SUMMER 2003 REPORT
By Mark Guy MH
The summer has been a little quiet with hounds visiting just one
show, the Masters' of Basset Hounds Association's own show, and one
parade, the Game Fair at Harewood House.
This is because planned trips to hound shows at Honiton in Devon and
Ragley Hall in Warwickshire were cancelled due to the intense heat
and secondly fear of bringing the dreaded cough back to kennels.
Nevertheless both events were successful and most enjoyable.
For the first time in many years the MBHA Show was not held at
Peterborough Showground, but at the Westerby Bassets kennels at South
Kilworth in Leicestershire.
The Albany, De Burgh, East Lincs, Leadon Vale and Westerby were all
represented, and a good turnout of people enjoyed watching judge Rex
Hudson (former President of the MBHA) choose from a generally strong
entry.
As is usually the case the Westerby dominated throughout the day,
although I recall that no pack left the show unrewarded.
As far as the East Lincs are concerned, it was our most successful
show for many years. In the morning our first success with the dog
hounds was third in the entered class with Daimler '02. From then
things picked up with Solo and Sorrel '99 getting a well deserved
first in the couples class and Detail '97 winning the veteran
class.
The championship was a closely fought contest between the East Lincs
and a strong Westerby entry. We were delighted when Detail brought
the Reserve Champion Cup back to Lincolnshire for the first time in
many years.
The afternoon was a little quieter with us picking up several seconds
and thirds before Statue '94 looked positively youthful despite the
heat to win the veteran bitch class.
Undoubtedly the East Lincs contingent enjoyed the outing, and a
celebratory glass of Champagne back in Lincolnshire was a fitting end
to the day.
CLA GAME
FAIR
Our second outing of the summer saw us at Harewood House for the CLA
Game fair on Sunday the 1st August. Unfortunately this
meant we had to miss the local Revesby Show. However, it was good to
see the East Lincs and bassets in general represented at arguably the
biggest showcase of the countryside in the UK.
Certainly the Game Fair was larger than I remember it being last time
it was at Harewood in 1999, and a large number of people visited the
Countryside Alliance Stand where the bassets were on display all day.
Many of the questions asked indicate how important it is that we
still support events to educate the public. Several people (including
seasoned hunters) thought our hounds were beagles, and a large number
asked when our foxhounds would grow up!
As well as the static display hounds paraded alongside the Hunsley
Beacon Beagles and the Holderness, and Sinnington Hunts. As always at
such events hounds were very well received with much cheering and
holloaing. The usual influx of children of all ages came to socialise
with the hounds, before we "galloped" around the ring with horns
blowing.
I would like to thank everyone who helped out and supported the East
Lincs at both events.
CLAY
SHOOT
Sunday, 8th June saw the East Lincs Harehounds Annual Clay
Shoot take place.
The weather was good until the arrival of a mini tornado towards the
end of the afternoon! It was a case of all hands to the marquee which
almost took off. Several helpers were seen hanging on to poles and
ropes and one was heard to remark that "it reminded him of his days
under sail!" as the tarpaulin billowed around him.
It was nice to see some young competitors taking part this year, and
to welcome back some old hands.
The winning team was the 'W' family who by now must have an
impressive array of East Lincs engraved crystal in their
cupboards!
Thanks must go to RJ and RF for all their hard work in organising
this event and to all those who helped out by marking, trapping,
cooking, bar keeping and towing cars out of the mud at the end of the
day.
In excess of £1,400 was raised for hunt funds from sponsorship,
entries and the raffle The Hunt has made a donation to the charity of
the hosts' choice to thank them for allowing us to use their
land.
TERRIER
RACING
The Hunt would like to thank P&HB for kindly hosting terrier
racing in the summer in order to raise funds.