Jeans Story (July 2010)

In 1991 Flora (Brightons Lily of the Valley) came into our lives and changed them forever. I took a job working on the Census to pay for her.

I had read many books about Bloodhounds but none really prepared me for the enjoyment of this captivating little creature.

She charmed me with her sweet and adoring personality but above all she taught us so much about the inherited talents of Bloodhounds.

Her expertise grew rapidly and her love of hunting deepened.

At this time it was possible to enter a young hound for trials at 6 months but, taking advice we decided to forgo the Autumn Trials to allow further development of bones, muscles and talents.

So clever was she that the following March she won both Novice and Junior and was not quite 12 months old.

Bad health had pursued her relentlessly during that first year. Our vet with reputed Bloodhound experience, prescribed antibiotics but as soon as we finished the course of medication the problem flared up again.

Our Labradors had never needed a vet’s expertise so it was all a new situation for me. I asked for a second opinion and was referred to yet another local vet.

Nothing diminished Flora’s love of hunting, by the time she died she had won intermediate (25 mins) and was placed 2nd in the Senior Stake.

Veterinary bills were over £5,000 – thank God for PETPLAN Insurance who paid out without demur.

During Flora’s 2nd year her cousin Taliesin Royal Gold (Tryst) had come to live with us.

Utterly sweet tempered they became close friends.

Tryst was fond of hunting, often the wrong target, Flora was known to chase after her and persuade her to come back.

Just 12 months old when Flora died Tryst was desolate.

We took her into our bedroom at night with an electric blanket for comfort but she was wretched without her soul-mate.

Nick Sutcliffe rang to sympathise over the death of Flora and oh so kindly said “would it help if you had one of Sanctus’ puppies?”

Sanctus (Marksbury Quonium Sanft) was almost 2 years old and I loved her dearly. She was a great admirer of my cooking and when only about 5 months old she went AWOL from Nick’s evening walk to knock at my caravan door having tracked us round a race course where Duncan had walked earlier.

Nick said I could choose the Sire to Sanctus’ litter as long as he approved. Earlier that year I had followed  Ch Chasedown Virtuous at Trials and had been totally engaged by him.

For a working enthusiast I was fortunate in my choice as Virtuous became the first Dual Champion in 40 years. Brumbies Dulcimer who was the dam of Sanctus followed Virtuous shortly after to also become a Dual Champion.

Elin Richards, Virtuous’ owner, wonderfully agreed to the mating. Since Sanctus was to be whelped in my home in Nottingham she became a regular visitor and stayed permanently during the last month.

Two daughters and three sons later I had the joy and the hard work of ‘assisting’ Sanctus in rearing them.

Although initially we barricaded Tryst from the whelping room her deep friendship with Sanctus meant that she was soon allowed access to the puppies.

Her care and devotion meant that Sanctus could leave the ‘babysitter’ in charge whist she could relax in the rest of the house and the garden!!

They were bonny puppies,  I had thought to keep the one black blanket bitch, a beautiful creature, but I finally decided on the black and tan bitch whose personality attracted me more.

So was forged a very special bond as Bora (Sanft Bora) learnt her trade.

Though not as vocal as Flora, Bora exhibited similar skills.

Tryst, who would continue to deviate from her line, clearly worshipped this newcomer, a relationship which was to continue through all their lifetime together.

For sometime previously I had begun to develop a lot of pain in my legs. When Santus went home with Nick and the other puppies to their respective homes I consulted a specialist who confirmed I had severe arthritis and was really in need of a knee replacement.

Reluctantly, Nick had agreed to my keeping Hermes, Bora’s brother, who I adored.

But when I reviewed the situation after my diagnosis I realised I would be taking on too great a great commitment and that I would not be able to do justice to two puppies as well as Tryst, also a house move was imminent.

When the Foulger family came to see Hermes they were all enchanted and it was agreed that Hermes should live in West   Yorkshire.

All the puppies subsequently showed varying abilities at hunting but Bora and Hermes had the special edge.

We moved to Cheshire when Bora was seven months old. Local farmers were wonderful in allowing me access to their land.

Hermes sometimes came down to join us and I have very special memories of those times. Hermes was my heart throb and the Foulgers loved this handsome clever boy. Tim Foulger joined in enthusiastically in teaching him to work but Bora just managed to beat him, however by the time Hermes went to be adored by Eric and Cristine Ryder he was already in Intermediate.

When we were in Scotland at a show I’d come across a hound called Cammonstone Gurka who had changed ownership to Keith Long’s family.

I thought he and Tryst would make a suitable match and we could have puppies, it was now 2 years since the Nottingham litter.

Alas, in spite of our best efforts, we did not achieve the longed for mating.

Life works in mysterious ways. After a phone call from Sue Emrys-Jones I found myself on route for Cornwall and a union between Bora and Brightons Overture.

There had been no time for the usual tests but I just knew that Bora would produce puppies for me.

As a result in December 1996 Floralis Bonniface and Floralis Boradin were born in Cheshire.

Their adult good looks meant that they both produced quality puppies later on and their descendants have carried hunting forward.

Floralis Bonniface had been admired as a puppy when Sue E-J came north for the Marlwood Beaker Stakes.

I had intended to keep the bitch puppy but had confidence that she would go to a good home in Cornwall with Sue Emrys-Jones.

Bonniface rapidly gained her championship status in the show ring and in her first litter produced 20 puppies. Sue had to take on the responsibility of rearing the 14 she retained.

Bonniface’s second litter in 2002 produced my next adoption, Marksbury Tranquility, Tara, who has bought many varied ‘show business’ events into our lives.

Many judges said when I showed her “ I thought this would be my winner until I looked into her mouth” Badly overshot!!

She has been a very competitive hunter, but electric fencing dampened her enthusiasm for the trials.

And then there was Bouquet, Trailfinder Endearing by Floralis, darling Boradin’s daughter.

Boradin had some really rotten luck at Trials as he was a truly splendid worker, as well as being a very sociable and loving boy.

So when I was trying to resist the temptation of taking on another puppy I actually found myself leaving David and Helen Powell’s with Bouquet who was showing all the attributes I look for in a working puppy.

The rest as they say is history. Bouquet won Novice in October 2005, Junior in October 2006, Intermediate October 2006, Senior February 2008 and became a Working Trial Champion in March 2008 She is speedy and accurate and gives her handler, Alan Taylor plenty of fast exercise.

To date they have been awarded 2 Kelperland,1 Brough,2 Millvery and 1 Marlwood.

Bouquet and Tara are such a pleasure to live with. They are wonderful house companions. Trusted not to steal or destroy their surroundings. They delight my eyes and my heart. I feel so fortunate to have had the care of these amazingly talented and complex creatures, and so grateful for the help and support of fellow enthusiasts who made it all possible.

Written July 2010

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