FOR any hunting enthusiasts the summer can drag on somewhat, but thankfully hound shows and puppy shows help to fill the void. One show which everyone should experience at least once is the Festival of Hunting in Peterborough, UK.

The show is all run over the course of a day, with the gates opening at 7:30 in the morning. The day is filled with foxhound, harrier, beagle, blood hound and basset showing, as well as equestrian classes and, of course, an array of stands and shops.

From the minute you drive in the gates the scale of the show is breath-taking, as is the organisation of it all. The showgrounds are well laid out so you can easily keep an eye on what’s going on. Almost all of the showing rings have covered seating which is ideal regardless of the weather conditions.

The foxhound show ring is a particular spectacle. The indoor ring is unlike any normal ring, surrounded on all four sides by tiered seating. This also brings an added dimension to the hounds when they come into the arena, some rise to the occasion and show very well while other can become more timid and hide away.

The shopping village will fill any requirements you might have from a new hunting wardrobe to Christmas or birthday presents. As well as this there is a wide selection food vendors so there is plenty to choose from.

In terms of transport one of the most direct routes to take is to fly into London Stanstead and hire a car from there – it’s slightly over an hour long drive up the motorway from the airport. There are also train and bus options available to bring you into Peterborough town.

Top-quality hounds

Seeing the best English packs is always a welcome sight but getting to see almost all of the top packs come together in one location to show their best hounds is very special. There is no doubting the quality of the hounds on show at Peterborough. Most of them come from decades of carefully planned breeding and using top bloodlines, and this is very clear to see.

The packs show a range of qualities a huntsman usually aspires to have, they tend to be very even in height, of a similar colour and with good conformation. The show kennels are well designed so you can see into each kennel and get an idea of what the pack looks. Hunt staff are usually are happy to talk you once they are not about to go into the ring.

Overall the Festival of Hunting is well worth a visit. The 2020 Lycetts Festival of Hunting will take place on July 22nd next year. Tickets go sale in the spring via their website:

www.festivalofhunting.com