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RESULTS OF THE 2017 SOUTHERN CLASSIC PACK TRIAL

JANUARY 27 & 28, 2017

BEAUX EDEN PLANTATION

FORT VALLEY, GEORGIA

JUDGES:

Jake Carle

Alex Bobbitt

THREE COUPLE CLASS:

1st Briarmount

2nd Glenbarr

3rd Octorara

4th Bill’s Pack

FIVE COUPLE CLASS:

1ST Briarmount-Coleman Creek

2nd Orlean

3rd Glenbarr

4th Octorara

HIGHEST SCORED RUN: Tie between Briarmount Three Couple and Briarmount-Coleman Creek Five Couple

PARTICIPATING PACKS (Pack Huntsman)

Ardrossan (Fran Jacobs)

Bedlam (Mandy Bobbitt)

Bill’s Pack (Bill Bethune)

Briarmount (Joe Hester)

Coleman Creek (Jim Anderson)

Glenbarr (Billy Bobbitt)

Octorara (Larry Bright)

Orlean (Ramsay Barrett)

Ripshin Bassets (Sally Bickerrstaff)

Why Worry Beagles (Helen Dellacroce)

RESULTS OF THE 2016 FALL BEAGLE PACK TRIAL

OF THE NATIONAL BEAGLE CLUB OF AMERICA, INC.

HELD AT INSTITUTE FARM, ALDIE, VIRGINIA
NOVEMBER 9 – 13, 2016

JUDGES: ROBIN CONRAD AND SALLY BICKERSTAFF, MBH

13” THREE COUPLE CLASS (THE LISETER PLATE TO THE WINNER) – TWO PACKS COMPETING

1^st Bedlam

2^nd Waldingfield

15” THREE COUPLE CLASS (WHEATLEY FRANTIC CUP TO THE WINNER) – 13 PACKS COMPETING

1^ST Octorara

2^nd Ben Venue

3^rd Farmington

4^th Warrington

THE NATIONAL CHALLENGE CUP FOR 

BEST THREE COUPLE PACK 50% FIELD 50% BENCH:  Octorara

 

FIVE COUPLE PACK CLASS (SOMERSET CHALLENGE CUP TO THE WINNER) – 14 PACKS COMPETING

1^st Glenbarr

2^nd Bedlam

3^rd Octorara

4^th Ben Venue

THE JOHN C. BAKER CHALLENGE PLATE FOR 50% FIELD AND 50% BENCH: Ben Venue

EIGHT COUPLE PACK CLASS ( RICHARD P. ROTH PERPETUAL TROPHY TO THE WINNER) – 11 PACKS COMPETING

1^ST Octorara

2^nd Old Chatham

3^rd Sandanona

4^th Farmington

THE 75^TH ANNIVERSARY PLATE FOR

BEST EIGHT COUPLE PACK 50% FIELD AND 50% BENCH: Farmington

BENCH SHOW - JUDGED BY JAKE CARLE

LISETER PLATE FOR BEST 13” BEAGLE:  Bedlam Melody  (Trophy missing)

RESERVE: Glenbarr Van Gogh

TURNBULL CUP FOR BEST 15” BEAGLE: Middletown Valley Bluebell

RESERVE: Bedlam Messenger

JOHN C. COPERTHWAITE MEMORIAL PLATE FOR CHAMPION BEAGLE: Middletown Valley Bluebell

RESERVE: Bedlam Melody

SIR SISTER CUP FOR HIGEST SCORED RUN IN ANY PACK CLASS:
Octorara eight couple

ROBERT P. J. HARRISON MEMORIAL TROPHY FOR HIGHEST TOTAL SCORE IN THE PACK CLASSES:

Octorara

C. G. RICE WHIPPER-IN AWARD:

James Dean

‘Good things come to those who wait’ may provide the best epithet for the 2016 Triple Challenge hosted by the National Beagle Club at their home grounds in Aldie, Virginia the first weekend of May. This was certainly the idiom for the die-hard contender and supporter of the Triple Challenge Gregg Moore and his talented hound Moore's Punk Rock Star in the Park, which was co-owned by Paul Moore and took the grand prize at the end of two days of demanding competition.

The exceptional planning and venerable diligence of co-chairs Jennifer Buckley and Amy Burke insured that the event ran smoothly. Purina, as always, provided brilliant support and a handful of welcome favors and the winners with generous gifts.

The Triple Challenge is a three phase competition which judges the beagle in a brace format, a stake/large pack format and a bench show. Each phase of competition is evaluated by separate judges who are not privy to the scores and standing of each hound.

