THE Ballymacad Foxhounds held yet another well supported puppy show at their kennels, with a noticeably large number of young supporters sitting on the walls looking down on the ring. However, former master Thosh Kellett, who was unable to be there, was missed.

On show were the new entry of 13 and a half couple of hounds, eight couple of doghounds and five and a half couple of bitches. The huntsman Kevin Donohue is one of the most experienced producers of quality hounds and there was not a shy one in the ring, which is testament to the time and patience spent preparing them. The judges were Niall Dunne, huntsman of the Westmeath Foxhounds, and Darren Campbell, huntsman of the Ward Union Staghounds.

Of the six litters, two were by Louth Ranger ‘17 and Louth Tailor ‘19 and another by Niall Dunne’s Westmeath Bobcat ‘21. There was no favouritism as the winners came from two home-bred combinations with the Doghound Class winner Dancer by Pedler ‘16 out of Damsom’17, walked by Megan and Jean O’Neill, and the winner of the Bitch Class Backup by Bramble ‘20 out of Battle ‘21, walked by the well-known sport horse producer Glenn Farrell Walker.

The invitation to parade hounds at the Dublin Horse Show in August is a well-earned honour for huntsman Kevin Donohue, as he celebrates 25 seasons hunting hounds, a pack his uncles and father have done for 100 years before him.

The well-stocked marquee, where Rachel Gilsenan and her team were to welcome followers and the visitors from many of the adjacent packs, served as an ideal location to catch up on all the hunting news and issue invitations to hunt going into this coming season.