Foxglove

Whether beagles, minkhounds, foxhounds or staghounds, the principles and format are the same. Held at the hunt kennels of that particular pack, weeks of preparation go into the day.

Everything that does not move is painted, weeded or mown: everything that does not move fast enough is scrubbed! When we supporters arrive on the day, the venue has that innocent air of having always been immaculate, which is true enough, but now with an added gleam. Anyone who has a single dog knows how difficult it can be to stay pristine when showing it: imagine achieving the same effect with around fifty couple of hounds.

In keeping with the event, ladies wear pretty summer frocks and hats, and gentlemen array themselves in blazers, slacks and panamas. Sometimes an English summer gives us rain, and we cover our finery with our more usual outdoor garb, or else high winds threaten to disturb the hattage, and we flaunt our bare heads.

But we endeavour to stay as smart as conditions allow. Kennel staff wear crisp coats and black bowlers, and the judges are sober in dark suits and hats. This is our compliment to those who have worked so hard to present hounds and kennels in such excellent condition.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette July 2