Grand Champion Fox River Valley Nightcap 2009 / Jim Meads photoBlessed with perfect weather, the fifth annual Southern Hound show (“Stars of the South!”) was held on April 9 in Monticello, Florida. Having been prevented from attending in 2010 by volcanic ash over Europe, Judge Martin Scott, ex MFH Vale of the White Horse and photographer Jim Meads were on hand this year to enjoy seeing quite a few truly quality hounds being presented. Mr. Scott was ably assisted by co-judge Mr. J.W.Y. Martin, MFH, Green Spring Valley Hounds. The apprentice judge was Mrs. George Thomas, MFH, Why Worry Hounds.
Even though the apprentice judge is technically not judging, Mr. Scott and Mr. Martin asked Mrs. Thomas to please sit in the corner chair when her hounds were in the ring.
Other than the Canadian Hound Show, this is the only show in which all hound types—English, American and Crossbred—show against each other. Furthermore, as there are two Crossbred rings at Virginia, this is the only time all these packs go head to head in every class.
The show does not allow past Grand Champions of the Southern Hound Show to show in any class that qualifies for a championship. Therefore, Midland Roxanne 2007 was shown only in Brood Bitch with Produce and Live Oak Steamy 2007 was shown only in the Two Couple of Bitches. Sadly, Mooreland Edna 2007, Grand Champion of Show in 2008, was killed this season on the highway near the body of a dead coyote. Live Oak Maximus 2009, 2010 Grand Champion of the Virginia Foxhound Show, was not shown as Master Marty Wood is not a believer in further campaigning major winners.
Despite the Live Oak Hounds winning ten of the fifteen classes, the Fox River Valley had what proved to be pivotal wins in the Entered Dog and Entered Bitch classes which produced the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion of Show. Fox River Valley Nightcap 2009, last year’s Reserve Grand Champion and this year’s Grand Champion, is a large, quality dog by Fox River Valley Keg 2005 out of Midland Nimble 2004. He was drafted to Master and huntsman Tony Leahy just prior to being entered. Leahy’s Cornwall Secretary 1999, dam of Keg, and Keg himself were both Grand Champion of Show at Virginia.
The Reserve Grand Champion of Show, Fox River Valley Samantha 2010, is by the famous Duke of Beaufort Bailey 2003, who is said to have bred over ninety bitches in one season at the height of his popularity before being drafted to the Toronto and North York in Canada.
Live Oak showed depth and promise for the future by winning both Two Couples classes, both Unentered classes, and first and second in Stallion Hound as well as in Stallion Hound and Get.
Much to the credit of Tony Leahy’s breeding program, Fox River Valley captured all three of the Type Championships and two out of the three Reserve Type Championships with Live Oak garnering Reserve Champion English hound with Rancher 2007. Rancher was Champion English hound at Virginia in 2007. He is by Anchor 2003 who was the model for the new MFHA logo and himself a Virginia Crossbred Champion.
With a four hour drive home, the Shakerag Hounds (GA), who won Champion Penn-Marydel in 2010, left before having a chance to compete in the American Hound Championship. As two hunts showed American hounds, the judges deemed Fox River Valley’s American hounds of sufficient quality to pin. Both are full of Randy Waterman’s old Piedmont blood.
Posted April 16, 2011