The Bloodhound Club

Kelperland Trophy Stake

Four hours cold over 2 miles

The Meet: The Old Swan at The Lee, Buckinghamshire

Judged by Mr D.C. Richards

I received a frantic phone call from Jo early in the morning on the eve of The Kelperland with the news that Jane Crease had been struck down by some sinister agency and would be in no fit state to judge the stake.  Who to stand in? Well, after discussion and with the agreement of the competitor, it turned out to be me.  So, poor Jane spent the day in bed instead of shivering in the freezing drizzle for two hours or more in the Buckinghamshire countryside.  We were a select group who assembled at the start of the line (Although three hounds were eligible only one had accepted the invitation. 

The Start: Pearl Tickell with Albronne Abacus settling to the line after the flags

The flags were in rough plough and indeed the first three large fields were all lightly ploughed without a sign of green.  Abacus took a bit of time to settle in the manner of the late great She's Magic - but once she was satisfied that the scent of the smeller was the same as in the footprints she set off purposefully albeit cautiously.  As luck would have it she had a following wind virtually all the way which, under the very cold conditions, made things even more difficult.

The line did a left-handed loop in the plough which she worked out well down the hill to a belt of trees where there was a fairly wide leafy track.  Then, although she gave a very slight indication of the line direction up the track it was not enough to convince her handler (and indeed if I had been handling I would have missed it!)  A great deal of time was lost with fruitless casting.  Eventually the handler pushed the hound up the track- about 40 yards -and out on to autumn-sown fields showing a bit of green.  The line here, after a small loop and some earth workings and machinery, went right handed down the centre of the valley. 

Although hound and handler struggled valiantly to find the line - crossing it several times - they never really struck it off.  However, as happens with older hounds, she drifted in the right direction but not really working.  Unluckily, just as Bertha, had seemed resigned to a disappointing morning in her view, a hare obligingly took off in front of her thus cheering her up enormously as she set off to give her legs a really good stretch.  The Handler on the end of her line also showed good running form!  Order was restored and the hound followed the line into the walker still showing no interest in or even recognising the quarry.  So, disappointment all round with no cup being awarded. However, the select group, mentioned earlier, repaired to Jo's home and we all enjoyed a splendid spread in cheerful company.  My thanks to Christine Green for being my assistant, to Jo for organising everything, to Nick Sutcliffe for walking the line and to Pearl and Bertha for doing their best on a rotten day. 

David Richards - Judge