Peterborough 2004

Peterborough Hound Show 2004
Click on the thumbnails to see larger images - all photographs © G Beard 2004

From Ordinary to Very Special
With thanks to the Huntsman's wife

Well what a day - like a bolt out of the blue what had started as a (very, very, early) ordinary day turned into something magical, and all because of (yes you guessed it, SILKY). So John Funnell is the very first person who must be thanked, he gave Silky's sire "STANLEY" to Richard when he left the Surrey Union, and the rest as they say is history.

We were transported as usual, boy are we getting used to it, in the gold coach with S driving, and R, R, the Junior Master and I trying to pretend that we were awake. We left at 4.45 am!!, R having done the Kennels before we left!

Brilliant journey, and we were then joined by D and K, and K's wonderful bacon rolls, thank you K.

The morning was fairly uneventful, although "Safeguard" and "Sandgate" were by no means disgraced coming 7th in the unentered Puppy Couple Class - there were twenty five Packs showing. We were all so laid back that some of us were seen sloping off to have a quick Pimms and or refreshing coffee.

At the end of the morning's judging when the hounds were away, and R and R had had a well deserved drink, we all returned to listen to Simon Hart our leader at the CA give a very powerful and up to the minute report of the political goings on at the moment.

The picnic lunch was as good as ever with lots of people contributing, and we were joined by the Ts from the Atherstone and lots of young Masters, and even a two month old baby.

The first class in the afternoon was for unentered bitch puppies, and "SATIN" and SAFFRON" were entered. They both showed beautifully, luckily all the support team had made it back from the picnic, because nails were being bitten to the quick as "SATIN" was still in the ring near the end. The huntsman's wife was despatched to the collecting ring to hold "SAFFRON", and lots of huntsmen and friends kept telling me "Satin" was going to win. After that I can honestly say that the rest was a complete blur, and I still have no idea what happened to "Saffron". When the Steward said "FIRST" the "EAST KENT with "SATIN", the whole place erupted, someone holloaed, and I could see at the far end, D, S, K and D all on their feet cheering. D, I think, cleared the barrier into the ring, as there was a prize for the puppy walker and I have to confess that a few tears were shed.

Then all the photographs were taken, including a lot of the bitch pack, and we thought the glory was over, but far from it!

The single Puppy Class at Peterborough is always for Packs who have not won at Peterborough in the last three years, then after that the Puppy Couple Class which is Open, they have a single Puppy Championship, and "SATIN" was Reserve Bitch Puppy Champion to the Heythrop! - How about that!

The third class in the afternoon was for an entered couple of bitches, and again "SILKY's" daughters did us proud. "SUDDEN" and "SULTRY" showed quite beautifully and they were still in there for the final shake up. Unbelievably they were 2nd, and so nearly won, but it was an amazing result.

The two couple of bitches "SUDDEN", "SULTRY", "SULKY" and "SUMMIT" were 4th in a very strong class, always the most difficult class, especially at Peterborough, and "WARBLER" was a very creditable 6th in the Brood Bitch Class.
The Junior Master and the Old Geyser were then on such a high that they decided to put "SUDDEN" and "SATIN" in the Bitch Championship, and to everyone's joy and the huntman's astonishment, "SUDDEN" was 4th in the Championship.

So there you are - what a day!!!. Seven rosettes, a First, a Second, a Fourth, and Four Specials,and a Reserve Puppy Champion. So many Masters and Huntsman went to congratulate R, and so many more have rung us since, it made a special day even more memorable!

So many people to thank, all the puppy walkers, (D is still on a cloud somewhere over Peterborough), S for getting us there, R for all he has done this Summer, and for being a very able whipper-in in the Show Ring, we think he might go on the transfer list and turn professional, and special thanks to J and C G, who, on the few days that Richard has been absent from the Kennels this Summer, have held the fort and looked after the Kennels beautifully.

W.

We are are very proud of Richard - well done.

