PrintThe Fox River Valley Hunt (Ill.) and Potomac Hunt (Md.) dominated the Crossbred and American rings, respectively, at the Virginia Foxhound Show. And the two titans battled in the judging for the hound grand championship at the end of the day.
When Fox River Valley Keg '05 edged out Potomac Hunt Jefferson '05 for the title of grand champion, it capped an exciting day May 28 in Leesburg, Va.
The 59th annual show marked the end of James L. Young's (MFH of Orange County Hunt) run as president of the Virginia Foxhound Club, which sponsors the event. To coincide with his departure from that post, a special perpetual trophy (see sidebar) was introduced for the reserve grand champion, so neither hound walked away from the final judging empty-handed.
But, the grand prize belonged to the tall, scopey, well-balanced white dog Keg (Fox River Valley Kentucky '02--Cornwall Secretary '99), and MFH Tony Leahy, who said he was a bit surprised, was more than pleased. Fox River Valley did not compete at the Virginia Hound Show last year because the club was mourning the loss of jt.-MFH Victoria Fitch.
"She was a huge loss, an avid breeder and we really miss her. She would have been tickled to see the hounds this year," Leahy said. "I am proud to have been in the championship ring five out of six years. Keg's dam was Crossbred champion and grand champion [at Virginia in 2003] and his sire Kentucky is a very prolific stallion.
"Keg is the product of our program. We are really after consistency, and no individual is a great star. I'm after percentages, and the Kentucky bloodline is very consistent in producing hounds that are successful in the their third, fourth and fifth season. I want whole litters that are level, and we want longevity," Leahy explained.
"As a breeder, the Carlow ST [an Irish bloodline revived by Brian Fenshaw in Cottesmore, England] and some of the Midland blood is what we are going after. Keg is 50 percent Midland, and Kentucky and Secretary are 50 percent Midland blood. These have been successful for us on the hunting side, and Keg is the product of two successful outcrosses."
The percentages that Leahy is after in the hunt field were similarly reflected in the show ring. Fox River Valley took nine of the 15 first place prizes and was in the ribbons in every class.
All the winning hounds--Factor, Falstaff, Keg '05, Kermit '05, Selfish, Sexy and Keep '05--are sired by Kentucky '02 (Midland Kestrel '99--Fox River Valley Winnie '99). "Kentucky is an excellent dog and he passes on his ability.
He is a very cold-nosed dog," Leahy said. "He epitomizes the qualities we are after; we kept five of the litter that Keg is from and four of the five made it. We are very, very pleased."
Kentucky is also a resilient hound. Leahy said that when Kentucky started hunting he got blastomycosis (a rare fungal infection caused by inhaling a fungus which is found in wood and soil in certain parts of the country) that knocked him out. He was unable to hunt his first season, "was in serious, serious trouble" and came very close to death. But, "he came back 100 percent," Leahy said.
Midland Fox Hounds (Ga.) blood might factor largely in Fox River Valley's successes, but they also had some winners of their own with their stallion hound Rouser '05 (Fox River Valley Parlay '99--Midland Rail '01) and brood bitch Kimble '02 (Midland Ghost '96--Midland Kate '95), as well as couple of entered bitches.
When Fox River Valley Keg '05 edged out Potomac Hunt Jefferson '05 for the title of grand champion, it capped an exciting day May 28 in Leesburg, Va.
The 59th annual show marked the end of James L. Young's (MFH of Orange County Hunt) run as president of the Virginia Foxhound Club, which sponsors the event. To coincide with his departure from that post, a special perpetual trophy (see sidebar) was introduced for the reserve grand champion, so neither hound walked away from the final judging empty-handed.
But, the grand prize belonged to the tall, scopey, well-balanced white dog Keg (Fox River Valley Kentucky '02--Cornwall Secretary '99), and MFH Tony Leahy, who said he was a bit surprised, was more than pleased. Fox River Valley did not compete at the Virginia Hound Show last year because the club was mourning the loss of jt.-MFH Victoria Fitch.
"She was a huge loss, an avid breeder and we really miss her. She would have been tickled to see the hounds this year," Leahy said. "I am proud to have been in the championship ring five out of six years. Keg's dam was Crossbred champion and grand champion [at Virginia in 2003] and his sire Kentucky is a very prolific stallion.
"Keg is the product of our program. We are really after consistency, and no individual is a great star. I'm after percentages, and the Kentucky bloodline is very consistent in producing hounds that are successful in the their third, fourth and fifth season. I want whole litters that are level, and we want longevity," Leahy explained.
"As a breeder, the Carlow ST [an Irish bloodline revived by Brian Fenshaw in Cottesmore, England] and some of the Midland blood is what we are going after. Keg is 50 percent Midland, and Kentucky and Secretary are 50 percent Midland blood. These have been successful for us on the hunting side, and Keg is the product of two successful outcrosses."
The percentages that Leahy is after in the hunt field were similarly reflected in the show ring. Fox River Valley took nine of the 15 first place prizes and was in the ribbons in every class.
All the winning hounds--Factor, Falstaff, Keg '05, Kermit '05, Selfish, Sexy and Keep '05--are sired by Kentucky '02 (Midland Kestrel '99--Fox River Valley Winnie '99). "Kentucky is an excellent dog and he passes on his ability.
He is a very cold-nosed dog," Leahy said. "He epitomizes the qualities we are after; we kept five of the litter that Keg is from and four of the five made it. We are very, very pleased."
Kentucky is also a resilient hound. Leahy said that when Kentucky started hunting he got blastomycosis (a rare fungal infection caused by inhaling a fungus which is found in wood and soil in certain parts of the country) that knocked him out. He was unable to hunt his first season, "was in serious, serious trouble" and came very close to death. But, "he came back 100 percent," Leahy said.
Midland Fox Hounds (Ga.) blood might factor largely in Fox River Valley's successes, but they also had some winners of their own with their stallion hound Rouser '05 (Fox River Valley Parlay '99--Midland Rail '01) and brood bitch Kimble '02 (Midland Ghost '96--Midland Kate '95), as well as couple of entered bitches.
