Stallion hounds
In recent weeks huntsmen and hound breeders have been deciding which stallion hounds to use this season. But which have proved the most popular and successful in the past few years? Mark Hankinson investigates
Which have proved the most successful in past years?
WHEN it comes to selecting a stallion hound, everyone will have their own preferences and criteria. Whether the hound is from a neighbouring pack or a wellknown national star, it is to be hoped that the breeder has done their homework and that their choice ties in well with the bitch’s pedigree and will help promote their kennel type.
I asked some of our foremost huntsmen and breeders for their suggestions of the most influential stallion hounds of recent years. While it is impossible to list all their choices, here are some of the better-known.
NORTH COTSWOLD BODMIN 10
Breeder and huntsman Nigel Peel MFH describes him as: “A wonderful dog, with a hell of a voice, and very tough but nice. If he was a person, you would have liked him very much!”
Bodmin 10 was never sick or sorry and didn’t miss a day in his six seasons of hunting, nor did he show any signs of wear and tear.
He was unentered champion at Peterborough in 2010 and the following year champion at Builth. However, he had to settle for reserve at that year’s Peterborough behind Beaufort Halifax 06. His progeny have also enjoyed great show success, producing more champions and prize-winners at major shows than any other sire in the past 10 years (see table).
DUKE OF BEAUFORT’S GALAHAD 05
Charles Carter MFH (Middleton) says: “[Beaufort joint-master] Ian Farquhar lent him to me in Galahad’s latter years, when I was hunting the West Norfolk. He was the most wonderfully accurate dog, with the deepest of voices and admirable scenting ability.
His arrival in Norfolk did our bitches the world of good at the time, steadying them up and also producing some wonderful litters.”
Two of Galahad’s most successful sons are Harrington 10 and North Cotswold Bodmin 10.
HEYTHROP STORMER 08
Heythrop Stormer 08 and his litter brothers Striker, Statesman and South and West Wilts Standard have probably been more widely used than any other family.
Former Heythrop joint-master Richard Sumner recalls how his then-huntsman, Anthony Adams, was judging the Meynell and South Staffs puppy show and asked to borrow Gracious
98, a granddaughter of Exmoor Greatwood 93 who only ever sired one litter. Gracious was put to the great Heythrop Busby 96, (who also sired Beaufort Bailey 03).
The granddaughter of this union was Study 05, who not only won the Peterborough championship in 2006 but also produced Stormer 08 and his brothers and litter sister Stylish, who was Peterborough champion in 2009.
Richard says: “They were probably the best litter I ever bred. Every one of them has been bred from, all of them were very good workers and if there was one hound you didn’t want to leave at home on a hunting day it was Stormer.”
DUKE OF BEAUFORT’S FOREMAN 12
One of VWH Darius 04’s most successful sons, described by former Beaufort huntsman Tony Holdsworth as: “Very quick at a cast; he just had a knack of getting it right.”
Current Beaufort huntsman Matt Ramsden continues: “His progeny are quite telling, that strong gene of perseverance has come through and they’re tough — they don’t miss a day.”
VWH RANCHER 09
Martin Scott, who breeds the VWH hounds, relates: “This is a line I really favour and it may be reflected in that this time I am intending to use four of his sons as I hold him in such high esteem. His dam Duffle 04 was one of those outstanding bitches that even members of the field used to recognise!
“Rancher has wonderful drive, a great voice and a brain. [VWH huntsman] Philip Hague says he has a bell in every tooth, and is, and always has been, 100% correct. His male line goes back to Old Berks Grammar 61 whom I hunted in his 10th season and was full of my father [Major
Bill Scott]’s best blood [from the Portman and other packs he hunted].”
VWH STUDENT 09
A front-running hound noted for his ability to draw. He is, however, likely to be overshadowed by his two outstanding sons Statesman and Steptoe 13.
Steptoe has just returned from the Middleton, where Charles Carter’s verdict is: “He barely missed a hunting day all season. I was particularly impressed with his ability and desire to draw, coupled with his deep and strong voice. This doghound would never be seen any further back in the pack than fourth or fifth, and often led. His ability to hold a line superseded most other hounds in the kennel. Possibly one of the finest dogs I have hunted and without question, a most deserving stallion hound.”
