The Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show and the Festival of Hounds, which are taking place on Wednesday, 16 July, at the East of England Showground near Peterborough, promise something for everyone with an interest in hounds, hound breeding and hunting in general.
There is a new layout this year for the entire event, with the footprint moved to a new area on the showground, albeit not far from its former location, although much of the rest of the event will remain the same; gates will open at 9am and the judging of the dog hound classes in the harrier and beagle rings will commence at 9.30am. In the rings for the modern foxhounds, Old English foxhounds and basset hounds, judging will start at 10am.
The first teams in the senior inter-hunt relay competition will be in action from 9.30am where there is bound to be some competitive riding. The Quorn Hunt took the honours in the senior event in both 2023 and 2024 so may well be aiming for a hat-trick. In the afternoon, the junior teams will be vying for the honours in what is sure to be another hotly contested competition.
The main foxhound ring, grandstand seating, scoreboard and collecting ring will all be replicated under one large marquee structure instead of taking place in the Fitzwilliam Enclosure. The new ring will be on grass with flagstones, which is the same as all the other hound rings, while the Secretary’s and Declarations' Offices along with hunt staff changing rooms will be in marquee structures alongside. Hounds will be lodged in temporary stables as used by the Old English foxhounds, harriers and beagles.
One of the highlights of the Festival of Hounds is the Young Handlers’ Class, which usually draws a large crowd. This will take place at 2pm in Ring 1 and is not to be missed.
The Alliance is thrilled to once again be a key sponsor of the Festival of Hounds this year, and we warmly invite you to join us for light refreshments throughout the day at our hospitality stand. As always, you’ll find us near the Vice Presidents’ marquee. Our team of representatives will be on hand to welcome members and supporters, offering a chance to discuss the future of hunting and other matters important to you.
Whether you're supporting your local pack of hounds, cheering on your hunt’s inter-hunt relay team, competing on the flags, shopping for new kit ahead of the season, or simply enjoying the vibrant social atmosphere, there’s plenty to enjoy.
We look forward to seeing many of you on Wednesday for a fantastic day of competition, camaraderie and a celebration of all things hunting.
To see a map of the new layout, please CLICK HERE.
Image Credit: Georgina Preston