There was something for everyone at this year’s Festival of Hunting at the East of England Showground on 20 July.
Most people went home with a touch more colour in their cheeks due to the soaring temperatures and credit cards may have been a little lighter too after a trip around the shops that were offering a wide variety of tempting goods.
For those who wanted to watch the various types of hounds being judged there was plenty of action in all of the rings, however the greatest crowd assembled to watch the 128th Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show.
The inter-hunt relay competitions entertained spectators all day resulting in popular wins for the Holcombe Hunt in the senior competition and a victory for the Cottesmore Foxes in the afternoon’s junior contest.
Don’t miss the 5-page report in 28th July issue of the magazine with further coverage from the beagle and harrier classes in 4th August issue.
We take a look back on some of the many memorable moments from this year’s show and see why the 2017 Festival Of Hunting is not to be missed…

North Cotswold joint-masters Nigel and Sophia Peel take the silverware home following Starburst’s success in the bitch hound championship (credit Ginni Beard)

Adam Waugh, joint-master of the College Valley and North Northumberland, judging the bitch hounds in the foxhounds ring alongside Charles Frampton MFH from the Heythrop (credit Ginni Beard)

Danny Allen congratulates Palmer Marlborough Winston following success in the unentered doghound class in the beagles ring (credit www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Kerry, one of the Grove and Rufford’s greatest supporters, jumps for joy as Broker 15 is announced as the doghound champion (credit RFM Equine Photos)

The Westerby Bassets take the doghound championship with Diver 14 and also take reserve with Atlas 11 (credit www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Cheshire Magnum 15 — the champion drag hound — makes the most of all the fuss and attention (credit www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Action from the Old English type foxhounds ring where there were a large number of entries (credit www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

The Holcombe enjoyed success in the senior inter-hunt relay competition as well as on the flags (credit Tricia Honour). The junior competition was won by the Cottesmore Foxes

A successful day for the Coakham Bloodhounds

Faiysal Ali Khan, Khan of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan presenting the Trinity Foot and South Herts Beagles with their trophy following success with Zero in the unentered beagle bitch class (credit www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Percy Allbury 13 was awarded the doghound championship during the judging of the Old English type classes (credit www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Hound show president Martin Scott (right) makes a presentation to Captain Farquhar — joint-master of the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt — following their win in the two couple class (credit Ginni Beard)

Albrighton and Woodland Grocer lands the unentered doghound championship to win the Horse & Hound Challenge Cup (credit Sarah Farnsworth)