Student 09’s sire was Portman Stoker 02, whom Charles Frampton rated highly during his time there as master and huntsman.
“He was one of a litter of 13 and all were amazing, especially his sisters,” says Charles Frampton.
“He had a great voice and hunting sense. His breeding combined the Cottesmore ST line with Exmoor Emperor 97, who is from that important Tiverton Actor 22 male line.”
DUKE OF BEAUFORT’S HALIFAX 06
This handsome son of Bailey 03 has several important outcrosses in his pedigree, including the
Fell hound Blencathra Glider 76 and Vale of Clettwr Fairy 73 (Welsh). More recently and significantly his dam Fanfare 01 was a granddaughter of Midland Hardaway 89, from the USA. Tony Holdsworth said, “Halifax, Foreman and Goshawk were the three best doghounds that I ever hunted. Halifax was a fantastic hunter who also had a lovely temperament and his brother Hardaway, and indeed the rest of the litter, were all equally good.”
Suffolk huntsman Sean Hutchinson was one of the first to use him as a stallion hound.
“He put some real hunting ability into the pack, and we have been very pleased with all his offspring,” he says.
ZETLAND WOODCOCK 09
Initially used extensively in the north before coming to the Heythrop. Charles Frampton MFH (Heythrop) recalled: “I phoned Martin Letts at the College Valley as I needed a Fell
outcross such as Capt Wallace did during his time. Letts suggested Woodcock — he not only has College Valley blood but his tail female line is Heythrop. We had him down here to see how he hunted first, and he proved exceptional; we loved the way he hunted, he always seemed to be thinking ahead.”
Matt Ramsden MFH (Beaufort) added, “I used him twice when I was at the Bedale and have brought a daughter and granddaughter with me to Badminton and hope to breed from them in due course.”
His success as a stallion hound has been proven in the numbers of hard-driving, tough offspring that he has produced.
OLD ENGLISH HOUNDS
THERE has been a resurgence of these hounds in recent years, both as a breed and as an outcross. Many of the new, younger professional huntsmen seem to be favouring them, so I have included two of the most significant.
BELVOIR POACHER 98
Not quite as recent as the others mentioned, but a Titan in the breeding world. He must be one of the few hounds to be registered twice in the Foxhound Kennel Stud Book, both with the Belvoir and the Duhallow in Ireland, (who are probably rather miffed that the Leicestershire pack is getting the credit for a hound bred in their kennels!). His bloodline has been widely used among the old English packs; most of the Percy hounds now have him in their pedigree. But he has also had a large influence as an outcross with modern packs, most notably at the Heythrop where his son Postman 01 was used by many, and daughter Poplin went on to be Peterborough champion in 2003.
Percy huntsman Robert McCarthy describes Poacher as:
‘You’d never leave Stormer
at home on a hunting day’
RICHARD SUMNER
“Hard as nails, and very lowscenting.”
Former Belvoir huntsman Martin Thornton remembers how well he entered in his first season.
“It was the opening meet and I was drawing a covert called Sherbrooke’s,” he says. “I wasn’t too sure if there was anything about; Poacher started speaking and the whole pack flew to him and we were away.
“Another time we ran into a large field of sheep with electric fencing; only Poacher persevered through the electric and the foil and I was able to lay the rest of the pack on at the other side.”
PERCY SPITFIRE 08
This smart-looking hound has been an excellent ambassador
for his breed, proving to many modern breeders that the old English were not the stuffy, heavy-shouldered creatures of yesteryear.
Indeed Spifire’s superb conformation led some people to doubt that he was indeed pure-bred and the Percy huntsman was even obliged to present one doubter with
a copy of the hound’s pedigree.
However, he was not just a pretty boy; he hunted until his 10th season and had tremendous working ability, which he has passed down to his progeny.
Belvoir huntsman John Holliday points out that two of the best hounds that he has ever hunted were by Spitfire — high praise indeed.