A look at two foxhunting hound types we don’t see many of in North America―Kerry Beagles and Old (Traditionally-bred) English Foxhounds
Judging Hounds are Mr. Paul Brown and Mr. Tom Wallace with Scarteen huntsman Raymond O’Halloran. / Catherine Power photo
Scarteen Black and Tans
Friday, September 3, 2021 − There is no better way to catch up with old hunting friends than in the relaxed atmosphere of a late afternoon puppy show. Such was our experience at the recent Scarteen puppy show held, as usual, at the kennels with a bumper twelve couple to test the mettle of our two judges. Neither was found wanting, and both lowered their carbon footprint by traveling together from the Cork National Hunt Club. Mr Tommy Wallace and Mr Paul Brown have been regular visitors to Scarteen over the years and are more than familiar with Scarteen’s unique Black and Tan Kerry Beagles.
The Cork National Hunt Club is one of Ireland’s oldest packs and hunt on foot. The judges complimented huntsman Raymond O’Halloran, whipper-in Frisk Jones, and all the helpers who contributed to the quality of the hounds on show.
Scarteen puppies / Catherine Power photo
There were perhaps more puppies than usual as there was a certain carryover with no puppy show held last season with eight couple of dogs and four of bi*ches.* The winning dog hound was Morley (Limerick Harrier Pirate ex Scarteen Humble), walked by the Purcell Family. The winning bi*ch was Candy (Rocket ex Cork National, Cassey), and walked, appropriately, by the Walkers, Sir Roy and Nadaline, who had no less than three-and-a-half couple on walk and in the show.
Huntsman Raymond O’Halloran with the pack of Kerry Beagles bred at Scarteen continuously for the past 300 years. / Catherine Power photo
No stranger to public speaking, international eventing commentator and senior Master Chris Ryan acted as Master of Ceremonies and made sure everyone felt welcome. It was great to see Duhallow Joint-Master Kate Jarvey at Scarteen, where she had been Master for many seasons. The show was followed by light refreshments, with everyone preparing for autumn hunting the following morning at Scarteen.
County Limerick Foxhounds
Saturday, September 4, 2021, at Clonshire − Sticklers for etiquette, the Co Limerick did not have formal judging of their Old English puppies on the day after Scarteen. Most of the young entry had already been in the hunting field, so strictly speaking, they were not eligible to be judged as un-entered puppies.
Huntsman Fergus Stokes tosses biscuits to show his hounds’ movement to the judges. / Catherine Power photo
Instead, a couple of weeks previously, huntsman Fergus Stokes had invited two of his colleagues, Jim Kenny (Waterford) and Padraig Moynihan (South Union), to a less formal show. Kenny and Moynihan picked the homebred Tradesman (Racket ’16 ex Tassel ’18) as best dog hound. Tradesman was walked by Belinda Johnson. Kenny and Moynihan went to the same litter for their choice of best bi*ch, Truffel, walked by Jess Foley. The Foley family was well represented; incoming Joint-Master Niall Foley acted as MC and welcomed all. The Foley family are no strangers to hunting with Co Limerick as their dad James Foley became something of a legend as amateur whipper-in to Hugh Robards in the glory days. Also on hand was Mrs Emma Thompson, MFH, with horses already in and getting fit for the upcoming season. Hunt secretary Dee Hogan was on hand, of course, to assure smooth running of the event.
Silla Lady Harrington with Dick and Margaret Johnson at Co limerick’s Open Day. / Catherine Power photo
Puppy shows afford an opportunity for retired and current foxhunters to meet and exchange the latest hunt gossip. Still, a stickler for turnout is Silla, Lady Harrington whose family and particularly her late husband, Lord Harrington, were intrinsic to the running of the hunt. Having recently celebrated his ninetieth birthday and in rude good health was former hunt treasurer Dick Johnson enjoying the hounds with his better half, the ever-youthful Margaret.
Huntsman Stokes and whipper-in Beecher walk out with County Limerick’s lovely pack of Old English Foxhounds / Catherine Power photo
The event was followed by a barbecue for all but the greatest thrill, especially for Catherine and me, was when huntsman Fergus Stokes and whipper-in David Beecher enlarged the pack with no less than fifty-nine-and-a-half couple in the park…a little bit of heaven.
Posted November 30, 2021
* Re our use of “bi*ch” to designate the female hound, know that we have no sensitivity to the word, but we have discovered that some computer firewalls will decide the content is porn and will block the entire e-magazine from loading. We use the asterisk to foil any such mistaken interpretations.
This article was first published in The Irish Field.