THE weather was mostly kind, but occasionally with some heavy downpours of rain in between for the National Hound Show in the classic setting of the Cosby family’s estate Stradbally Hall, which also hosted the Laois Irish Draught Branch Show.

The occasion is a great opportunity to catch up on all the hunting news and meet with the wider hunt supporters. A minute’s silence was held for Nick MacDermott, former master of the Kildare Hounds and honorary secretary of the IMFHA, whose wife Anne was on hand to present trophies.