HUNTSMAN Robbie Hodge of the East Antrim Foxhounds and his wife Emma, who whips-in to him, held their Puppy Show at Parkgate near Belfast recently, on a glorious day of sunshine attended by hunt followers, friends and many visitors.

There was a great turnout from the adjacent packs, which included Craig Caven, former master of the East Down Hunt; Patrick Murphy, master of the Fermanagh Harriers; Charlie McPoland of the Iveagh and Tom Fulton, who has done such outstanding work as chairman of the Hunting Association of Northern Ireland, together with being a respected hunting correspondent and photographer.

Also at the show was Ollie Chambers of Countryside Alliance, who is doing sterling work in articulating the positive case for hunting, wildlife management and the above all the sense of community hunting brings to rural areas, as well as the economic and social importance of hunting to small businesses. Joint master John Mitford is another man deeply involved in the community and he ran the programme like clockwork.

The judges were The Irish Fieldhunting correspondent Noel Mullins and the huntsman of the Mid Antrim Hounds, Stephen Hall. The first class to judge was the unentered doghounds and bitches. Thinker was put forward as the Unentered Doghound Champion and Songful the Unentered Bitch Champion. The next class was a selection of entered hounds, with the broken coated Ransome getting the nod as the Entered Doghound Champion and Freya the Entered Bitch Champion.

Awards

Two early awards were for former master of the East Down Hunt, Craig Caven, who has bred so many champions at The National Hound Show at Stradbally and at The Hunting Association of Northern Hound Show with huntsman Declan Feeney over the years. He predicted the judge’s choice of the Bitch Champion, and Richard Calhoon the Doghound Champion.

A novelty class was included at the end, which got the spectators really interested, as four hounds who had each a different colour collar were initially judged by the judges but the result was not revealed until the spectators handed in their slips of paper with their running choices. Those that got the same order as the judges were rewarded with a prize. Roy and Kay Logan, who walked the Unentered Doghound Champion, then received a presentation, as well as Fermanagh master and huntsman Patrick Murphy and his wife Rosemary for the Unentered Bitch Champion.

The marquee had a display of refreshments fitting of a five-star hotel specially prepared by Emma Hodge, which the followers enjoyed as the presentations were made to the puppy walkers.

A special presentation was made to the huntsman Robbie Hodge, his wife Emma and children Esme and Tilly for the outstanding work they do for the hunt in the community and the high standards of hound and horse welfare and the way they maintain their pristine hunt kennels. Supporters Ben, Rhys and Samuel were also acknowledged for their dedication to the East Antrim Hunt both in the kennels and on hunting days.