The brace format kicked off the competition first thing Saturday morning and was judged this year by Brandan Dunlop and Brandon Keese who spent the entire day and into the early evening placing hounds. Hounds were run in trios and pairs from 7:30 a.m. until mid-afternoon. All hounds were brought back for a late afternoon ‘play-off’ wherein the format was adjusted to three groups of ten.

After evaluating hounds in both formats Brandon and Brandan selected the 15” high hound (and high hound overall) as HBCH CH PR’ Gerharts Go Get ‘Em Billy and owned by Terry Gerhart from Coudersport, Pennsylvania. The 13” winner, T&D’s Lane Rae Mountainside Molly owned by Steve Fox (and always assisted by his son Tucker) from Bluemont, Virginia. The third overall scoring hound, regardless of measurements was Bush’s Abbey owned by Ramsay Barrett followed by the fourth placed Stoney Ridged Hare Raiser RS Slugger owned by Aaron M. Jacobus and fifth was Old Chatham Bastille owned by Jessica Anderson.

After a delightful cocktail party hosted by the esteemed Jean and Joie McDonald, who have contributed endless years to the success of this events, we supped heartily and re-convened in the main room for a splendid auction conducted by the enthusiastic Shelley Good-Cook and a team of assistants. Post cocktails, dinner and auctions we dug into our sleeping bags in order to rise early for the final two phases of competition.

All began at the break of dawn as Shelley (our emcee from the auction) and Collin Anderson led roll call for the 3-hour stake which was Moore’s Punk Rock Star in the Park enthusiastically judged by our two mounted judges Hazel Hannon of the Middletown-Orange County Beagles and Andy Bozdan who hunts the Loudon Fairfax Hounds.

Judges were expert equestrians and kept perfect pace with the freight train which struck almost immediately in the hollow of the enclosure and rocked back and forth for almost 45 minutes when judges made their first cull of the group. Hazel and Andy ran the class for the full three hours and pared the pack to a group to a dozen before calling it a class and making their selections. As always, judges must review every last hound and provide a score for each. It is a trying task when galloping along a crying pack with a posse of beagles who are all worthy of notice.

Just prior to 10 a.m., hounds were collected and we all retreated to the dining hall for an excellent brunch and minor respite. Within an hour, hounds and handlers reassembled in the main lawn for the final phase of competition which was the bench show. 

Just prior to the bench show, the stake winners were announced per winners of each measured group. FC Random Farm’s Whiskey owned Adam Keith was the high hound for the 13” competition and the 15” high hound was Gary’s Runem Over Snoopdog owned by Harry Burger. The top five hounds without size considerations were as follows: The highest placed hound was Gary’s Runem Over Snoopdog owned by Harry Burger. Second place was Old Chatham Apollo owned by Cody Anderson and third was awarded to Hurry Up Sweet Pea owned by Michael Tobery Sr. The fourth position went to Moore’s Punk Rock Star in the Park co-owned by Gregg Moore and Paul Moore. Fifth place went to Sycamore Creek Zeus owned by Danny Cunningham.

Just before noon, experienced AKC judge Oleg Voloshin carefully and professionally evaluated individual hounds for conformation and movement. Judge Voloshin was not privy to any of the scores of the hounds and their previous placements. He placed 15” Champion Bedlam’s Lane Rae Tattle Tale owned by Alayne Hartuniewicz narrowly edging out Moore's Punk Rock Star in the Park. The top 13” hound was Still Meadow’s Farmington Gaylord owned by Jennifer Buckley. Without size considerations, the top five hounds were as follows: Bedlam’s Lane Rae Tattle Tale owned by Alayne

Hartuniewicz was first; followed Moore's Punk Rock Star in the Park co-owned by Gregg Moore and Paul Moore. Bedlam’s Messenger owned by William Bobbitt held the fourth position followed closely by Bedlam Minstrel in the fourth place. The fifth place was Old Chatham Foreman owned by the Old Chatham Foot Beagles and shown by Cody Anderson. It cannot go without remark that three of the top five bench hounds incorporated the Bedlam name. Mandy Bobbitt continues to produce an impressive line of hounds which excel in both the bench and field.

If you were keeping an eye on the competition, there was a voice in the chorus that Moore’s Punk Rock Star in the Park possessed the proper va-va- voom for this competition, especially after his sound finish in the stake competition and a second place finish on the bench.

