s Flat Creek Hounds and former huntsman of the Mission Valley Hunt Club (KS) would judge the 101 foxhounds entered, and one for foothounds where Forbes R. Reback, MB and Charlotte D. Buttrick, MB, both from the Farmington Beagles (VA), would judge bassets and beagles.
Of course, Master Jeep Cochran of the Calf Pasture Bassets dominated the basset entries, winning the dog class, the bitch class, and the champion basset. The beagle classes were more competitive with Master Miki Crane’s Hills Bridge Beagles Pims winning the unentered beagle dog class and Master Betsy Parks’ Sandanona Boomerang winning the dog class. Boomerang went on to be selected as Champion Beagle.
Champion Crossbred Foxhound: Green Spring Native with huntsman Sam Clifton / Karen Kandra Wenzel photo
Competition in the foxhound ring was intense, with large entries in both the American and Crossbred classes. In the American ring, the Orange County Hounds showed a particularly strong set of unentered hounds with their Kermit winning the class. Orange County returned to show their bitch Careful and won that class as well. Clearly, Orange County would win the Champion American Hound class.
Crossbred dogs, with twenty-six entries, was a tough class for Judge Jackson, but ultimately he selected Green Spring Valley Hounds Native shown by huntsman Sam Clifton as the pick of the day. In the Crossbred bitch class, the Deep Run Hunt showed a beautiful set of six tri-colored bitches with their Chelsea getting the blue. Huntsman Clifton came back with his outstanding dog hound Native to take the Champion Crossbred trophy back to Green Spring.
Champion Penn-Marydel Foxhound: Marlborough Victor Too with whipper-in Christine Faber and Judge Tommy Jackson / Karen Kandra Wenzel photoIn the Penn-Marydel ring, it was the host club’s time to shine. Marlborough huntsman Jim Faber handed the lead to whipper-in Christine Faber who showed Victor Too to the win in the dog class. In the bitch class, Jim came back with his Victoria to win that class, ensuring a Championship for Marlbotough.
The pack class was a joy to watch, as some of the finest packs under outstanding huntsmen came into the ring with hounds under splendid control. It was a pleasure to see each huntsman handle hounds in a quiet but commanding manner. After serious deliberation, the plate for best pack went to the Howard County-Iron Bridge Hounds with huntsman Kelly Burdge. Always the great showman and an awesome huntsman, Potomac’s Larry Pitts entered the ring with not the required two-and-a-half couple, but five couple of hounds!
In the stallion and get class, Mr. Pitts had a small measure of “revenge” when his incomparable Potomac Templeton ’12 won the class. Mr. Jackson had the class announced in reverse order to build the suspense. The brood bitch with produce was won by Deep Run’s lovely bitch Deep Run Berry ’12.
Junior Handler winner: Aleta Kibler with Potomac Templeton 2012 / Karen Kandra Wenzel photo
No doubt the toughest class of the day was the junior handler class with thirty-seven enthusiastic youngsters in the ring, all of whom were winners in the eyes of the onlookers. The blue ribbon went to Potomac Templeton handled by Aleta Kibler.
From the perspective of the organizers, it was a great day of hound competition and lively conversation with hunting enthusiasts. Next year we will meet again on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, courtesy of the Wicomico Hunt on May 8. (Remember the show is always the day after the Kentucky Derby!)
Posted May 7, 2015