I’m Banrigh your scottish-deerhound.com newshound, reporting from the Championship Hound Show and Deerhound Club Show at the Staffordshire County Show Ground, August 2nd 2008.

The deerhound classes started at 9.30am, such a reasonable time, not like the agility shows my lurcher pals go to with course walking before 8.00am! People arrive much earlier to get a good spot though.

The ring is fine for me. I seem to be able to turn and stay upright, but my handler constantly seems to be heading for the barriers and tripping up on the ground near the trees. You also have to be careful for the line up not to end up in a dip as it can make you looking a bit like a rocking horse!

Setting up at Stafford.

The Dogs

First class was a lovely and competitive puppy dog class with 9 entries. The winner was STRANWITH EBENEZER, second GENTOM RENOWN and third EREWHON DAMBUSTER. As Erewhon is an anagram of nowhere it’s good that they came somewhere today!

Puppy dog class with a lovely Claonaiglen hound.

It was then on to Junior Dog with a Scottish winner Sue Rose and GENTIEHUN TAIN coming first handled by Sid Taylor and second KILBOURNE JAMES DENE. Yearling dog followed with Mary Girling’s PYEFLEET ROLLO coming first with second KILBOURNE FIRE CHIEF and third KWARICOTT ASCLEPIUS.

It’s always good to have the opportunity of a Special Beginners Open Dog class which had five entries, KWARICOTT ARCHIMAGO was the winner with second CLAONAIGLEN BRUAR and third KWARICOTT ASCLEPIUS.

Special Beginners Open Dog – winner of the class is on the far right - Kwaricott Archimago with the second place Claonaiglen Bruar in the middle.

Another shot of Special Beginners Open Dog first and second dogs.

Special Beginners Open Dog Reserve Ghiltan Honesty of Mulranny.

Postgraduate Dog is always a large and competitive class and the Hound Show was no exception with 15 entries. The winner was GREYFRIARS GILLE OF BEARDSWOOD (my brother) flush from his RCC success at Leeds Championship show last month. Second place to ASHTONBROOK HERACLES and third GREYZICON BLYTHESPIRIT.

Postgraduate Dog Class.

Postgraduate Dog Class.

Postgraduate Dog Class.

Postgraduate Dog Class.

Postgraduate Dog Class.

Postgraduate Dog Class.

Postgraduate Dog Class.

Postgraduate Dog Class.

Postgraduate Dog Class.

By mid morning it was actually starting to get a bit warm. Handlers were sent off for some water which must have sparked the rain. The Deerhounds stayed put but quite a few of the other hounds ran for shelter.

Hot weather.

Wet weather - Dash for cover!

Limit and Open classes followed and are always ones to watch. The limit dog winner was LORD SEAFIELD OF HARTVALLEY who has also been doing well recently. Second was GREYHAWKS ROMANIE ROM ShCM and third PACKWAY ACONCAGUA. Open Dog was the battle of the champions with both the Dog CC and RCC winners coming from this class. The winner and Dog CC was the excellent CH. REGALFLIGHT STORM BIRD please see Joyce Bond’s brand new web site for more information. Second and Dog RCC was CH. BEARDSWOOD MARMION and third CH. GREYFLAX THE MIGHTY QUINN TO KILBOURNE.

Dog Limit.

Dog Limit.

Dog Limit.

Dog Limit.

Dog Limit.

Dog Limit.

Dog Limit.

1st and 2nd Open and Dog CC and RCC winners.

Special Coursing Dog (for lure coursing dogs or dogs coursed prior to the ban) and Veteran (dog and bitch) were the final classes. The Special Coursing Dog winner was CH. BEARDSWOOD MARMION with second place to PACKWAY ACONCAGUA and third KWARICOTT ARCHIMAGO. The veteran winner was LEALLA IS FEARR with BEARDSWOOD LUSTRE second and LEALLA ISAULD third. I’m just hoping I look this good after 7+ years!

Veteran.

Veteran.

Veteran.

Veteran.

Veteran.

Dog final line up.

Dog final line up.

Dog final line up.

Dog final line up.

Dog final line up.

Dog final line up.

The Bitches

Before lunch Puppy and Junior Bitch classes were held which was good of the judge not to keep the youngsters hanging around too long. The Puppy Bitch winner was GENTOM RORKE'S DRIFTRESS with FREYJA AT NOBYS taking second and third to KILBOURNE TEINE. The Junior Bitch winner was WITCH WAY TO KILBOURNE with second to CANERIKIE COCO CHANEL and third NENGIRITH MORWENNA.

I’m afraid this is when my reporting looses some or all of the detail as I had to head off for an ice cream to cool down before my class! If anyone can fill in the blanks and has some additional photos please send them in.

Judge and steward lunch break.

Yearling Bitch was won by PYEFLEET ROKESBY, who was another one flush from success at Leeds Championship Show winning BOB. Second to BEARDSWOOD OCTAVIA and third KWARICOTT ANDROMEDA.

Special Beginners Open Bitch was won by BRACKENLAND TANIS and second was KILLOETER KYLA.

Again like the dogs a large and competitive Postgraduate Bitch class followed with the winner BEARDSWOOD NIAMH, second LYART YEA VERILY and third MARANDIKE EBONYS CHOICE TO WOLFSCASTLE.

Limit Bitch was my class and I’m delighted to say I won (Winner DRAWING DOWN THE MOON TO CUSIDH) and the Bitch RCC, second place to PINGLEHOLL RUBY AT KILBOURNE and third GREYFLAX MILLY MOLLY MANDY.

Limit Bitch.

Another class to watch with some excellent hounds was Open Bitch, with the winner, Bitch CC and BOB going to the successful CH. GREYFLAX WATERLOO SUNSET. Second place to CH. CLAONAIGLEN ALBYN AT CLOWESWOOD who’s had an excellent season achieving championship status this year. Third place to MODHISH LILLY LANGTREE.

Open Bitch Class.

Open Bitch Class.

Open Bitch Class.

Finally, BEARDSWOOD NIAMH won the Special Coursing Bitch, with second SORISDALE MACKECHNIE FOR PACKWAY and third BEARDSWOOD LUSTRE.

The End

Overall the winners were
DOG CC - CH.REGALFLIGHT STORM BIRD
DOG RCC - CH.BEARDSWOOD MARMION
BITCH CC - CH.GREYFLAX WATERLOO SUNSET
BITCH RCC - DRAWING DOWN THE MOON TO CUSIDH
BEST PUPPY - GENTOM RORKE'S DRIFTRESS
BEST VETERAN - LEALLA IS FEARR
BEST OF BREED - CH.GREYFLAX WATERLOO SUNSET
BEST TEAM - KWARICOTT

Then off to the van for a good sleep during the M6 road works. I hope that I didn’t miss too many of you out, or make too many mistakes. I had a wonderful day and it’s always great to catch up with my fellow deerhounds I'm sure everyone involved would want to thank the organisers and of course, Judge David Murray.

Banrigh