Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Kennel Diary
Were it not for COVID-19, the new season would have begun in earnest and plans made for the puppy show
Maintaining a hunt country is vital. Making sure land is accessible is important and the summer months provide an excellent opportunity to keep on top of any work that needs attending to. Jumps not only allow the ladies and gentlemen of the field to enjoy their hunting by providing opportunities to risk life and limb to keep up with the hounds, but they also ensure hunt staff are able to get about and provide the sport we are all there to enjoy.
A lot of hunt countries are fortunate still to have a good deal of natural obstacles to keep people entertained. The grass vales of the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt in Dorset, and the Wynnstay hunt in north Wales, with their notorious blackthorn hedges, are a couple that spring to mind. They provide testing natural jumping to those hardy thrusters who follow them.
But for those not so fortunate as to enjoy endless unspoiled country as these, building hunt jumps is always necessary. Timber or post-and-rail hunt jumps are reasonably quick to erect and therefore also reasonably quick to repair when they get broken. One of my joint Masters here at the South Durham is a whizz at sussing out a likely spot for a new jump or finding a hedge to trim that he’ll instruct our field Master to have a crack at next time we are in the area.
All this helps keep the country as open as possible, which makes my job of hunting hounds easier as well as giving the subscribers the enjoyment they desire. Allied to building bridges and putting in wicket gates, there is always plenty to do to keep a hunt country open. All this work not only benefits hunting but also the landowners over whose land we hunt. Making good gates and bridges also helps them with access.
“You must be wary of judges who like to tell a naughty joke in their speeches”
The official start of the new hunting season is 1 May. This is the time Masters and hunt staff take up new positions and those who are retiring bow out. This year, with the current restrictions due to COVID-19, it has been more difficult but where the welfare of hounds is concerned people have been allowed to move to new jobs under strict guidelines.
Learning a new pack of hounds is far from easy: 60 to 70 names to be put to faces and none of them can confirm or deny if you are right or not. Someone who knows all the hounds will hopefully be available to help, but this is not always the case. Some will have to rely on nothing but a list of names and numbers and a microchip reader. Once this task is completed, you have a new hunt country and all the farmers and landowners to learn as well.
Lavish tea
The big event of the summer is the puppy show. Though intended as an event to formally thank the puppy walkers for their not inconsiderable efforts of educating the young puppies, it is also a chance to see the new young hounds judged for their conformation, to enjoy a lavish tea and to catch up with hunting friends. Organising the day can seem somewhat overwhelming to a new Master. You need to elect judges who are not so opposing in views that they are still deliberating over the doghounds as the sun goes down.
You must also be wary of judges who like to tell too much of a naughty joke during their speech. Ms Favour, who has walked countless puppies over the years, might not be too impressed with the antics of the duchess and the stable boy.
The puppy show tea is a highlight of the day and if you are canny you should be able to convince the ladies of the hunt to produce a fabulous spread without having to call in expensive caterers.
I am reminded of a quote I heard some years ago: “You will, over time, perfect a system for organising a puppy show. I have quite a good one. I send my joint-master a cable from the South of France and tell him to get on with the arrangements.”
Harry Beeby lives in County Durham, is a keen huntsman and a dedicated conservationist with a passion for country sports.