As we gathered for the final announcements, it must be noted that the number of hounds that were considered ‘qualified’ (scoring higher than 200 point overall) was exceptional. Competition was close and fierce, and hounds which excelled in one category met their maker in the next phase of competition. But that is what makes the two days so exciting!

And as premised, it was the handsome and diligent hound, Moore’s Punk Rock Star in the Park, co-owned by Gregg Moore and Paul Moore that won the weekend!

Beneath the banner of our die-hard sponsors, which include Purina and Garmin, our champions were photographed.

RESULTS OF THE 2016 TRIPLE CHALLENGE

Held at Institute Farm

Aldie, Virginia

May 7 & 8, 2016

Champion Hound: Moore’s Punk Rock Star in the Park (owner Greg Moore and Paul

Moore)

Reserve Champion Hound: Gary’s Runem Over Snoopdog (owner: Harry Burger)

3 rd Place: Glenbarr’s Bedlam Messenger (owner Billy Bobbitt)

4 th Place: HBCH CH PR’ Gerharts Go Get ‘Em Billy (owner: Terry Gerhart)

5 th Place: Old Chatham Middletown Valley Foreman (owner: Cody Anderson)

6 th Place: FC Random Farm’s Whiskey (owner: Adam Keith)

7 th Place: Hurry Up Sweet Pea (owner: Michael Tobery Sr)

8 th Place: Ch Bedlam’s Lane Rae Tattle Tale (owner; Alayne Hartuniewicz)

9 th Place: Waldingfield Voicemail (owner: Waldingfield/Ridge Lee Foundation)

10 th Place: B&B’s Shes Fancy Fancy (owner: Stanley Booker)

High Scoring Hounds in each category by measurement:

Brace:

13” winner: T&D’s Lane Rae Mountainside Molly (owner: Steve Fox)

15” winner: HBCH CH PR’ Gerharts Go Get ‘Em Billy (owner Terry Gerhart)

Stake:

13” winner: FC Random Farm’s Whiskey (owner: Adam Keith)

15” Winner: Gary’s Runem Over Snoopdog (owner: Harry Burger)

Show:

13” winner: Still Meadow’s Farmington Gaylord (owner Jennifer Buckley)

15” winner: Ch Bedlam’s Lane Rae Tattle Tale (owner: Alayne Hartuniewicz)

This past weekend the National Beagle Club hosted an event to raise money for the Hounds F4R Heroes organization which raises money to help those who have served our country by enabling them to participate in activities such as hunting and fishing and field trials of various sorts. They also support the training of comfort and service dogs for veterans. This event was organized by Matt Lafley and Steve Fox, two NBC members who enjoy beagling and wanted to do something to help our veterans, and with the support of their families and friends, and NBC members like Sandy and Jay McKenna and Liz Reeser the event raised over $6000 for this cause while at the same time giving beaglers, both NBC members and non-members, a chance to enjoy running their hounds and watching other hounds run. A truly successful event thanks to the inspiration and hard work of Matt and Steve.

Joe Hester has suggested that I am more efficient in getting out the results of these beagling events when I have some success, so to prove his point I have attached the results of the first annual Hounds F4R Heroes 2 couple pack trial.

RESULTS OF THE 1ST ANNUAL HOUNDS F4R HEROES TWO COUPLE PACK TRIAL

NATIONAL BEAGLE CLUB OF AMERICA, INC.

Institute Farm, Aldie VA.

April 23 and 24, 2016

Judges:

Dan Powell

George Bell

Curt Driggs

Travis Leake

1st Glenbarr (Billy Bobbitt)

2nd Hebron Valley (Glen Jones)

3rd Hills Bridge (Miki Crane)

4th Wolver Beagles (Susan Stone)

PARTICIPATING PACKS:

Warrington Foot Beagles

Glenbarr Beagles

Waldingfield Beagles

Holly Hill Beagles

Middletown Valley Beagles

Orlean Beagles

Hills Bridge Beagles

Mid Valley Suoer Troopers

Hokie Hounds

Gobbler Creek

One Shot Beagle Boys

Wolver Beagles

Hebron Valley Beagles

Old Chatham Foot Beagles

It was a very memorable weekend as Jeep Cochran stepped down from chairing the Masters of Bassets Committee. The chair and the crown were passed to Carter Amigh. The party to honor Jeep was beautiful and the NBC was decked out in her best. I extend my sincere thanks to all who helped with the party and the usual trial duties.

Hunting was tough due to poor scenting conditions, dry grounds and warm weather. However there were lots of rabbits both in the Enclosure and on the outside. Spectacular runs were few and far between. Our judges did a great job both in the field and with judging the bench show. A special thank you to them.

