Two prize hounds from Lancashire will compete at the world’s leading dog show, Crufts.
The Holcombe Harriers, a trail hunting pack has high hopes for two of its hounds - Anglezarke and President, who are taking part in the competition on Sunday, March 10.
Anglezarke (a female, aged four) and President (a male, aged six) both won their categories at the Blackpool Championship Dog Show in 2023, a The Kennel Club event.
They are Studbook Harriers, an exceptionally rare breed. Anglezarke is named after the village in Lancashire where she lived as a puppy, at the home of local farmers.
The club practices trail hunting, which involves following a scent trail. Trail hunting allows the traditions of hound sports to continue without harming a live animal, in compliance with the 2004 Hunting Act.
Crufts is held each year at the Birmingham NEC, with hundreds of thousands of dog-lovers in attendance, and a TV audience into the millions.
Anglezarke
Master of the Holcombe Harriers, Sue Simmons said: “This is the first time that a hound from a working pack has ever been shown at Crufts. We are thrilled.
“Anglezarke and President have the right qualities to perform well in front of the judges – both are very intelligent with confident temperaments.
"They will need to cope with a high-pressure environment and lots of people, noise and bright lights.
"We are working hard to get them ready for the event and practising the particular show-ring techniques required by The Kennel Club.”
Frank Kane, chairman of breed standards at The Kennel Club and an internationally acclaimed championship judge, said: “We are delighted to see working hounds at Crufts for the first time.
"A show is the perfect opportunity for dogs and their owners to spend time together and not just in the show ring; they will spend a lot of time together attending training classes before they even enter the show.
“This helps to cement the bond between dog and owner. Dog shows such as Crufts can also help to improve the health of our breeds today.
“Where there are exceptionally rare breeds, including hounds such as the Studbook Harrier, it is a wonderful showcase to promote the breed to a national and international audience.”
The Holcombe Harriers signature bloodline originated from the "Chiens de Gascogne" hounds brought over from France from the 13th century onwards.
There are now only seven packs of Studbook Harriers remaining in the UK.
The breed has been registered with the Kennel Club to raise its profile and help ensure its survival.
Sue added: “Studbook Harriers are such a beautiful breed.
"They have many colours, from the traditional tri-colour black, white and tan, to simply black and tan, or lemon coats. They are also very friendly, affectionate and eager to work.
We hope that their future will be secure – the Crufts showcase should help to raise awareness of the breed so that their numbers don’t decline any further.”
Crufts is held each year at the Birmingham NEC, with hundreds of thousands of dog-lovers in attendance, and a TV audience into the millions.
The hounds will be judged according to the breed standard, with judges conducting a hands-on examination of their frame, size and condition. They will also be trotted around on a lead, to examine the athleticism and level paces of their gait.
The Holcombe Harriers is one of the oldest hunts in the country, tracing its lineage back to 1086.
Anglezarke was champion at the Great Yorkshire Show 2023 and President was champion of his section at the Blackpool Championships Kennel Club dog show 2022 and 2023.
Holcombe Harrier hounds have been awarded the Supreme Champion Harrier at the Peterborough Festival of Hounds title four times with Batman, Diva, Daystar, and Cobra, and have won 18 championship class trophies there since first competing in 2009.
They have also been champions at the West of England, Great Yorkshire, the Scottish Hound Show, and Best in Show at Rydal Hound Show in 2022.
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