Show Results

Carolinas Hound Show
Southern Pines, NC
April 29, 2006

Virgina Hound Show
Leesburg, VA
May 28, 2006

From In & Around Horse Country's June/July 2005 Issue
WHY WORRY HOUNDS PRACTICE HOUND SHOW
article and photographs by Jake Carle

April 20, 2005 When you visit the Why Worry Hounds in Windsor, South Carolina, the welcoming committee at the Joint Master's house is all canine: retired foxhound bitches, lurchers, Corgis, and a multitude of Jack Russells, all awiggle with happiness to greet a visitor. This cheerful menagerie clearly reflects the warm hospitality accorded by Jeanie and George Thomas at Windsor Plantation. A visit to the kennels brings the same welcome. It is almost unheard of to walk into a kennel of foxhounds and have almost every hound glad to see you. The only exception at Why Worry is "Bedazzle" whose unfortunate deworming experience as a puppy left him terrified of strangers.

The Why Worry Hounds Practice Hound Show was held on the lawn of the Thomas' house, overlooking a shimmering lake and shaded by majestic oaks. Earlier in the day a violent storm had drenched the area and ominous clouds still glowered from the south and west. With the passing of the thunder, hounds' spirits rose, and entries from the Aiken hounds, the Belle Meade Hunt, and host Why Worry, took to the ring. Unfortunately, last-minute complications begot the Midland Foxhounds of Georgia.

A strong entry of three and a half couple of unentered doghounds ignored the steady drizzle and kicked off the show in fine style, posing and chasing biscuits like seasoned campaigners. The Why Worry entry swept the first three places with "Faust" edging the brothers "Prefect" and "Preacher." Belle Meade "Reggie" took the fourth ribbon. "Faust" a solid youngster, lemon and white, is by Why Worry "Bedazzle" '02 (who placed third in the stallion hound class) out of Why Worry "Fanfare" '03. He is a good mover, definitely showing the influence of his maternal great-great-granddam, Midland "Cloud" '86, as graceful a hound as ever stepped into the ring.

Winner Unentered Doghound Why Worry Faust shown by Jeanie Thomas

Champion Doghound Why Worry Farthing 2003 shown by George Thomas

In the entered doghound class Why Worry "Farthing" '03 (littermate to "Fanfare") won the first of his three blue ribbons on the day, edging kennelmate "Factful." Belle Meade "Kanable" was third and Why Worry "Bedazzle" fourth. "Farthing" is a well-balanced dog, Belvoir-tan and white marked, with a good shoulder and excellent feet. A real showman, he raced around the ring with grace and assurance.

Just getting warmed up "Farthing" returned to the ring to dominate the stallion hound class, beating kennelmates "Artful" and "Bedazzle" and Belle Meade "Scooter." "Farthing" and "Scooter" met again in the field trial class, with the predictable result: "Farthing's" third blue ribbon.

"Farthing" and "Faust" vied for the doghound championship in a spirited contest that saw the older dog's presence and showmanship garner the tricolor.

As nice as the doghounds were, they were overshadowed by the quality of the bitches.

Again the Why Worry swept the boards in the unentered bitches, relegating a very nice Belle Meade "Rally" to fourth. The winner, Why Worry "Flattery" is a tricolored bitch, quite mature for her age, and very composed in the ring. Her pedigree is solid gold: on her sire's side she traces back to the exceptional Piedmont "Watchman" '89, and hence to the great Bull Run "Wellington" '80, bred by the late Warren Harrover. Her dam's pedigree not only includes the useful Piedmont sire Golden's Bridge "Gunner" '79, but a double cross to Piedmont "Banner" '77, one of the most influential American sires of the past quarter century. In second place was Why Worry "Careful," a happy, tan bitch, who moves with eye-catching grace; a bit gawky yet once she fills out across her back and loins, few, if any, will beat her. Her pedigree is royal, having turn of two of the finest crossbred foxhounds ever produced in the third generation: Midland "Lead" '81 on top and Midland "Cloud" '86 tail female--and she shows it!

Winner Unentered Bitch Why Worry Flattery shown by Jeanie Thomas

Grand Champion Why Worry Arwen 2002 shown by Jeanie Thomas

The entered bitch class was extraordinary, a feast for the eye, and a bedevilment to judge. Any of the top four could have won with little argument; and the top two were nearly dead-heated. However, after a rousing chase for biscuits, Why Worry "Arwen" '02's long, lightly graceful stride edged Belle Meade's white whirlwind, "Caper." A beautifully balanced Belvoir-tan and white lady with seductively mascaraed eyes, "Arwen" has it all: shoulder, depth through her chest, strong back, and a powerful hind leg. And Piedmont "Banner" '77 passed along a solid hare foot. One glance at "Arwen's" pedigree explains it all: her top line, through Live Oak "Ardent" '98 is solid Ronnie Wallace breeding (Exmoor and Heythrop) and Captain Wallace never bred a bad mover. Her dam, Why Worry "Rachael" '95, at age 11, is as sound as a brass bell, reflecting the attributes of the Piedmont's American lines so famous for soundness and longevity. "Rachael" and her littermate "Fiona" share a sofa at the Thomas house.

"Arwen" proceeded to win the brood bitch class over Why Worry "Reggae," then returned for a rematch with Belle Meade "Caper" for the bitch championship. The performance by the older bitches left young "Flattery" staring in amazement, as "Arwen" glided away with the tricolor.

Contesting for champion of the show, Why Worry's "Farthing" '03 and "Arwen" '02 put on a show of pure beauty, a combination of power and grace for which all hound breeders strive. Finally, it was "Arwen's" longer, more fluid stride and very subtle edge in balance that earned the judge's nod. The quality of this class begs the obvious question: why not breed "Arwen" to "Farthing"? The result could be a spectacular litter.

In the junior handlers' class, a class light on entries but heavy on competitive spirit, Why Worry's very determined but inexperienced Nelson Smiley was bumped into third place by two lovely young ladies from Belle Meade. Kristin Preston narrowly edged Natalie Gilmore (whose mother Robbie is an honorary whipper-in) for the blue rosette after excellent performances by both girls.

The show ended, as did the rain, with classes for terriers and lurchers. Whiskey Road Huntsman Darren Haustler's bitch "Thistle," a curly-haired jack-in-the-box, ended Why Worry "Snicker's" two-show victory streak in the terrier class and set off a chorus of good-natured razzing. The lurcher class featured a trio of lovely bitches, all of a type, and good movers all. Why Worry "Harp" edged Robbie Studdley's "Starlee" and Why Worry "Skye" for the blue and then raced away from the other two in the lure-coursing that followed. We'd probably still be lure coursing had not the Corgi bitch "Cricket" devoured the lure!

The Why Worry is a relatively new pack but they have made remarkable progress, especially in the past five years. Jeanie and George Thomas have built their pack with the best blood available, and, more importantly, they spend an inordinate amount of time with their hounds developing extraordinary rapport. This is a pack to enjoy in the field and one to be reckoned with in fiedl trials and at hound shows from now on. Well done, Why Worry!

In & Around Horse Country is a bimonthly publication that focuses on foxhunting and country pursuits. Regular subscription of 6 issues is $20.00, USA. First Class subscription $29.95. Europe, Canada, etc. subscription is $35.00. To subscribe call Horse Country at (540) 347-3141.