Large crowds delighted in over 20 packs of Modern Foxhounds and 11 packs of Old English Foxhounds as they took to the rings at the 135th Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show alongside the Festival of Hunting, held at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, on Wednesday 19th July, supported by key sponsor, the Countryside Alliance.
The Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show Society welcomed visitors from America, New Zealand and Tasmania, and Foxhound packs from across the United Kingdom, including the Flint and Denbigh, making the journey from Wales to the highlight of the Foxhounds summer show season, ‘Peterborough’.
This year, the Duke of Beaufort’s, Heythrop, and Vale of the White Horse (VWH) took home the leading titles. ‘Singer’ secured the Best Stallion Hound for the VWH, with the Heythrop taking the Champion Dog Hound title for a second year, this year with ‘Grappler’, after ‘Raffa’ took the title in 2022.
Champion Dog Hound, Heythrop ‘Grappler’ – photo credit Tim Scrivener
The bitch foxhound classes were led by Duke of Beaufort’s ‘Careful’ who went on to take the Perpetual Challenge Cup for the Champion Bitch Hound after first being tipped in the Best Brood Bitch class.
Best Brood Bitch & Champion Bitch Hound, Duke of Beaufort’s ‘Careful’ – photo credit Tim Scrivener
In the Old English Foxhound classes, it was a double win for the North Shropshire, with the Champion Dog Hound title to ‘Blandford’, whilst ‘Arkle’ was given the nod in the Champion Bitch Hound class.
Old English Champion Dog Hound, North Shropshire ‘Blandford’, and Champion Bitch Hound, North Shropshire ‘Arkle’ photo credit Tim Scrivener
Away from the foxhounds, the Festival of Hunting is one of the largest shows of working scent hounds anywhere in the world, with packed crowds around the ring for Beagles, Harriers, and Basset Hounds classes. In the Beagles ring the Best in Show went to Dummer ‘Whinchat’, the breed’s Champion Bitch Hound, whilst the Champion Dog Hound was tipped to Christ Church and Farley Hill ‘Musket’.
Beagles Best in Show, Dummer ‘Whinchat’ – photo credit Tim Scrivener
In the Harriers, Best in Show was awarded to the West Country Harrier Bitch Hound Champion, North Norfolk ‘Blossom’ from Waveney and Norfolk.
Harriers Best in Show, Waveney and Norfolk, North Norfolk ‘Blossom’ – photo credit Tim Scrivener
The Basset Hound Supreme Champion title went to their Champion Bitch Hound, Westerby ‘Lateness’, with the Champion Dog Hound title to East Lincs ‘Voter’.
Basset Hound Supreme Champion, Westerby Lateness – photo credit Richard Crowhurst
Barry Todhunter, huntsman of 50 years to the Blencathra Foxhounds was welcomed to parade and talk about his Fell Hounds before lunch, whilst the Sealyham Terriers and Sight Hounds also paraded earlier in the morning. The West Sussex Working Teckels were a popular addition to Ring 1 between lunch and the recommencement of afternoon classes.
Beyond the hound classes, the grassroots Hunt Staff Benefit Society Young Handler Class returned for a fourth year with a record 17 entries to be judged by Mrs George Gemmell (nee Farquhar). The popular next generation class, with the highest number of entries seen across the hound show circuit this summer, was won by Sophia Bland, 10, who was awarded the perpetual trophy, the Captain Farquhar Cup, and a signed copy of his recently published book, ‘The Way It Was’, along with a hunting horn donated from Hunting Kind in memory of James Barclay, and goody bags from the Hunt Staff Benefit Society.
Sophia Bland, Hunt Staff Benefit Society Young Handler Class winner
Sophia, who follows the Vale of Lune Harriers both on foot and horse, showed ‘Fenwick’, with whom she had also won the Young Handlers Class at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2022. Praised by Mrs Gemmell for her “impressive knowledge and fantastic bond with Fenwick”, Sophia plans to study to become a vet specialising in hounds, focusing on investigating their unique bloodlines and physical traits, which are “so different to domestic dogs and really interest me.”
For fans of the other four-legged stars of the hunting community, the grounds around the Inter Hunt Relay competition were the big draw, with a total of 38 teams entered across the Junior and Senior it’s a knockout-style competitions to find out the quickest and most skilful team of four. Sponsored by Honri Hats, in the junior section the championship went to the Grove and Rufford Hunt: Ella Hoyland, 14; Harriet Woodcock, 9; Eve Pawson, 16; Lexy Adlington, 13. In the senior section the Quorn Hunt team came out on top: Timmy Dobson-Seaton, Oliver Woodland, Philli Sheppard,
Izzy Nowicki. Our congratulations go to all teams that entered for their horsemanship and nerve!
