Joan Jones presents the Grand Championship Trophy for Golden’s Bridge Phoenix to huntsman Ciaran Murphy. / Liz Callar photoFor the second time* in history, a Penn-Marydel foxhound was judged Grand Champion of the Virginia Foxhound Show. The William W. Brainard, Jr. Perpetual Cup was presented to Golden’s Bridge Phoenix 2012 at Morven Park in Leesburg on Sunday, May 25, 2014. Golden’s Bridge huntsman Ciaran Murphy showed the Champion.
The following weekend, for the first time in foxhound history, the same Penn-Marydel repeated his stunning Virginia victory by being judged Grand Champion of Show at Bryn Mawr.
The Penn-Marydel as a breed is justifiably loved by its admirers for a number of reasons—nose, voice, biddability—none of which includes a reputation as the standard for foxhound beauty. Yet Golden’s Bridge Phoenix prevailed over the usual suspects so often in the Virginia lineup for the final class of the day: Live Oak Hounds (FL), Midland Foxhounds (GA), and Potomac Hunt (MD). At Bryn Mawr, Phoenix topped the other breed champions from the Blue Ridge Hunt (VA), Potomac Hunt, and GreenSpring Valley Hounds (MD).
Lauren Giannini photo Jake Carle, ex-MFH judged the Grand Championship class in Virginia this year. He is a highly respected hound man, and has judged the Grand Championship class at Virginia and at other hound shows around the country in past years as well.
Like many who are riveted by the excitement and suspense of this class each year, I headed for the broad expanse of lawn before the Morven Park mansion to witness what some supposed would be yet another Live Oak-Midland shoot-out between their modern English and Crossbred hounds, the breeds that today most generally represent that sought for standard of foxhound elegance and beauty. But it didn’t happen that way.
Live Oak MFH Marty Wood, whose Champion Crossbred hound faced off against the other three breed champions in the ring said, “The minute I saw the American and Penn-Marydel hounds enter the ring, I knew this was not going to be a walk-away!”
If you were listening in as the ring steward announced the results, you might have heard the announcer say, “…and the crowd went wild!” George Thomas, MFH, who judged the Penn-Marydel ring during the day and who judged Phoenix to the breed championship, exclaimed, “There is a God!” and smothered huntsman Murphy in a bear hug.
Judge Carle chose the American foxhound, Potomac Templeton 2012 as Reserve Grand Champion. Jerry Miller, MFH, who judged the American ring this day and picked Templeton as his breed champion heaped superlatives on Carle as a judge of foxhounds.
“The pressure builds up before judging this class,” said Carle, “and I felt the pressure until I entered the ring and saw the hounds. Then it all became clear. Does this hound beat the best American hound I ever saw? No. Does he beat the best English or Crossbred hound I ever saw? No. But today, in this class, he was the best.”
Other Masters, hound breeders, and huntsmen crowded closer to examine the new Champion. “That is a really beautiful hound,” affirmed Tony Leahy, MFH, another past winner of the Brainard Cup. Leahy must have been impressed. The following week at Bryn Mawr, as judge of the Grand Championship class, he made the same choice as Jake Carle, and Phoenix becomes a Penn-Marydel legend.
It was Phoenix’s way of moving that put him on top for Leahy. “He has a perfect front,” said Leahy, “with a correct shoulder. All his propulsion comes from behind and he really reaches out in front. He is a wonderful, smooth mover.” Leahy paused, recreating the picture in his mind. “The hound moves a lot better than Ciaran!” he recalled with a laugh.
Phoenix (Golden’s Bridge Voltare 2006 ex Andrew’s Bridge Powder 2007) is primarily Golden’s Bridge breeding on the sire’s side and all Andrew’s Bridge bloodlines on the dam’s side. Click for complete Virginia results and complete Bryn Mawr results.
Posted May 28, 2014
Golden’s Bridge Phoenix 2012 captures his second Grand Championship at Bryn Mawr. Huntsman Ciaran Murphy shows the hound. Others are (l-r) Judge Tony Leahy, MFH; David Herr, Show Official; and Eugene Colley, MFH, Golden’s Bridge. / Liz Callar photo