NINE-year-old Billy Scallan did a fantastic job helping his father Paul show hounds at the IMFHA National Hound Show in Stradbally last weekend, even showing this lovely foxhound Island Desmond with Paul to place third in the stallion hound class.

Paul is huntsman of the Island Foxhounds and Billy often helps his dad out at the kennels near Clearistown. Billy also competed in the young handlers’ class and won a rosette. “It was some compensation for being sick the week before with chickenpox and missing his sports day,” Paul said.

This week young Billy is riding at the Killinicks’ Pony Camp at Moorefield and will be working hard to attain his D test with his pony Missy.