JUDGES Oliver Ryan-Purcell MFH (Ormond) and Hughie Ryan (Scarteen) were tested by the outstanding display of young entry at the Tipperary Foxhounds puppy show. This was recently held at their kennels at Tullamaine just off the Fethard-Rosegreen road in the heart of bloodstock, racing and hunting country.

Huntsman Gavin Shorten with whipper-in James O’Donnell, assisted by Michael O’Keeffe, had hounds in tip-top condition.

With 40 couple of modern bred hounds in kennels, this two day pack are looked on as among the best in these islands. Pre-Covid, this pack hunted four days a week but now have scaled back to a more manageable and realistic Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Gavin, who comes from west Limerick and is now in his 10th season with the “gallant” Tipps, has consistently shown good sport in this demanding country.

Among the large and appreciative audience on hand were former masters and cousins, Paul and Jack Ronan, as was regular and hard riding field master Aidan Fogarty. Hunt chairman Sean Brett in a short address welcomed all and particularly thanked the farmers and landowners of south Tipperary who make the hunt so welcome season upon season.

Since last season, with the retirement of long-standing hunt secretary Roseanne DeVere Hunt, the baton has been passed to Aisling Fitzelle. Hunt treasurer and one of Tipperary’s leading solicitors, James Reilly, was on hand as was his dad Peter, long time stalwart of the Tipps.

Tipperary’s leading auctioneer and great hunt supporter, Councillor John FitzGerald, had made the trip from nearby Darcy’s Cross.

Also on hand were hunt veterans such as John Farrell, Dorothy Ryan-Purcell, Sue Perry and former whipper-in Micky Flanagan. From nearby Cashel came John Breen, father of international show jumpers Shane and Trevor. Visiting from Scarteen was Maura Purcell, Padhraic Moynihan, huntsman of the Kildare, and Ireland’s leading sporting artist Liam Clancy.

Gavin, with 40 couple in kennels, had 10 couple of young entry, homebred and all up to Stradbally standard. From the three and a half couple of dogs, Bobby by Mariner ’19 and out of Bobbin ’19 was adjudged the winner, with Blizzard by Rapier ’17 out of Blossom ’20 coming second.

Meanwhile there were six and a half couple of bitches to choose from. Litter sister of the previous winner, Blizzard caught the judges’ eye with Lily by Ladder ’19 out of Ladybird ’18 coming a close second.

After judging, visitors and locals alike were treated to a proper Tipperary welcome in the hunt marquee with no scarcity of eats and drinks for all. Completing a perfect day was the presentation of a framed photograph to the huntsman by The Irish Field photographer Catherine Power portraying him jumping a good stiff post and rails last season in Aidan Kennedy’s farm from a lawn meet at Coolmore.

With autumn hunting to commence in a week or two, everything looks set for their traditional opening meet by the historic town walls in Fethard