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| De La Brooke W hounds won both champion and reserve champion Penn Marydale Best of Breed. Quantom (left) was the champion and Quizno (right) was the reserve champion. |
Mackenzie Taylor from Goshen Hunt was a junior handler at the show. |
If you attended the 31st annual Maryland Foxhound Show, held this past May, you may have noticed an aura similar to your favorite horse show. It was a mix of bustling competitors and relaxed spectators, with the latter standing along the rail exchanging their own opinions on the entries. Hound shows are as important an adjunct to foxhunting as are hunter paces and hunter trials.
This particular show is known as “the puppy show” because it is held early in the year and affords an opportunity for huntsmen to bring their young hounds. It is organized by the Maryland Foxhound Club, Dr. Roger Scullin, president, and sanctioned by the Masters of Foxhounds Association. Goshen Hounds MFH Tom Pardoe and Marion Scullin, of Howard County-Iron Bridge Hounds, jointly organized this year’s show.
Hounds are pre-entered, with this year’s 129 entries drawn from 14 hunts. Pardoe remarked on the large turn out, pleased to note “hound shows are becoming more popular.” Graciously hosted by Howard County-Iron Bridge Hounds at their lovely and well-appointed kennels in Mount Airy. This venue is conveniently located for many local hunts, which may have helped bolster entries.
The criteria by which hounds are judged is familiar to all who have shown horses. In part, they are judged on conformation and way of going. According to Pardoe, when in the ring, judges are “generally looking at the hound’s feet first.” Since a hound runs on his feet, the conformation of the foot is of paramount importance. The accepted standard is an upright tight foot, known as a cat foot.
Amongst the rail side spectators was long-time Goshen Hounds associate Charles Duvall-Smith, who has been keenly interested in the breeding of foxhounds for many decades. In Duvall-Smith’s opinion, too much emphasis is placed on the cat foot. He further opined: “if you look at the feet of animals which excel at running, you will find common traits in gait and conformation. The greyhound, fox, and coyote are all good runners, and all run with a single track gait. They all tend towards a hare foot. That is, a foot with small pads and large toes. Cats, who have far less endurance than coursing hounds, have larger pads and smaller toes.” In Duvall-Smith’s estimation, the splayfoot is not as much a factor in performance as it’s disfavor in the show ring would indicate.
Robert Taylor, Goshen Hounds MFH and huntsman, brought a dozen of his young hounds. In terms of ringside support as well as show entries, this spring saw Goshen’s biggest turn out of late. When asked what he liked about the puppy show, Robert replied that he came to the show to enjoy the wonderful facility and wonderful friends, and added that it is a great opportunity to talk shop with other huntsmen. The show gives him a chance to see the offspring of known good hounds, and discuss hound breeding with his professional peers. Tony Gammell, Keswick huntsman agreed, “hound shows promote mentoring among huntsmen”
Asked why he came to the show, Potomac huntsman Larry Pitts, who is known for his laconic wit, said “when you are young, you come to the shows to try to get tid bits from the older huntsmen. When you are older, you come to make fun of the young ones!” In a more serious vein, Pitts noted that he sees the faults of his own hounds more when he sees them compared to others which are not his.
Of the 90 or so professional huntsmen in America, 15% were present at the Maryland Foxhound Show. Every huntsman interviewed had warm praise for the show. Geoffery Hyde of Elkridge-Harford says it is a good addition to their social calendar, giving social members an opportunity to get involved. George Harne of New Market-Middletown Valley brings hounds because he likes to see “how mine stack up.” All in all, every huntsman there was happy to present his hounds for the judge’s consideration.
John Ike, ex MFH of Amwell Valley was the judge, and shared some of his insight on judging: “Remember, this is only one man’s opinion on one day.” But this particular man brings years of hound breeding expertise to the table. Ike’s interest in hound breeding began as a young person, when he was involved with the Essex Bassett pack. Later, as huntsman for Essex, he inherited a pack of crossbred and Penn-Marydel foxhounds. “That first season was an opportunity to observe the relative merits of each type.” Over the years, Ike has established a few personal rules on breeding. “Rule number one is: the hounds must suit your territory.”
When judging, Ike seeks to promote longevity in individual hounds. A hound with the type of conformation which holds up for that extra season brings invaluable experience to the pack. Ike was “gratified to see the puppy show so well attended” feeling it was “an opportunity for spectators to see the various types of hounds in a low-key, enjoyable, educational format.” His opinion was shared by all who came to the “Puppy Show” on this lovely spring day.
The big winners are this year’s show Piedmont Hunt and De La Brooke Foxhounds W. Hounds from both clubs won “Best of Breed” classes. Piedmont’s Perfect won both the American Bitches class and the American Best of Breed. The club’s other top hound was Oxford, who won Cross-bred Dogs and Cross-bred Best of Breed.
Quantom from De La Brooke W won the Penn Marydale Dogs class and the Penn Marydale Best of Breed. In fact, De La Brooke W actually had the top two Penn Marydale hounds with Quizno taking home the second place spot for Best of Breed.
EH Lex from Elkridge Hartford was the top Stallion Hound. Pagan from Keswick topped the American Dogs class. A Green Spring Valley hound named Talent won the Cross-bred Bitches class and Opal, from Marlborough, won the Penn Marydel Bitches class. The top Brood Bitch went to New Market-Middletown Valley’s Kelley.
Howard County-Iron Bridge’s pack was named best pack with Green Spring Valley coming in second. Rounding out the top three was Elkridge Harford.
Emma Walsh from Piedmont was awarded the best Junior Handler award.
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