I hope to see many members at Hounds F4R Heroes this coming weekend as we hunt to salute and support our veterans.

Regards, Liz Reeser

RESULTS SPRING BASSET TRIALS

April 13-17, 2016

Judges: Katie Schoettle and Andrea Herr, MFH

Judges on the Bench: Katie Schoettle and Andrea Herr, MFH

12 packs competing

Three Couple - Strathalbyn Plate

1st Ripshin Bassets

2nd Tewksbury Foot Bassets

3rd Calf Pasture Bassets

4th Okaw Valley Bassets

Ashland’s Lee’s Plate (50% Performance – 50% Conformation): - Ripshin Bassets

Five Couple - Skycastle Trophy

1st Monkton Hall Bassets

2nd Calf Pasture Bassets

3rd Foxboro Foot Hounds

4th Ashland Bassets

The Ashland Plate (50% Performance – 50% Conformation): - Monkton Hall Bassets

Seven Couple - Ripshin Plate in honor of James S. Jones, M.H.

1st Sandanona Hare Hounds

2nd Hill and Hollow Bassets

3rd Monkton Hall Bassets

4th Ashland Bassets

Reedy Creek’s James J. Culleton Trophy (50% Performance – 50% Conformation) – Monkton Hall Bassets

Highest Scored Hunt, The Spring Creek Bowl: Sandanona Hare Hounds for the 7 couple

Highest Total Score in the Field (Cumulative): The Somerset Trophy: Monkton Hall Bassets

Bench Show Champion Basset: The Tantivy Trophy

Champion: Raven of Calf Pasture Bassets

Reserve: Crayon of Okaw Valley Bassets

Entered Dog won by: Raven of Calf Pasture Bassets

Entered Bitch won by: Crayon of Okaw Valley Bassets

The spring beagles, held on the grounds of the Institute Farm in Aldie, Virginia began with a whirlwind and by whirlwind-we shall mostly refer to the continuous blusters which swept over the five-day formal pack trial at the National Beagle Club grounds. Held in Aldie, Virginia, the competition started bright and early on Wednesday, March 30, 2016. At 7:00 a.m., eleven packs straight respectfully presented to our trial judges David Vore and Dan Jones.  On our first

day of competition, skies were brilliantly blue. The steady and straight of jet streams overhead (courtesy of the three DC airports) were simply a clever ruse as a resilient and constant course of winds vexed the scenting almost the entire course of the trial.

The blustery conditions were troublesome, but paled in comparison to the melancholy overtone at the absence of Patricia Jacobs, who passed just a week before the trial. Aside from the trial Treasurer she was an inspiring and dedicated member of the Ardrossan Beagles and the National Beagle Club and a very dear friend to us all. She ran a tight ship but it was well respected and she did all with her brilliantly painted Revlon red nails. In her honor the ladies participating donned the same.

The first cast of the trial began with Old Chatham from Columbia County, New York. Temperatures had dipped just beneath the freezing point and the green fescue was encased by a crystallized gloss which trapped the scent of numerous nocturnal critters.  Alas Old Chatham fell victim to the night lines and morphing scents.  Indeed, it would take a few packs to dispel the troubled scenting.  

Miki Crane presented her Hill's Bridge three couple mid-morning when the frost had finally evaporated.  She found a high stepping puss relatively quickly and pursued him enthusiastically and with great momentum through the hollow of the enclosure including a tricky foray through the defunct vegetable garden toward the back fence. This run earned the Hills Bridge a fourth place.

Larry Bright and his Octorara beagles, assisted by his keen wife Debbie Bright and whipper-in Dunham Hollister were poised and prepared to meet Mother Nature and her be-twixting morals.  Mr. Bright found a high fluting cottontail buried in the upper stone wall and gave a confident, resounding chase to the tall stands of woods and back to its origin. Mr. Bright’s beagles remained shoulder to shoulder and were careful not to overstep the line. It was a grand example of holding the line when difficult conditions might tempt a pack to sway. In turn, it was rewarded a blue ribbon!

The Bedlam beagles found a gung-ho cottontail in the hollow of the enclosure and Mandy Bobbitt’s hounds rocked back and forth in solid pursuit and almost entirely unassisted by the staff or huntsman. There were moments of brilliant cry which echoed like she had snuck in a few hounds to help, but it was the core in full pursuit. This run earned a solid second place.

