Another successful hunt out in Gauteng yesterday. We met some new beagles as usual… hope they had fun!

After the very cold week we’ve had in JHB, Sunday was quite mild…!

We had a group of about 35 – 40 beagles

Just look at what a blur these speedy beagles are! (click on the picture for an enlarged version and see if you can spot your beagle!)

Here’s another one of the hounds in action… can you spot your beagle? I can see my Harry!

All the beagles seem to have had a great time… especially on the very last line, where they smelt a rabbit and most went chasing off after that scent instead of the scent we had laid for them! Needless to say, not many beagles finished the last line

Billy, who has only been to 2 or 3 hunts is doing incredibly well!! Now he must teach his big brother Ben how to follow the scent!

Billy the natural hunter!

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Harry was completely exhausted after all the running around. And he keeps rolling in the dirt – probably trying to get rid of that embarrassing England flag on his bib

Harry wasn’t the only tired beagle… look how exhausted Poppadom and Roti look!

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as usual, all the beagles got some cuddle time in

Lucy getting love from her mom… and Charlie getting a tickle too! (and in the background, Marmalade and Tammy getting scratches and loves)

Roger was also getting a good cuddle!

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These 3 ladies were very interested in something… Rebel, Pippen and Bella

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Thanks to everyone who makes these days possible! Our next hunt is on Sunday 1 August at 7:30am… sign up here.

We only have 4 more open hunts left in the 2010 season! And then the Top Ten Challenge where the top ten beagles of this season compete in a long line to see who has what it takes!!

After the season is over, and the points have been tallied, we have a black tie prize giving, where all beagles are awarded certificates, and there are rosettes and trophies and other prizes for various beagles… it is great fun and a lovely evening… Hopefully lots of you who have joined us in 2010 will come along to this, it is an awesome way to pay tribute to our hounds who have done us so proud! (see the photos from last year HERE … can you recognize anyone, without their beagles in tow, and not covered in muddy paw prints?? )

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The Top Ten Challenge was this morning…

as mentioned before the top ten beagles were:

Jesse, Jet, Leo, Matthew, Maya, Oscar, Poppadom, Roger, Roti and Sam.

Unfortunately Jesse did not join us, as he had a run in with a car during the week… We all send him well wishes to be back on his feet SOON!! So, there was just a top nine this morning.

--- FROM LEFT: Glen, Vicky & Lyn with Vicky's hounds Sam and Leo. Shaw with Matthew. Roelf with Maya. Trevor with Roti. Dilene with Poppadom. Tanya and Peter with Oscar. Claire with Jet. Raymond with Roger. ---

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The scent was laid by motorbike (about 7km long) and the nine beagles were taken to the starting point, scented and released. We had a pretty good view of the line from our position back at the cars. Leo took a very early lead with Matthew, Jet and Oscar not too far behind. Poppadom, Roti, Roger, Sam and Maya brought up the rear.

About three quarters of the way, the beagles encountered a group of about 5 guys walking through the mountains. The more experienced beagles didn’t pay any attention to the people, and carried on with their race. The younger dogs, however, stopped and barked and howled at the group… Unfortunately this threw the younger dogs off a bit

We were eagerly watching the dogs on the line, and waiting for them to start coming in…

LEO did Vicky proud for the umpteenth time, and came in waaaaaaay ahead of everyone else! Leo is 10 years old and is still super fit and a fantastic hunting hound! Well, well done boy!!

--- Congrats to Leo - who wins Top Ten 2009 again! ---

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In second place was ROGER! He came in, tongue hanging and looking ever so proud of himself! I think Raymond almost did a somersault at the sight of his boy

In third place was little JET! All of 15 months old! Fantastic job boy! Claire was very proud of her little boy when he came running over the finish line!

Fourth place was old MATTHEW who is very nearly 10 years old as well. He has been in the Top Ten for a few years now, but hasn’t finished one in a while. Shaw was also very very proud of his boy for doing such a great job.

A little while later, young SAM (Leo’s grandson) came in with a big beaglish smile on his handsome face.

Unfortunately, the other 4 beagles did not manage to complete the line (but all came back us without any problems, or anyone getting lost). So, even though they did not place, a big congratulations to: POPPADOM, ROTI, OSCAR and the rose among the thorns, young MAYA. Even though they didn’t finish, we are very proud of all of them… And JESSE too!

We have had over 100 beagles come through this season, so, being in the Top Ten is a real honour!

After the challenge, we feasted on a wonderful breakfast provided by Jane – who has done a great job at organising the events this season.

--- See Pippen's head in the cooler box? ---

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There were also some beagles at the hunt to cheer on the Top Ten/Nine. Thanks to these guys for joining us, and supporting the top ten/nine for the morning: Snoopy, Bella, Purdy, Pippen, Rebel, Ninja & Zena (cheering for their little brother Jet), Harry (cheering for his little bro, Oscar), Little Kitana (who is related to Roger) and Meisie.

We had our last hunt this morning.

Even though it was our last meeting, we still had new people join us, which is always great! There were about 35 to 40 beagles today. It was very hot out there! The beagles struggle quite a lot in the heat. Luckily the lines weren’t too long though. Lots and lots of beagles finished the lines, and no-one went off on their own mission again! It was great. I even heard Lucy finished a line for the first time today – well done girl!

