THE SUN shone and the BBQ sizzled as the Croome & West Warwickshire Hunt held their Family Fun Day at the Croome Estate kennels in Kinnersley recently.
The event was well attended, with dozens of families bringing their pets to compete in the annual dog show, with awards for the waggiest tail, best rescue dog, best trick and best pedigree breed.
In addition, there were races for terriers, whippets, and the Hunt’s own foxhounds competed in five races with five hounds in each.
Children enjoyed the face painting and various games with nine-year-old Flora winning the children’s race.
Tasty refreshments were provided by local suppliers, and there were plenty of healthy treats for dogs also on offer.
Pippa Wilkinson, joint master of the Croome & West Warwickshire Hunt said: “We were delighted to see so many people come to our annual fun day, with their pets, and we were very lucky with the weather which was dry and sunny, but not too hot for the animals!
“This year, there were many people who hadn’t attended before, providing a great opportunity to introduce the hounds to them and talk about the Hunt.
“People always tell me that the Croome Estate kennels are an exceptionally beautiful place to spend the day, and the family fun day is one of the highlights of our year.”
The Croome & West Warwickshire Hunt is a member of the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) and practices trail hunting, which does not involve the pursuit of any animal.
Instead, the hounds are trained to follow a pre-laid scent trail, preserving the traditions, skills and employment associated with hunting, while remaining in full compliance with the Hunting Act 2004.
Members of the BHSA sign up to a code of conduct and uphold the highest standards of welfare for the horses and hounds involved in the sport.
Every year, the trail hunting community raises tens of thousands of pounds for charitable causes.
In a recent six-month period, 92 different charities benefited to the tune of £460,000 raised by members of BHSA-registered hunts.
