Tuesday 27th August 1889
”The judging of the young entry of the above pack took place at the Kennels, Sutton Veny, on Tuesday August 27th. The judges were the Hon. Percy Wyndham, late master of the Tedworth Hounds, who kindly took office in the absence of Charles Hamblin, K.H. to his Grace the Duke of Beaufort, Richard Stovin, huntsman to Lord Pembroke, and Joe Moss, who carries the horn in Lord Portman’s country.
The young hounds to be judged consisted of 13 couples, 8 and a half of dog puppies and four and a half of bitches, and during the twelve or thirteen years I have attended these shows at the South and West Wilts kennels I have not seen a better lot together.
After due deliberation and careful individual consideration, the judges awarded the first prize to a good-looking black and tan dog puppy, by the Belvoir Stainless, out of Norah, walked by Mr Pike of Whitebridge Farm, Semley, a real nice youngster with good legs and feet and plenty of substance and quality.
Mrs Bidwell, of the Buries, Bishopstrow, came second with an undeniably good-looking black and tan puppy, Galway, from a nice litter of five (all dogs) by the Belvoir Gordon, out of Daphne.
The bitch puppies were very much admired, and it was a long time before the judges could decide which to put first out of a brace of half sisters by the noted Lincoln. Finally, a very fashionable little lady, a nice dark tan, Sunshine, by Lincoln, out of Sarah, from the care of Mr Corbyn, of Sutton Mandeville, gained the verdict. Second came Ladybird, by Lincoln, out of Needless, walked by Mr W. Stratton, of Kingston Deverill, a black, white, and tan, of great promise, that ought to make a rare breed when her turn comes. Unluckily she was a bit shy, and did not show herself well, or she might have done better.
Personally speaking, it was very gratifying to me to see these daughters of Lincoln come to the front, as when I gave him first prize in the hound puppy class at the West of England Dog Show at Trowbridge in ’87, the Field report spoke of him as somewhat heavy in the shoulder! A fault, if ever existed, that he has entirely grown out of, as a better topped hound it would be very hard to find, as the judges unanimously agreed when looking over the pack subsequently.
General praise was accorded to the huntsman, William Freeman, for the capital condition of the hounds, which begin their cub-hunting on Monday the 2nd of September.
After the judging, about sixty of Capt. Helme’s friends and walkers of puppies sat down to luncheon in a marquee pitched in the meadow opposite the kennels, the caterer, Mrs Harris, of the Anchor Hotel, Warminster, giving every satisfaction. Capt. Helme, in proposing the health of the walkers of puppies, thanked them one and all for sending in their charges in such good condition, pointing out that from the fact of their possessing such good legs and feet they had been allowed plenty of freedom to exercise themselves – a most important matter. He also mentioned that owing to the very large extent of the South West Wilts country he had been obliged to confine his invitations to those who had had the puppies at walk.
The health of the Master was proposed by the Hon. Percy Wyndham and received with hearty cheers.
The prizes, which consisted of handsome silver cups, were given away by Miss Helme, the Master’s daughter.
The stables were afterwards visited and the Hunt horses inspected, all looking very fit to commence hard work as soon as required.
Amongst others present were Capt. and Miss Helme, the Hon. Percy and Miss Wyndham, Mr, Mrs, and Miss Douglas Murray, Mrs Bidwell, Miss Carlton, Miss Schlesinger, the Rev. G.H.S. Atwood and Mrs Atwood, Miss Herrington, Lord Algernon St. Maur, Col. Wallington, the Rev. W.H. Walsh and son, with Messrs. C.N.P. Phipps, W.R. Shaw Stewart, Campbell, Hugh Wyndham, Edgar Gordon, A. Gosling, Robert Elling, B. Herrington, Carlyn, G. Rugg, Simper, I. Redman, J. Worthy, Pike (Semley), Pike (Whaddon), Lush, Hooper, P. Case, J. Rogers, T. Baker, W.H. Atkins, S. Collier, Candy, Coombes, Noad, and your correspondent, E.S.M.”
Report from The Warminster & West Wilts Herald, Saturday 31st August 1889.
