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TVH Wins BIG at Kimberton Hound Show

Kimberton Hound Show Results

TVH has big day in PA!

Sunday, September 21 was sunny and clear--a perfect fall day --for the largest Penn-Marydel Hound Show in the U.S. Hosted by Kimberton_Hunt , Chester County, Pennsylvania, the show is held annually at the Kimberton Kennel, also home to Sandy, MFH, and Barbara Dunn, long time friends of TVH.

Traveling to PA, the TVH support team included Grosvenor, MFH, and Rosie Merle-Smith, Maribel Koella, ex-MFH, Carla Hawkinson, MFH, Beth Blackwell, MBH, TVH Huntsman, and Carrine McRae, TVH Whipper-in.

We all enjoyed a casual cocktail party and dinner at Sandy and Barbara's house Saturday evening before the show. Penn-Marydel people are gregarious so we renewed old acquaintances and made new friends.

The 24th Kimberton Hound Show on Sunday was important to TVH on several levels. It was a privilege to take hounds to this prestigious show and to mingle with and make contacts with some of the best PMD hunts in the country. It was an opportunity to visit (and hunt!) with Doc Addis, TVH founder and mentor for nearly 20 years. And it was an occasion to showcase our pack and the hard work of our staff.

Seated under a tent (thanks Carrine!) with the TVH banner blowing in the breeze (thanks Laurie!) TVH and Addis hunt subscribers and staff enjoyed a picnic (thanks Happy!) and cheered our hounds.

Beth, Carrine, and Rosie demonstrated their hound showing skills-- on the bench--looking smart in white lab coats and hunt caps. Judged primarily on conformation, the bench classes set the standard for the breed and we were pleased with our results.

It was definitely "the girls' " big day for TVH, as Bailey took first place in the Unentered Bitch Class. She and her sister, Bashful were first in the Unentered Couple Bitch Class, and with their dam Marvel, the three won the Brood Bitch and Get class!! Bailey was named Reserve Champion Hound for the show.

Congratulations TVH hounds and staff for your success in the bench classes. Special thanks to Jody Murtagh, whose superb hound bloodlines made the day for TVH.

For results of the Kimberton Hound Show PACK CLASS, read on...

TVH Wins Pack Class at Kimberton!!

Beth Blackwell carries horn, Rosie Merle-Smith, whip

by Carla Hawkinson

The highpoint of the day at any hound show is the Pack Class. Exhibitors will agree that the Pack Class trophy is the most coveted. It is also the most exciting class for spectators.

Everyone at TVH knows that our huntsman, Beth Blackwell, has been working very hard all summer, walking hounds to improve their stamina, training, and conditioning. The Pack Class at Kimberton was the perfect place to showcase the results of their labor and TVH hounds showed beautifully.

In a pack class, judges are looking for uniformity of the pack, way of going, sharpness and obedience--and TVH hounds had it all! The tension built as each pack was required to present to the judges, pack up and go over a log jump (through wire!), go through a gate opened and closed by the huntsman, trot along a fence line, hold at a gate and then answer the horn.

TVH was first to go. Beth and Rosie executed a near perfect exhibition as TVH fans held their breaths on the sidelines. Four more excellent packs showed their stuff as the tension built.

Standing on the sidelines, with Grosvenor, I was certain we had won, but could barely stand the wait!

Never have I been more proud of TVH and our staff than the moment we heard the announcement: "First place in the Kimberton Hound Show Pack Class goes to Tennessee Valley Hunt!"

GREAT DAY!