David Lalor, master of the Laois Foxhounds, organised both the logistics and a splendid layout of showing rings for the foxhounds, harriers and beagles.

The show has gone from strength to strength since its inception in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, in 1909. From Clonmel it moved to Clonshire in Co Limerick, then the RDS, and for the past 14 years, the hound breeding showcase has been held at Stradbally Hall.

Much of the show’s success can be attributed to the enthusiasm of Rupert Macauley, chairman of the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association, and Roddy Bailey, who are both seasoned breeders of hounds, and judges in their own right. With show rings for foxhounds, harriers and beagles, visitors to the 2014 show witnessed the cream of different breeds of Irish hunting hounds.

The Irish Field, which gives extensive weekly coverage on the Irish hunting scene during the season, again sponsored the Old English unentered bitch class. Managing editor Leo Powell was on hand to present The Irish Field perpetual trophy to Belinda Johnson of the County Limericks, whose bitch Chalice ’13 by Safeguard ’09 won this very competitive class.

Hunting in its present form goes back to Norman times but the Irish were hunting deer, fox and hare as far back and probably earlier than 2,000BC, as we discover in the early Irish law tracts that governed Ireland from pre-Christian times to the 17th century.

Hounds that hunted by scent were known as ‘Cu Selga’ and when an Irish chieftain went to visit another chieftain, it was customary that he would take his hounds and horses with him so that he could challenge his host to ascertain which pack and horses were best.

Hunt staff at Stradbally Hall looked very smart and were impeccably turned-out. Huntsmen, whippers-in and their kennelmen have spent early summer preparing the young hounds that will hunt this coming season for the show ring.

Getting used to noise and large crowds is a challenge and a number of packs held puppy shows and paraded at horse shows and race meetings in advance of the Stradbally Show to as part of their preparation.

Others even brought their hounds to village street markets to get help their young hounds get used to meeting lots of people.

There is intensive competition to win but showing in the ring is only one part of judging a hound, as the real test is in the hunting field, where one can judge drive, voice, stamina, accuracy on casts and fox sense, or in the case of beagles, hare sense.

JUDGES

To ensure impartiality at the national show, overseas judges are always invited to adjudicate at Stradbally but they too are sometimes known to have preferences between modern and Old English hounds.

Last Sunday, the doghounds were judged by Jacky Thomas, joint master and huntsman of the Glamorgan in Wales, and Captain Ian Farquhar, master of the Duke of Beaufort. The bitches were judged by Richard Sumner former master of the Heythrop, and a frequent visiting judge at the Dublin Horse Show, and Matt Ramsden joint master and huntsman of the Bedale. All agreed that they were delighted with the exceptionally high standard of hound, particularly in the bitch classes.

FOXHOUNDS

There was intense competition in the foxhound ring with Mark Casserly of the Killultagh, Old Rock and Chichester and Sonny O’Donnell of the United showing for the first time and sharing in the places.

The prizes were evenly spread in both the doghound and bitch classes but it was a particularly successful day out for Ballymacad huntsman Kevin Donohoe, who had winners in three classes.

These included the best couple in both the entered doghound and bitch classes, as well as best two couple with Sapling by Saturday ’06 out of Kildare Saintly ’08. Donohue was presented with the Evan Williams Perpetual Cup by Micky Flanagan, who whipped in to the Tipperary Foxhounds for remarkable 42 seasons. Sapling is an exceptional bitch, being part of the team in the latter classes and then going on to win the overall bitch championship.

The South Tyrone picked up three class wins as well as the reserve slot in both the best single unentered bitch and the bitch championship with Beauty ‘13 by North Down Shylock ’11 out of Fitzwilliam Beverage ’10. The Isaac Bell Trophy was presented to South Tyrone honorary whip Paul Kinane by Captain Tom Morgan of the West Waterfords.

The Kildare Foxhounds did a double by winning both the doghound championship and reserve with Monty by Westmeath Monitor ’09 out of Duke of Beaufort Durance ’08, and Pluto by North Tipperary Imlic ’10 out of Plenty ’05.

Kenny Henry, huntsman of the Meath Foxhounds, won both the unentered doghounds open with Parson and Partner by Exmoor Belfry ’08 out of Pansy ‘07, and the unentered couple of bitches with Passion and Passive by the same breeding.

The balance of the classes were won by Louth, Limerick, and Kilkenny foxhounds.

Island Postman won the entered doghound restricted and the John Watson Trophy was presented by Dr Patrick Wall, chairman of Horse Sport Ireland to the Island.

Duhallow Lilac won the Robin Hunt Memorial Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the best brood bitch class, which was presented by Jenny Hunt to joint-master Kate Jarvey. The Galway Blazers, East Down, Wicklow, Muskerry, and the South Union picked up valuable placings.

HARRIERS

It was a special day for fans of harriers as in one class alone, the showing ring was jam-packed with some of the best quality hounds. Show secretary Janet Reilly was kept busy throughout the day keeping track of the large number of hounds entered.

As harrier packs hunt with both foxhounds and harriers, the foxhound class spoils were shared between Liam Murphy’s Stonehall Harriers, Chris Smith of the Fingal Harriers and David Burke of the Grallagh Harriers. Smith went one better in not alone winning the championship with Dazzle, but also the reserve championship with Trifle.

In the harrier classes, the main winners were Tom Shanahan’s Premier Harriers, Robert Kent’s Mullinavat Harriers and Tom Geary’s Killeagh Harriers. Tom Ryan won the senior hound class and the championship with Bouncer, a smashing black and tan hound, with Robert Kent winning the senior bitch class and the reserve championship with Opel.

However David Shanahan of the Premier Harriers stole the show when he took along eight-week-old pups, Orla and Tom, who were a big hit with the spectators, especially the younger children.

BEAGLES

The beagle judging ring was still mourning the loss of John Shaw Brown, master and huntsman of the Sunnyland Beagles, who passed away recently. He and his wife Elizabeth were the main organisers of the show and took a regular haul of rosettes and trophies home to their kennels near Belfast every year.

However Shaw would be proud of how his hounds performed as they won three individual classes, as well as the reserve champion bitch, supreme champion doghound, reserve supreme champion bitch and reserve supreme champion of the show titles.

Shaw’s main rival over the years, Woodrock and Blackwater Valley huntsman Stevie McDonald, was again hard to beat, bagging five classes as well as the bitch supreme championship with Apricot and the supreme championship of the show with Apricot by Vinny ’05 out of Emer ’06. Mr Kerrs, Cavanapole, Balgarrett and the Goldburn shared the placings.

The best hound shown by a junior handler class was won by Ross Donoghue for the Goldburns, with runner-up Colin Haddon a regular follower of the Ballymacads for the Balgarrett.