There are few adjectives to describe the character that is Mr. Ramsey Barrett, should it be necessary, let us say that he is the ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ of the competing packs. Ramsey and his hounds are full of vim and vigor and feed off their huntsman’s enthusiasm. Their attention to detail with regard to a neat presentation is often disregarded when his hounds start hunting. They are keen to the scent and trust that Ramsay will lead them on a solid pursuit, as they did in a three couple which spread across the top of the enclosure with a solid chase which placed them third in the standings.

The trend-setting Octorora continued their 'scent-sational' reign in the five couple when it drew the side hill between the Graveyard and the Merry Meadow.  It took only a few minutes until Larry’s pack popped up a grand sprinter that laid a reliable line for his five couple to pursue. The Field either stood above or below the hillside swale as hounds rocketed to and fro in a demonstrated blanket format.  There were a few short checks and a slightly longer hesitation near the end, but hounds popped their puss and Mr. Bright whistled them to the line with style and they R.S.V.P.’d in force!  

For the next part of the afternoon this hillside was likened to the Eagles Hotel California lyrics ‘you can check out anytime you’d like but you can’t ever leave’…The next two packs, Mandy Bobbitt’s Bedlam beagles and Miki’s Hill’s Bridge attempted to draw virgin ground, but their rabbits re-routed to the well-worn hillside covert. A little more spread out than the Octorara, Bedlam still pursued with great momentum and cry. Whippers-in Jeff and Billy had several views to set hounds back on the line if they were bothered. Hounds actually drew uphill a fair shake further and had one delightful rant up and across the Merry Meadow in full view of Field and judges.

I was a few minutes tardy for the Hills Bridge five couple but had no trouble finding them by simply following the roar of the canine crowd as they too blasted back and forth across the featured site. Liz & Lee Reeser had a plethora of views to relay to the huntsman and she cheered them on with abundant enthusiasm. This energetic run gathered a 4 th place.

The Glenbarr beagles had a delightful and full force run to rival the Octorara. The impressive part of this pack was their enthusiasm to hark in at a moment’s notice. Scenting was not perfect, but the Glenbarr beagles, inspired by Mr. Bobbitts’s gentle whistles and easy encouragement made his hounds believe that all he said was true and followed his lead through the tricky bothers.

The eight couples began at the break of dawn on Saturday morning and the Old Chatham was first to go on the dewy morn. They cast immediately and struck just outside the kennel woods. Scenting was keen and the pack enthusiastically pressed their quarry between Field One and the Dump Woods with desperate cry. Their Achilles heel was the lower ground when their quarry ricocheted from the scattered coverts and caused a few foils. But their resilient efforts 

earned them a second place.

The Octorara had the key to the lock at this trial and their eight couple presented high above in Field Four. Initially they had a stale start as they drew for 15 minutes before striking a calculating cottontail which laid a trail of glory on the apex of the grounds. As previously demonstrated in the aforementioned classes, this pack was prepared for any pursuit and this class was no exception. Hounds held the line flawlessly for an academic loop. A few nods and smiles from the Field were confirmed by the judges when, once again, Octorara took the silver

home at the evening announcements.

The Farmington hounds popped a smart cottontail which created tremendous cry along the cover above the pond. Huntsman Sherry Buttrick patiently cheered her pack forward as they worked the line a parallel across the steep bank. Farmington received third place just in front of the Bedlam beagles who proved, as always, they were solid competition in every division.

Just before noon on Sunday we gathered for the results in the final announcements. The trial belonged to the Octorora as they collected the John C. Baker Horn for the highest overall score in competition and the Treweryn Bowl for the highest scored run in completion for their brilliant five couple.

We thanked our die-hard sponsor, Purina, for providing hounds with food for the trial. In addition, we applauded our caretaker Ray Owen, for his meticulous care of the grounds and his countless hours mowing, grooming, raking and clearing the 400+ acres.

The results for the National Beagle Club 2016 Spring Trials:

Three couple class (17 entries) The Nantucket Harrier Plate

1 st Octorara

2 nd Bedlam

3 rd Orlean

4 th Hills Bridge

Five couple class (17 entries) The Huyler Thophy

1 st Octorara

2 nd Glenbarr

3 rd Wolver

4 th Hills Bridge

Eight couple class (12 entries) The Richard V. N. Gambrill Memorial Plate

1 st Octorara

2 nd Old Chatham

3 rd Farmington

4 th Bedlam

The Treweryn Bowl for Highest Scored Run:

Octorara’s Five Couple

The John C. Baker Horn for Highest Scored Pack:

Octorara