Collecting Ring

Bitch Couples

SATIN

Presentation

Celebration

The ladies

Peterborough Hound Show 2004 Click on the thumbnails to see larger images - all photographs © G Beard 2004
	From Ordinary to Very Special With thanks to the Huntsman's wife Well what a day - like a bolt out of the blue what had started as a (very, very, early) ordinary day turned into something magical, and all because of (yes you guessed it, SILKY). So John Funnell is the very first person who must be thanked, he gave Silky's sire "STANLEY" to Richard when he left the Surrey Union, and the rest as they say is history. We were transported as usual, boy are we getting used to it, in the gold coach with S driving, and R, R, the Junior Master and I trying to pretend that we were awake. We left at 4.45 am!!, R having done the Kennels before we left! Brilliant journey, and we were then joined by D and K, and K's wonderful bacon rolls, thank you K. The morning was fairly uneventful, although "Safeguard" and "Sandgate" were by no means disgraced coming 7th in the unentered Puppy Couple Class - there were twenty five Packs showing. We were all so laid back that some of us were seen sloping off to have a quick Pimms and or refreshing coffee. At the end of the morning's judging when the hounds were away, and R and R had had a well deserved drink, we all returned to listen to Simon Hart our leader at the CA give a very powerful and up to the minute report of the political goings on at the moment. The picnic lunch was as good as ever with lots of people contributing, and we were joined by the Ts from the Atherstone and lots of young Masters, and even a two month old baby. The first class in the afternoon was for unentered bitch puppies, and "SATIN" and SAFFRON" were entered. They both showed beautifully, luckily all the support team had made it back from the picnic, because nails were being bitten to the quick as "SATIN" was still in the ring near the end. The huntsman's wife was despatched to the collecting ring to hold "SAFFRON", and lots of huntsmen and friends kept telling me "Satin" was going to win. After that I can honestly say that the rest was a complete blur, and I still have no idea what happened to "Saffron". When the Steward said "FIRST" the "EAST KENT with "SATIN", the whole place erupted, someone holloaed, and I could see at the far end, D, S, K and D all on their feet cheering. D, I think, cleared the barrier into the ring, as there was a prize for the puppy walker and I have to confess that a few tears were shed. Then all the photographs were taken, including a lot of the bitch pack, and we thought the glory was over, but far from it! The single Puppy Class at Peterborough is always for Packs who have not won at Peterborough in the last three years, then after that the Puppy Couple Class which is Open, they have a single Puppy Championship, and "SATIN" was Reserve Bitch Puppy Champion to the Heythrop! - How about that! The third class in the afternoon was for an entered couple of bitches, and again "SILKY's" daughters did us proud. "SUDDEN" and "SULTRY" showed quite beautifully and they were still in there for the final shake up. Unbelievably they were 2nd, and so nearly won, but it was an amazing result. The two couple of bitches "SUDDEN", "SULTRY", "SULKY" and "SUMMIT" were 4th in a very strong class, always the most difficult class, especially at Peterborough, and "WARBLER" was a very creditable 6th in the Brood Bitch Class. The Junior Master and the Old Geyser were then on such a high that they decided to put "SUDDEN" and "SATIN" in the Bitch Championship, and to everyone's joy and the huntman's astonishment, "SUDDEN" was 4th in the Championship. So there you are - what a day!!!. Seven rosettes, a First, a Second, a Fourth, and Four Specials,and a Reserve Puppy Champion. So many Masters and Huntsman went to congratulate R, and so many more have rung us since, it made a special day even more memorable! So many people to thank, all the puppy walkers, (D is still on a cloud somewhere over Peterborough), S for getting us there, R for all he has done this Summer, and for being a very able whipper-in in the Show Ring, we think he might go on the transfer list and turn professional, and special thanks to J and C G, who, on the few days that Richard has been absent from the Kennels this Summer, have held the fort and looked after the Kennels beautifully. W. We are are very proud of Richard - well done.
Collecting Ring

Bitch Couples

SATIN

Presentation

Celebration

The ladies