So, just what is it that draws such a large crowd to the Festival of Hunting at the East Of England Showground each year?
Is it the fact that it is the greatest gathering of hounds in the country? Or perhaps it’s the increasingly popular inter-hunt relay where the senior teams compete for £1,000 top prize. For some it could be the draw of being able to browse the vast array of shops where it is possible to buy almost anything ever needed to equip yourself for a day’s hunting.
With separate rings for all the different types of hounds — modern and Old English foxhounds, beagles, harriers, draghounds, bloodhounds and bassets — this event, held on Wednesday, 22 July, really was the place to be for those interested in hounds. With packs from all over the country attending, it brought together many of the country’s best show hounds.
Take a look at our gallery to see some of the highlights of the show and don’t miss Horse & Hound on 30 July for the full report on the foxhounds, Old English foxhounds, draghounds, bloodhounds and basset hounds. The beagles and harriers report will be in 6 August 2015 issue.
Dog and bitch hound champions in the basset ring running off against eachother for the supreme in show title
The Barlow’s successful junior inter-hunt relay team
Four Shires Magnum 14, a popular winner in the basset hound classes
Suffolk Marmalade takes the restricted unentered bitch hound class
VWH huntsman Philip Hague at the start of the day
VWH supporters: former joint-master Countess Goess-Saurau, hound breeder Martin Scott and Tessa Good MFH
Continued below…
Which hounds came up trumps at the Great Yorkshire Show? PICTURES
Take a look at our hound show gallery from this year's Great Yorkshire Show
Who caught the eye at the Blaston Hound Show? PICTURES
Take a look at who the winners were at this ever-popular hound show
Fitzwilliam huntsman George Adams and ring steward’s assistant Jim Lang share a moment
Kennel-huntsman Matthew Puffer surveys the judging
Stallion hound winner Grove & Rufford Bellman 13
Matt Ramsden MFH and Ian McKie MFH synchronise their judging decisions
Champion modern foxhounds bitch Grove & Rufford Duchess 12 crowns a successful day for the pack
Two couple winners VWH Nightshirt, Scallywag, Scoundrel and Steptoe having some preparation ahead of their class
