WELSH AND BORDER COUNTIES
29 June
catherine.austen@futurenet.com
@cfausten123
Welsh and Border Counties, Builth Wells, Powys
FOXHOUNDS
THE Gelligaer Farmers had a clean sweep at this, the blue riband show for Welsh hounds. Having taken the honours in the morning despite some strong opposition from both the Pembrokeshire and the Llanwnnen Farmers, their stallion hound Merlin 21, by Llanwrthwl Gallant 15, was awarded the overall championship ahead of their home-bred entered bitch, Gracious 22.
This was a tremendous tribute to Martyn Arnold, who is celebrating his 25th season as huntsman of the Gelligaer Farmers this year, while it’s the hunt’s 125th anniversary. Ken Markham, an exhuntsman of the Plas Machynlleth, and Jon Meyrick, huntsman of the Vine and Craven, were the expert judges.
“The Gelligaer hounds were outstanding and even though other packs had some lovely hounds, it was just impossible to look past the stallion hound Merlin,” said Jon.
Showing and holding Welsh hounds is an art form, so
