THREATENING clouds failed to produce expected rain as over 100 people were welcomed by Master Pat Walsh to the annual Island Hunt Puppy Show at their Clearistown kennels.

The Scallan family have a great setting in their well-kept front garden and huntsman Paul and his helpers produced young hounds in excellent condition. The puppies showed well and were bold despite most of them being barely a year old. They looked fit and well and all involved deserve great credit.

The Island are what some refer to as ‘modern’ foxhounds. Of the four litters bred for this coming season, the two by United Dominic ’14 were the best seen for some time. Dominic is from an old Exmoor line to Famine ’95 and Heythrop Sandford ’97; hounds well know for their athletic ability to pursue the fox.

The dam of one of these two litters was the part American Grievance ’15 with her male lines to Live Oak (USA) Drummer ’89 and Exmoor Captain ’94. The other dam for Dominic was Gravel ’15 who has lines to the famous Beaufort Bailey ’03 and Palmer ’07. Exciting stuff for any hunt to have in its kennel, and the Dreelan family walked a number of Dominic’s progeny.

Judges Fergus Stokes, (huntsman, the Co Limerick) and Peter Cahill (huntsman, the Kildare) liked the young doghound Smuggler, walked by Dermot and Lila Clancy. Their puppy is by VWH Smasher ’14, who sired this year’s Peterborough doghound champion VWH Footpad ’19. Smuggler’s mother was Perfect ’18 who as an interesting line to Heythrop Samuel ’02. Island Hunt chairman John Gahan reared several of this litter taking second and third doghound prizes with his Smiler and Smasher. Hunt secretary Belinda Walsh did a great job rearing the bitch Smoothie and helpers had some difficulty persuading her to leave ‘Mum’ standing at the ring side.

Home-bred young bitches by Grafton ’16 caught the judges’ eyes before awarding first prize to Lawless, walked by Albert and Lisa Whitehead, well-known supporters of hunting. The dam was Lantern ’16 who has an Old English female line to Wynnstay Pancake ’02.

Working hound trophies are the highlight for most. Racehorse trainer Prunella Dobbs collected the ‘P A Walsh MFH Best Working Doghound Cup’ with Grafter ’20 and the Dreelan family took the working bitch Cup in memory of Councillor Jim Gahan with Dormouse ’20, an active lady by North Cotswold Downton ’15.

A fun show marking the end of the biscuit-throwing season; the hunting season starts next!