Young huntsman triumphant at Stradbally Hound Show

2-The-Island-Foxhounds-huntsman-Conor-Dwyer-and-whipper-in-Myles-OConnor-with-the-Doghound-Champion-Island-Buster-11-by-South-Dorset-Panther-08.jpg — (Image credit: credits-unknown)

Huntsmen new to carrying the horn triumphed with their charges at the 105th Irish Masters of Foxhounds’ Association (IMFHA) Show at Stradbally Hall, Co Laois, Eire on 5 July.

Conor Dwyer, 22, in his third season hunting the Island Foxhounds in Co. Wexford’s famous bank country, won five classes and took home the reserve unentered doghound championship with the home-bred Island Barrister (Paragon 11–Biscuit 10). They also claimed the stallion hound class with Island Paragon 11 (South Dorset Panther 08–Pickle 07) plus the doghound championship with Island Buster 11 (pictured top) (South & West Wiltshire Vanguard 08–Bunny 10).

The Co Limerick’s 26-year-old huntsman Fergus Stokes, now in his second season hunting this famous pack of Old English hounds, took the unentered class for their type with Co Limerick Sabbath (Carbery Commander 11–Sahara 11). They came second in the Old English part of the stallion hound class — the only Stradbally class where draft hounds may be shown — with Co Limerick Sizzler 12 (Duhallow Trooper 07–North Galway Sari 09). They also secured the same placing in the afternoon with his brood bitch sister Sidewalk 12.

The South Tyrone, whose hounds have a quality not seen in their Dungannon kennels for some years, reaped revenge by taking the two couples bitch class well shown by huntsman Ryan Carvill. This was the class of the day with eight packs producing an impressive sight in front of Stradbally Hall. The West Wicklow came second, the Kilkenny third and the Louth took reserve with their Old English entry shown by huntsman Alan Riley.

Rosettes were scattered evenly among other exhibiting hunts. The North Down’s new huntsman Barry Jones took a ticket in the unentered bitch couples, as did the South Union (Co Cork) with their Comedy 14 (Tipperary Captain 09-Crunchie 12). Not to be outdone by his Co. Cork neighbor, the United Hunt Club’s Sonny O’Donnell collected an Old English placing with their Tackler (Waterford Tanker 10-Lacey 11).

Before the doghound championship a presentation of certificates was made to those young students who had completed the Michael Morris Memorial Bursary Scheme. Michael Higgens, former master and huntsman of the four-day-a-week Tipperary Foxhounds, made the awards to Shane McGillick, who trained at the Westmeath with huntsman Niall Mahon, and Keith Broderick, who served with Ballymacad huntsman Kevin Donohoe. The IMFHA-sponsored scheme is now in its third year.

Since moving to Stradbally the Foxhound Show, which is part of the Irish National Hound Show consisting of Harriers, Foot Harriers, Beagles plus equestrian rings, has become a major fixture in the hunting world. Northern Ireland hosts a second official Hound Show in Co Armagh with similar classes but with over 200 hounds in three rings on 5th July this year Stradbally can rightly claim to be “Ireland’s Peterborough”.

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