SINCE last season, there has been something of a changing of the guard at Duhallow with senior master Kate Jarvey stepping down from office though not from the hunt. Other retirees include joint-master Liz Ahearne and long-time stalwart and chairman, Pat Fleming, who has been in office for 28 seasons since 1996 and has set the standard by which hunt chairmen might be judged. However, he has been ably replaced by Patrick Coleman, who has Duhallow in his DNA. Joining the mastership is Joe De Courcy, who has just published a hunting book, Hounds are Running.

What has not changed is the standard of the young entry, all Old English, on show and with a proper Duhallow welcome and hospitality to match, makes the Puppy Show at The Kennels, Rossnanarney, Liscarroll, Co Cork, an unmissable event in the calendar.

Judges Noel Rafter MFH, huntsman of the North Kilkenny and Alexander Mills MFH (Iveagh) were faced with the well-nigh impossible task of picking winners from 13 couple of superb young entry, any of whom were of sufficient quality to warrant a Stradbally rosette. Both judges were immaculately (and appropriately) turned out and would not have looked out of place in Peterborough.

Masters, huntsmen, whips and visitors at the Duhallow Puppy Show: Maurice Coleman, Oliver Ryan-Purcell MFH Ormond, Billy Healy MFH North Kilkenny, Alexander Mills MFH Iveagh, Joe DeCourcy MFH Duhallow, Peter Kiely whipper-in Duhallow, Jamie Byrnes huntsman Duhallow, Mick Healy whipper-in, Kate Jarvey, Pat Hayes MFH Duhallow, Patrick Coleman chairman Duhallow, Matt Nagel MFH Duhallow and Noel Rafter MFH and huntsman North Kilkenny \ Catherine Power

Alexander made the trip from far flung Co Down, but is no stranger to Duhallow, as he hunts one day a week there as a guest of his friend and colleague Pat Hayes, who was there, as was fellow Joint Master, the veteran Matt Nagle from the home of steeplechasing, Buttevant. Huntsman Jamie Byrnes, who learned his trade with Fergus Stokes in Limerick, had both hounds and kennels in tip top condition. He was assisted on the day by his second in command, young Peter Kiely and Mick Healy, amateur whipper-in.

Judge Noel Rafter, who was accompanied by his senior master Billy Healy, is soon to get married to his long-time partner, Tanya Heffernan, who is the one to follow on a good day with the North Kilkenny’s if you are well-mounted and are up for it.

But decisions have to made and winner in the dog section was Allied by Waterford Albert ’18 out of Duhallow Ariel 18 and walked by Peter and David Kiely. Tradesman, walked by Joe and Brenda Roche, came a close second. The home-bred Ransome, walked by Pat Fleming, was third.

Meanwhile, in the bitch section, Raven really caught the judges’ eye. Home-bred by Albany ‘20, she was walked by Kate Jarvey. Second was the home-bred Lavendar, walked by Bill Cogan, with Paradox third - one of a couple by Woodsman ’19, walked by Mike Barret.

Perhaps for real hound lovers, the sight of the day was when 50 couple, the complete Duhallow pack, were enlarged in the parade ring, so level they could be all from the same litter and as fine a pack of old English as there is on these islands.

Kilbrin (the traditional Duhallow opening meet) roll on!