Senior champions – Quorn, Junior champions – Grove & Rufford – photo credit Tess Cadman Country Photography
Whilst the VP’s Marquee remains a coveted lunch ticket, if you were wondering where everyone else nips off to for lunch, the hunt lorry park picnics are the hot spot, where the annual Hunt Picnic Competition was judged by The Field editor, Alexandra Henton, local award-winning food writer and East of England Agricultural Society member Jenny Jefferies, and Octavia Pollock, chief sub-editor of Country Life magazine.
Over 10 picnics were judged with the Wheatland Hunt awarded the first prize of the Stirrup Cup basket of port for their opening meet, donated by the East of England Agricultural Society, and copies of Jenny Jefferies’ books. The judges also noted the wonderful effort put into the tailgate picnics in the VP car park – one to watch for next year!
Jenny Jefferies, Octavia Pollock, Mrs Sula Baugh, Mrs Julia Foster MFH, Alexandra Henton – photo credit East of England Agricultural Society
Spearheaded by Mrs Sula Baugh, the Wheatland picnic was commended by the judges for its delicious local food, wonderful provenance and stories behind every speciality on the table, and community feel, as well as table decorations that included a centrepiece using ‘Hounds’ magazine, which is printed in Wheatland country.
Mrs Baugh said: “We were surprised to win the hunt picnic competition on our first attempt but really thrilled, as so many people had put so much effort into cooking and preparing the food and the layout for the picnic. We will use some of the wonderful ‘stirrup cup’ for our opening meet and look forward to sharing around the four cookery books which were part of the prize.”
Highly commended went to the Fitzwilliam for their ‘harvest picnic’ theme, the Hurworth for their delicious local pork pies, and the Hampshire for their local sparkline wine.
The ‘local larder’ food and drink court was on hand to refuel the crowds during the day, whilst the bar in the Hunt Marquee was as always, the place to be at the end of the classes, with crowds spilling out into the last of the day’s sun. The ample retail stalls were popular too – with the emergency purchase of kit ahead of the Inter Hunt Relay classes spotted on more than one occasion, whilst many shoppers delighted in taking home a local pie or bottle of gin to continue the festivities.
Ruth Trolove, show manager, said: “It is wonderful to see the Festival of Hunting grow year on year, with so many hunts taking the time to skilfully prepare hounds and attend on the day, alongside scores of Inter Hunt Relay teams, and the Young Handlers Class, which we are really proud of as encouraging the next generation to keep the rich heritage of hound bloodlines and showing alive.”
“As the crowds around the rings, down the retail aisles and in the hunt lorry park picnics are testament to, the breadth of activities at the Festival of Hunting means that it is a wonderful day out for anyone in the rural community, not just avid hound followers.”
Alison Queenborough, Secretary of The Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show Society, said: “We are looking forward to the Festival of Hunting going from strength to strength and welcoming crowds also to the 136th Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show on Wednesday 17th July 2024 at Milton Estate, Peterborough.”
All press enquiries should contact amy@artheyassociates.co.uk or 07858 656444.
All photos credit Tim Scrivener, East of England Agricultural Society, Tess Cadman Country Photography, Richard Crowhurst, as specified.
The Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show Society was founded in 1878 under the Chairmanship of the Marquis of Huntly. The first show was held under the patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales KG and the first President was the then Earl Fitzwilliam. The importance of the Show was recognised in 1934 when HM King George V gave permission for the name of the Society to become the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show Society.
By tradition, by its achievements, and by the continuing excellence of its standards, The Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show is the major event in its field in the world. 2023 will celebrate the 135th Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show and there is no doubt that Peterborough continues to serve this great sport as a unique annual focus for all that is best in foxhound breeding.
The Festival of Hunting has grown around the Foxhound Show and incorporates The Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagle s, The Masters of Basset Hounds Association, Fellhounds, Gazehounds and an Equine section hosting the Inter Hunt relay. It is organised by the East of England Agricultural Society who have been promoting agriculture and rural life since 1797 and who also administer the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show Society.
The Countryside Alliance is a political campaigning force that promotes and protects the rural way of life. We represent the interests of our members and supporters in parliament, in the media and on the ground. Our aim is to achieve a better understanding and acceptance of activities such as hunting and shooting, protecting them from bias, misinformation and over-regulation to ensure they have a long-term and sustainable future.
Festival of Hounds 