PFB Puppy Show

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George Whittaker, huntsman of the Woodland Pytchley, shows hounds at the Pipewell Foot Beagles' Puppy Show. Photograph by Andrew Percival.

By Mary Skipwith of The Field

Monday, 30 June 2008

The Pipewell Foot Beagles' puppy show saw four couple of hounds judged at Manor House, Little Harrowden.

A good crowd turned out at the home of the Pipewell’s Joint Master Stephen Reynolds and his wife, Diana, to enjoy the sunshine and see this year's young hounds judged by Mr Gerald Deville MH and Mr Ashley Doherty KH. As Stephen Reynolds admitted he didn't know how Gerald managed the Mastership of the Staffordshire Moorland foxhounds as well as running his own pack of beagles, Gerald's wife was heard to remark, "I do, he's got me."

With only half a couple of doghounds to show, the judges’ verdict on Best Doghound was always going to be an easy one to reach; it was duly won by PFB Viking (sire PFB Marshall, dam PFB Venus). However, the decision over the three-and-a-half couple of bitches took longer, with the Best Bitch title going to PFB Daisy (sire PFB Marshall, dam PFB Verity). The Gill Downs trophy, awarded to the walker of Best in Show, went to Mrs O Brookshaw for PFB Daisy.

Some of the hounds were more eager to be judged than others, with particularly keen ones scrabbling over the gate from the holding pen. This was much to the amusement of the spectators, who also applauded the rescue of a handbag moments before a hound marked it.

The best working dog and bitch hounds of last season, PFB Matador and PFB Magic (both from PFB Vendor and PFB Magdelen) were paraded before a sumptuous tea, where comments about fitting back into breeches before the opening meet stopped some plates being loaded as high as they might have been.