blewbury write up

We were blessed with glorious weather at Blewbury. Crisp, sunny and chilly. It is quite a trek up the bumpy track onto the Downs but 27 beagles and 32 people arrived and coated up. The Field Master had decided that today was to be run as a learning session and as a “half term” assessment of progress. The beagles were divided into six groups, two comprised totally of working certificate holders, one solely of this year’s newcomers and three of the experienced but novice hounds from previous seasons.

The rotations were arranged after the first field so that one group of workers ran with a similar sized group of “followers”. Two lines were run on each field. Interestingly the workers in group B Buster, Ducat, Swagger & Yokel showed stronger leadership than those in group A (Ardent, Clover & Sukie). Ducat worked well on her first outing this season and Yokel was reliable as always. Sukie, pretty in pink, was clearly a leader of hounds as many beagles followed her faithfully. Sadly she ran two fields on the heel line (in reverse), with her followers in pursuit. The overall star of the day was a newcomer, Indy, who ran nearly every line accurately. Also performing well were Filly and Pocket.

The most noteworthy lines of the day occurred towards the end. On one, groups A & E (Ardent & Nubie) diverted alongside the fence line for ages, all snuffling around and trying to push through. Owners had to walk along the adjacent field to retrieve the worst offenders. On the next field, the line was laid up a slight incline to the brow of the hill and then curved back towards the handlers. James Lehain is to be congratulated at the speed with which he ran it! Please run more lines next time, James. The first groups to run (A, C and D) cut the corner and came back rather slowly and in dribs and drabs. The second half set off really fast and tightly bunched and the handlers of the hounds in groups B, E & F watched proudly as the pack stormed up the hill, over the top and then ……………… nothing! They simply did not come back. After a while two or three returned but we had to go searching for the remaining 11 who were found down the far side of the slope emerging from the trees just as a hare, maddened by the scent of beagle, made a bolt from the plough into the trees.

On the last field the workers were not allowed to run and the novices went it alone. Perhaps it was the heady rush of all being together and a determination to outperform the worker / teacher hounds but it was the best line many of them had run all day and a joy to watch them sweep around the field.

It is time to book for the drag at Middleton, Suffolk on 6^th January. Meet up at the Bell Inn, from noon and move off to Yew Tree farm at 13.00h. Please book lunch directly with the pub 01728 648286. Number of people and hounds please to me by the previous Wednesday (01249 890379 or theresa.chapman@donkagen.co.uk). Neill and Mary Hannon are hosting a tea after the meet. Please bring contributions for the table and phone Mary on 01728 648491 to say what they will be bringing.

Other dates are 13^th January, Mitcheldean; 27^th January Flamstead / Gaddesden Row; 4^th Feb near Buckingham; 17^th Feb Greens Norton.

Stop Press: Due to the clash with Four Counties Beagle Club we are trying to reschedule the Trials date to 24 February. Please keep both dates in your diary for the moment. I will confirm as soon as I have heard back from both judges and the landowner.