Harambee Foxhounds

Results

HARAMBEE MUNGALA became the FIRST Foxhound to go RBIS at a UK Championship Show (Houndshow 95). To date she has 40 Best Bitch awards at Ch. Shows, 30 with BOB. Gala has now retired from breed classes at Crufts having been BOB 5 times, BOS (2) and RBB (1).

March 2003

Harambee hounds (Foxhounds & Ridgebacks) did not exhibit in Breed Classes at Crufts this year. The Foxhounds did a couple of days PR work in the Discover Dogs area, getting poked and prodded by young and old alike and generally having fun. The Ridgebacks stayed at home and watched it all on TV!

So, our 'show season' has kicked of on 15th March at the South West Hound Club Open Show where two of the Foxhound pups made their show debut. Are they REALLY six months old now? Just for old time's sake (and so she wouldn't feel left out!) Gala was entered as well. I thought she could show the youngsters the rops. Wrong! Gala was her usual ebullient self and played her handler up mercilessly!

After a slightly shakey start, Meadow and Medlar acquitted themselves well in the breed classes. It was a first outing for both of them but the judge was kind and being a real hound person, didn't push them too far. Meadow won her class inspite of bouncing around like a jack-in-a-box and Medlar won his as well. He then went on to Best of Breed (beating Gala) and Best Puppy in Breed. The best was yet to come. Medlar went on to compete for Best Puppy in Show and ended up an excellent 4th in the BIS Puppy Group - not bad for first time out! Not to be outdone, Gala went Best Veteran in Show. We all went home tired, but happy. The pups enjoyed their first sho - hopefully they will continue to have fun.

April 2003

25th April - W.E.L.K.S. CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

Our first Champ Show of the season. After weeks of warm, dry weather, the heavens opened. First problem: how to keep a freshly shampooed (much to his disgust!) snow-white Foxhound clean and sparkling on the long trek across a muddy field from car to show bench.

Medlar and Meadow (she's heavily mottled so the mud doesn't show!) were on a scent the second they jumped out of the car, so the long trek became even longer as we headed at top speed towards the Malvern Hills! This was NOT part of the plan. Fortunately I had allowed plenty of time before our classes so this slight detour wasn't too much of a problem - except for the mud. We were now ALL well and truly plastered.

Today we were entered in the Any Variety Not Separately Classified Hound classes to be judged by hound specialist Mrs Marianne Nixon.

Medlar was first to strut his stuff, which he did with enthusiasm and confidence. He'd been here before! He knew the ropes now and was enjoying himself. He won his class and went on to win Best Puppy AVNSC, which was very exciting given the strong competition. Medlar is the first of the litter to qualify for Crufts 2004.

Meadow has improved in confidence, stands like a dream but still has ants in her pants on the move! Add to this ploughing a furrow with her nose and you get the picture! This little madam was born to hunt, lives to hunt and knows I hate to see Foxhounds 'strung-up' so takes full advantage. She was placed 3rd in her class, which was very pleasing and means she is now also Crufts qualified.

It was still raining when we left for home - two very wet, muddy pups, happily sloshing through the puddles - their reward for good behaviour in a long (and probably for them,) quite boring day.

Next stop……………..'The National'

May 2003

9th May - BIRMINGHAM NATIONAL CH. SHOW

Today it was Maple's turn to accompany Medlar on a VERY long journey to Stafford Showground. We arrived at 9.15 a.m. and were due in the ring at 1.30 p.m. so plenty of time to get acclimatized, socialize the pups and do some shopping. Foxhounds were scheduled 4th breed in the ring - we were finally judged at 4 p.m. - just as the Hound Group was being called!
Such is the lot of the minority breeds!!

Our judge was Mrs Pam Aldous - hound specialist. Maple remembered to stand properly and moved with enthusiasm - that is to say she set off at a grand gallop around the ring - pleased to be DOING something at last! For a first time anywhere she coped well and won her class. Medlar was his usual relaxed self - happy to be gone over and even happier to be trotting around the ring albeit with his nose glued firmly to the ground! He won his class, was Best Puppy, Best Dog and BOB! At only 8 months a wonderful surprise! Maple was RBB. Best Bitch and BOS was Canequiss Music of Dazzleby.

No time for chatting - we were whisked off to the Group Ring by the steward who had been standing by, and arrived somewhat breathless (well, I was!) to wait our turn for judging by Mrs Billings from the USA. Medlar was getting bored (and hungry) by now so did his circuit in the fastest possible time and looked VERY pleased with himself. I just about managed to keep up. What he lacked in maturity he made up with enthusiasm - I was proud of him even though he was not short listed.
There's always another day, another show……………………

26th May - BATH CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

Just for once the weather was kind to us; lovely sunny day, warm but not too hot and NO RAIN! We were in the AVNSC Hound classes today and our judge was Jack Bennett.

Medlar was first in the ring - he was so pleased to be there and is really settling down now. He won his class and went on to win Best Puppy, Best Dog and BOS. He's really having a good run at the moment!

Meadow won her class and Reserve Best Bitch. She is still a bit overawed by it all - finds the noise and bustle worrying but copes better every time out. She just loves being made a fuss of and especially likes children who are prepared to share their ice-cream with her!

So far a successful day but the best is yet to come! Gala came along - just for the ride really - she enjoys showing so much and it was a 'local' show so not a tiring journey for her. She was up to her usual tricks in the ring - larking about and generally having fun - in other words making me look a complete fool trying to get her to stand still for just a second while the judge went over her. At nearly 10 years of age she's not going to change now! Fortunately she still moves like a dream - she pulled out all the stops and won her class, Best Bitch and BOB (AVNSC)! For a dog that just came along for the ride - not bad.

Andrew Brace was the Group Judge. He knows Gala and her tricks and was not disappointed - she did everything except stand on her head! We agreed she's too old to change now but she still ENJOYS herself - isn't that what it's supposed to be all about? Anyway, I was proud of them all - another great day and in a few days time - our last show in May…….

31st May - SOUTHERN COUNTIES CH. SHOW

It was HOT!! Thankfully AVNSC classes were judged under cover - I was wilting and so were the pups. Medlar decided today was the day to 'do a Gala' - boy did he have fun! He paid the price - 2nd in Puppy Dog but he kept the ringside entertained! Maple, on the other hand, was not too happy with the heat and noise but found an interesting trail to follow when she was supposed to be concentrating on moving round the ring. Nothing would persuade her to get her head up but inspite of it all she won her class. Tiptoe (her first outing since Crufts 2002) amazed us all. Tiptoe HATES showing - well, she used to hate showing. Today she greeted everyone with gusto, trotted round the ring with stern held high and stood like a rock to be gone over. She was Reserve in her class - I was pleased - there was stiff competition - we didn't expect to win.

Driving home the temperature was in the high 80s - I melted - the hounds slept peacefully under wet towels. Our last show for a few weeks. We will all enjoy the break.