The Countryside Alliance is delighted to announce that it has become a key sponsor of the Festival of Hunting which returned to the East of England Showground on 20^th July 2022.

The 134^th Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show, hosted at the East of England Showground, welcomed 20  packs in the Modern Foxhound classes and 12 packs entering into the Old English Foxhounds classes, whilst thousands of spectators delighted in one of the highlights of the summer countryside diary on Wednesday 20^th July, supported by key sponsor the Countryside Alliance.

This year, the Heythrop, Thurlow and Tynedale secured the top spots in the Modern Foxhound classes. Best Stallion Hound was awarded to Tynedale ‘Ascot’, the Champion Dog Hound went to Heythrop ‘Raffa’, whilst in the bitch hound classes the Best Brood Bitch was Thurlow ‘Stormcloud’, and the Perpetual Challenge Cup for the Champion Bitch Hound went to Heythrop ‘Greenfinch’.

In the Old English Foxhound classes, the North Shropshire Hunt won with ‘Beckford’ taking the Champion Dog Hound title, and ‘Cupid’ from the Warwickshire won the Champion Bitch Hound class.

As well as the Foxhound classes, the Festival also celebrates Beagles, Harriers, Basset Hounds, Draghounds and Bloodhounds, making it the one of the largest shows of working scent hounds anywhere in the world. The Festival of Hunting also focuses on celebrating and encouraging the next generation in the hunting community, with the Hunt Staff Benefit Society Young Handler Class an opportunity for youngsters to show off their skills at hound showing. The competition returned for a third year to be won by Miss Rosie Smith from the Ready Field Bloodhounds.

For the equine enthusiasts, the Inter Hunt Relay is a fast-paced knockout-style competition with 32 teams entered in both the Junior and Senior draws to find out the quickest and most skilful team of four. Sponsored by Honri Hats, in the senior section the championship went to the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt and the junior section topped by the Holcombe Harriers team.

The official photographer for the Festival of Hunting is

Hattie Austin – Please visit her website: www.hattieaustinsportphotographer.com/ for more information or to purchase images from the show.

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