Looking back over the 2009 season, it is so encouraging to see the dogs who started out as “newbies” earlier in the year are now running the lines like pro’s! The parents of 2009-first-time-hunters Denver, Basil, Ace, Jet and  Maya should all be extremely proud of their hounds who have done incredibly well this season and have fitted into the group wonderfully and are now really part of the furniture – so to speak. The other new guys who have become regulars have also done really well – for lack of time and space (and for fear of leaving out a name or two) I won’t mention everyone by name…! – but you know who you are, and should be proud! The guys who joined us later in the season, and are still catching on are showing great potential too – next year will be your time to shine!

It’s always a bit sad at the last hunt for the season… we have such great fun with our hounds throughout the year. I know I miss it in Summer time!

Next Sunday, at 7:30, is the Top Ten challenge. Anyone is welcome to come and watch – with leashed beagles, of course! The line for the Top Ten is about 6km long… and there is only one line – not 5 x 1km lines like we normally have.

After the hunt we’ll have a breakfast again (R20 per person, please email me if you want to stay for breakfast!)

** Watch this space for: **

• Top Ten announcement this week
• Details of End of Year Prize Giving Ball announcement this week
• Placing of the Top Ten Next Sunday!
• Details of social Beagle meet-ups in Summer

Each hunt brings us closer to the end of our season

Check out some photos here – they have been updated!

We had a really big turnout today! Even a few new faces. The hunts went off so smoothly it was ridiculous! No dogs went off on their own mission, we didn’t have to send our “search party” after anyone! Made a lovely change.

I also managed to get some good group shots of everyone lining up and getting ready to release (thanks mom!).

Lots and lots of beagles finished all the lines. Although there is not really anything to report about this morning’s hunt, it was a very successful day for all the beagles. I’m sure you are all tired of hearing how fantastically Maya is doing, so I won’t mention it again! :p Congrats to Avon, who finished her first line (I think it was the first time!). Also a well done to a new beagle Gerry – I heard his name being called out a few times, but I never got to meet the boy!

We were really feeling the change of season… it was very very warm! The poor beagles were also suffering a bit with the heat. Now we can see why our season is only during winter.

Look how exhausted poor Harry is (only halfway through the morning!)

After the hunt we had croissants and cold meats, cheese and fruits… Supplied by Jane. It was great to have some time to chat to everyone, and see the beagles without their hunting bibs on – they are SO much cuter naked (hee hee!).

Special thanks to Jane for supplying the breakfast – everything was great! Also, thanks once again to Shaw, and his team for laying the lines for us!!

Our last open hunt is on 13 September at 7:30… you can sign up here.

*** IMPORTANT NOTE *** Anyone who won a trophy last year, needs to have it engraved and RETURNED AT THE NEXT HUNT so we can start organising everything for the prize-giving evening (probably held in November some time).

After all the rain, hail and freeeeeezing cold in Jozi yesterday, I was ready to stay in bed and give hunting a miss this week! The thought of my beagles being stuck inside all day again made me get up in the pitch dark and drag myself off to the hunt though

It was probably the smallest group this season – only about 20 beagles. I have a feeling the rest of our crowd spent the day curled up under the covers. Despite the cold the day before – Sunday turned out rather pleasant.

A few new faces… Copper the Beagle was one new face. Copper arrived and was a little bit unsure of all these other hounds – but he quickly relaxed and started wagging his tail. He even completed a couple of lines! Can you believe it! On his first day – very impressive – well done, Boy!

The lines went off very well – with little newcomer Maya deserving a special mention! She is continuing to do brilliantly – coming in first place on every single line. It’s phenomenal to see a new beagle doing so well on pure instinct. She is one of the smallest beagles in the group – but she is a total hunting machine! Her dad, Roelf, must be very proud of her.

Bella was doing very well today – surprising George and Linda (and most of us too!). Basil is also doing very nicely – he is becoming more constant in his hunting performance. I noticed Bentley (who has only been to one or two hunts before) is also finishing lines – which is very impressive.

Basil having a rest with his dad

It was actually quite nice, in a way, to have a small group for a change. Although, even with a small group we managed to have some beagles go off on their own mission. Annie and Avon (very uncharacteristically) went for a loooooooooong walk in the wrong direction. They refused to come close to Trevor to be leashed and returned to their mom – naughty girls! (Trevor said he is used to girls running away from him though! Hee hee ). The girls were reunited with their mom – tails wagging very fast! Our new boy, Copper also went for a walk about – following after Oscar and Harry who were going off for some brotherly bonding!

Oscar howling his little beagle lungs out!

It was a great morning as usual. The wind even stayed away for most of the morning.

Thanks to everyone involved in the organising and laying the lines!!

Our next hunt is on 16 August… sign up here

JUST A FRIENDLY NOTE: Our hunts are a Beagles Only Event. A lot of our beagles have brothers and sisters of different breeds – but if everyone were to bring all their dogs along, it would be too chaotic. We have had a few “non-beagles” at some of our events and we have let it slide… But we, unfortunately, can’t have this becoming the norm. Please understand that your “non-beagle” dogs will need to stay at home on the mornings of the hunts. – Thank you for your understanding in this matter!

Charlie, Marmalade and Snoopy

Right – so this Sunday was our second hunt of the season, and the first competitive hunt, where scores were recorded. It was a good turnout again (between 45 and 50 beagles I would guess). Things ran rather smoothly – everyone knows the drill now!

Most of the new faces returned for their second time! It’s nice to know we didn’t scare TOO many people away The new dogs are doing a little better each week I think. Quite a couple of them actually finished a few lines, which is great! The competition is going to be very tough this year.

Hope to see you all in a few weeks, on the 10th of May at 7:30

Thanks again to everyone involved in the organising, and especially to Shaw for laying the lines! The fast walks through the mountains must be exhausting! — Thanks Shaw!