THERE was a lot to celebrate at this year’s Louth Foxhounds Puppy Show; a considerable haul of silverware by huntsman Lloyd Parr at The Hunting Association of Northern Ireland Hound Show; The Rockview Harriers Hound Show; and an outstanding performance by the Louth Hounds at The National Hound Show at Stradbally Hall.

The owner of the pack, Sarah Angel - a keen breeder - was sadly missed, having passed away in the meantime, so the baton has been passed to her son Townley, who has a challenge to maintain the high standards of breeding that his mother and huntsman Lloyd Parr have achieved in recent years making them so difficult to compete with at hound shows, and these hounds can hunt too.

But there was yet another remarkable performance to recognise at The Dublin Horse Show by joint master Edmond Mahony, the Chairman of Tattersalls, when he rode his hunter Northern Ranger produced by his fellow joint master Kieran Ryan to win the four-year-old Heavyweight class, the reserve Heavyweight championship title and the reserve champion four-year-old for a week of victories and everybody was so delighted for him, as Edmond is the true Corinthian having competed year after year at the Dublin Show, where wins are really hard earned.

Hosts George and Jane Angel again entertained the members, friends and particularly landowners, who turned out in numbers. Farmers Sean McKenna (who was celebrating his birthday) and Andy Dunne, who are meticulous in maintaining coverts for wildlife on their farms, and all the puppy walkers, like the Williams, Hughes, McKenna, Parr, McKeever and Nevin families, all play an important role in the success of the hunt. Michael McKeever, who hunted and whipped-in to the Louths for over 50 seasons and his wife Nuala were there, as well as their son Michael Jr.

All the masters were on hand - Edmond Mahony, Gerry Boylan, Kieran Ryan, Joe Callan, Eamonn McGinn and incoming master Laurence Goodman. Visiting from Kilkenny was Rockview huntsman Johnnie Dicker, former Meath Hunt chairman Graham O’Reilly, South Tyrone huntsman Ryan Carvill and Ward Union Staghounds joint master Joey Moore.

The judges were Sabine Dowdall, who is the kennel huntsman of the Tara Harriers for many years, succeeding her father Terry who also hunted the hounds, and Joe Townsend, who would be known as huntsman of the Hurworth and a great breeder of Old English hounds who also has judged at the prestigious Peterborough Hound Show. Edmond Mahony was ring steward.

Huntsman Lloyd Parr had a new entry of 8 ½ couple of doghounds and four couple of bitches to be shown to the judges. After considerable deliberation, the Champion Doghound went to Louth Thatcher by Louth Carvar out of Louth Tinsel and his litter sister Louth Tiffany, the Bitch Champion. The Overall Championship went to the Doghound Louth Thatcher. The presentations to the puppy walkers were made by chairperson Sandra Cumiskey and Townley Angel, with a special presentation to joint master Edmond Mahony for his Dublin Horse Show wins.