Captain Ian Farquhar and young handler at the West of England Hound Show, Honiton, in 2018 / Sarah Farnsworth photo
In response to the success and popularity of the Young Handlers Class established at the West of England hound show at Honiton, the organisers of The Harrogate and Peterborough hound shows have decided to hold their own young handlers classes for all hunts exhibiting at these shows in 2019.
Young Handlers Classes have been held for a great many years in the United States, chiefly at the Virginia and Bryn Mawr Hound shows, so we were delighted when, in the summer of 2016, the first Young Handlers Classes were held in England at some of our northern shows. The enthusiasm and zeal of these youngsters was remembered by those who ‘organise,’ and the following year at Honiton a full class of twenty youngsters put themselves forward to compete for the Captain Ronnie Wallace MFH Perpetual Memorial Trophy. The winner also received a hunting horn, and rosettes commemorating their participation were awarded to all entrants.
Guidelines for Young Handlers Class
Although the rules for Harrogate and the Lycetts Festival of Hunting have not been finalised yet, it is understood that competitors are to be between the ages of ten and sixteen years. To help parents and youngsters, here are the entry conditions set up at Honiton.
Competitors (from packs already exhibiting at Honiton in other classes) were asked to show a single hound from their own hunt, and the Young Handlers were to be between the ages of twelve and sixteen. They were also expected to help regularly in kennels, say how long they had worked there and give an account of their work to the judges. They were to be judged on their ability to encourage the hound to extend across the ring and stand on the flagstones. Lastly, the judges would ask the competitor about the hound’s breeding.
Only the young handler and hound will be allowed to enter the ring, where an experienced senior steward will act as their showing assistant. The class at Honiton―first held in 2017―was held again in 2018. As time went on, it was noted that children were helping parents or members of hunt staff in the ring at other shows around the country. It is quite extraordinary how the class draws the crowds. “We’ve come down from showing our sheep to watch this class, we’ve heard so much about it,” said one group. “We heard about it last year and made sure we came to watch it this year” said another.
Work Done by the Young in Kennels
Having paid great attention to the two classes held at Honiton, onlookers were impressed with the work the ‘young’ did in kennels. One child helped with rearing the hunt puppies at home, one walked out with hounds before school each morning. Yet another young lad simply walked into the kennels one day, just ‘dug in’ to the job, and has been there ever since. Another boy started a book in which he wrote up his own hunt reports, and yet another was awarded a trophy (by the pack she hunts with) for having been the most helpful youngster that season. Two sisters were able to run the kennels on their own entirely―administering medicine, dealing with injuries, and sometimes running the yard when their parents were away. Another girl was careful to learn not only her hound’s breeding but also the lineage and breeding of the sire and dam. Last but not least, three of the lads did skinning! As one onlooker remarked at Honiton, “If you want to see the best of the young generation that is growing up in England now, you need look no further than the entrants in this class today.”
Opportunities for All
So for all you young people who go hunting, or go to the kennels, or walk puppies, get your skates on and start working with your favourite hounds. It will be just wonderful to see you all showing in your own class this summer. We have seen you children and teenagers in the collecting rings at shows, helping your hunts get hounds ready for their classes, only to then stand watching patiently while they collect the ribbons and cups. Now it is your turn to show what you can do, so waste no time. Go up to the kennels and start getting to know the hounds in your hunt. This summer it is your turn to go into the ring and show hounds yourselves!
We have seen a staghound win the class at Honiton last year. An Old English hound might gallop into the ring at Harrogate shown by a competent small child and we may well see a ten-year-old showing a basset at Peterborough. Who knows? For these rich moments we have to wait and see.
Click for Hound Shows, dates, and contacts this summer across North America.
Posted April 5, 2019
This article first appeared in Hounds magazine and is published with permission and minor modification (schedule of hound shows) for American readers.