A welcome return for the Festival of Hunting

The Countryside Alliance was delighted to support the ever-popular Festival of Hunting which made a welcome return to the East of England Showground last week (21^st July).

As anticipated, thousands of hunt supporters had travelled from all regions to support their packs and see the country's finest foxhounds competing in the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show and to watch the hotly-contested classes in the Old English Foxhound, beagle, harrier, basset hound and bloodhound rings.

In the foxhound enclosure, the VWH secured a popular win in the doghound championship with Footpad under the watchful eye of judges Alastair Jackson and Dominic Jones, while the Heythrop claimed the honours during the afternoon's judging by Nigel Peel and Paul Hancock MFH, with Radiant landing the overall bitch hound title.

The North Shropshire dominated the Old English Foxhound championships, securing the doghound title with Chepstow and Chequer taking the bitch hound equivalent.

The Peterborough Harrier and Beagle show was also well supported with Palmer Marlborough (CMV) Winston 2016 taking the best in show accolade, while the overall harrier championship was awarded to Waveney Laughter. In the basset hound classes, De Burgh and North Essex Oscar took the doghound championship before going on to claim the supreme championship over kennelmate Nightshade who landed the bitch hound title.

It wasn't just in the hound show classes that there was some stiff competition, with the inter-hunt relays causing some nail-biting finishes. The Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase landed the honours in the senior relay competition, with the Beaufort taking the junior title.

The next generation of hunt staff took part in the Young Handler's Competition with 16-year-old Thomas Hopkins showing a bitch hound from the Wheatland Hunt to take top spot, sponsored by Countryman Feeds and judged by Mr Ian McKie.

Our stand was busy throughout the day where we welcomed hundreds of members and supporters. We were also pleased to be able to support the Hunt Staff Benefit Society (HSBS) who exhibited their Christmas cards, books and other fundraising merchandise within the Alliance's stand.

Thankfully, "freedom day" came just at the right time, enabling those attending the show to enjoy their day without too many restrictions, although the organisers had planned the event with Covid guidelines in mind throughout to ensure the day could go ahead without putting those attending at risk. There was so much uncertainty in the weeks leading up to the third Wednesday of July - which is the traditional day for the show – that huge praise must go to Alison Queenborough and her team at the showground who left no stone unturned, with even the exceptional hanging baskets adding the perfect finishing touch to the foxhound kennels area.

Full results from the Festival of Hunting can be found HERE.