Colne Valley Beagles and other things of interest.: July 2015

PENNINE FOXHOUNDS PUPPY SHOW

A warm summer Sunday in July for this event held in Upperthong, one of the seven ancient townships of the Graveship of Holme.

Traditionally the puppies of the local packs from the litters of a previous year are judged at their respective Puppy Shows. These young hounds, no longer puppies, have matured over the year to become fully grown hounds and part of the pack. They have recently been returned by the Puppy Walkers who are volunteers who look after them in their formative year to give them the wider experience of life beyond the kennels.

These events are part of the very active social fabric that is part and parcel of ‘hunting’ especially in this area, supported by all ages across the local community and beyond.

“I want to break free”

“I’ve got to break free

I want to break free, yeah

I want, I want, I want, I want to break free"

Apologies to ‘Queen’.

Judges deliberating.

Incidentally the ‘Champion’ was the hound on the left.

Bit of YouTube video of this event

Following the Puppy Show there came the -

PENNINE FOXHOUNDS PUPPY CHRISTENING

As before, to get a flavour of the event, there is a short video link at the end of this section. Puppy Christening has featured on here before and for those who want to try to recite the words of the little ceremony in the correct vernacular, here is the opportunity to listen and to try it.

So first the puppy must be instructed as to how it should live its life as a hound.

Then it is anointed with punch.

And to complete the ceremony a paw is dipped in the punch.

I lost count of how many were christened

But it was a great event for the children.

With a big congregation in a lovely setting in the Holme Valley

This one is just being shown to Mum who will be ‘puppy walking’.

And another now going to a new home for a year to someone’s delight.

Part of the tradition is to consume the contents of the punch bowl at the end of the proceedings.

This grieves me! This superb picture, auctioned here for £125, was taken with an IPhone! Look at the size and the quality, never mind the brilliant composition. So why do I lug a big heavy lump around just to try to take pics! No wonder camera manufacturers are having to wake up.

Video clip of the Christening ceremony

A great afternoon in good weather with good company and a magnificent buffet provided free by volunteers. It was fortunate that the event started earlier than usual as it crashed down with a deluge and thunder later in the afternoon when all was over.

Monday, 6 July 2015

PENNINE FOXHOUNDS – PUPPY SHOW AND PUPPY CHRISTENING