Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2007 | Page 85
EQUESTRIAN
people here, is a testimony
to how much care the island
has for the foxhounds and has
done over many centuries.
The modern hounds today
on the Isle of Wight since
the ban are upholding every
tradition of their forbears.”
Johan Christofferson, MFH
(Master of Fox Hounds) for the
Isle of Wight added, “I think
the turnout today is fantastic,
the kennels and hounds look
great and it is a credit to
Stuart. It’s also a credit to the
subscribers and foot followers
of the Isle of Wight Foxhounds.
Mr Christofferson also had
his view on the current political
situation: “I think the law will
change at some point, although
not with Mr Brown, and it is
important that we focus on
getting the law changed.
The biggest threat to is not
the politics, it’s the changing
nature of the countryside,
the people that live in it and
the urbanisation. As we get
more distanced from keeping
animals, riding, the wild and
wild animals, there is less time
and space for days like this
and that is why people like us
are devoted to keeping it.”
John Harrison, the second
judge, flew down from North
Yorkshire especially for the
event. John began hunting in
Dorset and has been in the
Hunt service for over 22 years,
a period of his life which has
taken him all over the world.
His view is that everybody has
adapted: “I don’t think any hunt
has folded or given up. A lot of
people got disheartened and
we are all going through the
motions, hoping and praying
the Bill will be overturned. A
Conservative government has
promised to do it, but quite how
remains to be seen. It maybe
just a couple of amendments
which let us control the fox
population and make it not
so draconian so it can please
everybody. The foxhounds
need to do what they are bred
to do. There is no need to
lose 250 years of breeding
just because of legislation.”
The question in everyone’s
minds is: In the current
situation, just how long
can hunting survive?
John Harrison said: “We can
trail hunt forever, as long as
there are people that want to
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ride horses and jump fences,
but the quality of the hounds
will disappear. We will lose
all that. At the end of the day
700 parliamentary hours were
spent on this and they did
not get it right, a bit like the
home-buyers pack I think!
After the judging of the
puppies, a proper English
tea was provided by Mr
Christofferson and his wife
Paris. The renovation of the
kennels, now complete, was
inspected and praised by
the visitors, and this year’s
spring litters of Barmaid and
Pigeon gave everyone a
very enthusiastic reception.
Thankyou everyone for
another great day.
life
& Miss C. Cooper
3.Label w/b Mr. J. Butcher
Couples:
1.Lawyer and Label
2. Landlord and Lawless
w/b Mr. & Mrs. C. Dowden
3. Lasher and Fettle
w/b Mrs. J. Carder
Best working Hound from
2006 entry was Musket w/b
Mr.& Mrs. A King and an
extremely popular choice for
Best Working Hound in Kennels
went to Barmston who was
walked by Mrs Jackie Carder.
Best Dog:
1.Lawless w/b (walked by)
Mr. & Mrs. C. Dowden
2.Ferry w/b Mr. J Christofferson
3.Lawyer w/b Mr. J. Butcher
Best Bitch:
1.Bottle w/b Mr. and Mrs. A King
2. Lavish w/b Mr. L. Thom
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