2006 INTERNATIONAL
BEAGLE HARE FUTURITY July 1 - 3, 2006 - Waterville Beagle Club, North Vasselboro,
ME Reported by Beverley Cross
The beautiful Kennebec River in Maine.
Waterville Beagle Club in North Vasselboro,
Maine hosted this year’s running of the International Beagle Hare Futurity (IBHF) On July 1, 2 & 3, 2006. Despite
the forecast of heavy rain, the trialers enjoyed bright, sunny days for the event. Attendance was down a bit from previous
years, and most likely due to the severe flooding in New York and Pennsylvania, making it difficult for beaglers traveling
along those routes.
The International Beagle Hare Futurity is an AKC recognized specialty trial at which American Kennel Club and Canadian
Kennel Club IBHF registered litters compete according to AKC Large Pack rules. The first Futurity was held in 1974, and was
formed by a small group of New York and Vermont beaglers who felt more recognition needed to be given to the breeders in the
sport. Litters are registered with the Futurity committee before their first birthday, and are then eligible to compete
the year they turn two.
AKC Field Rep Mike Sergio Jr., and several of the sponsors, including Nestle Purina and The American Beagler, attended
the 2006 Futurity trial. Nestle Purina and Better Beagling Magazine sponsor the Trial of Champions, an event held on Monday
after the Futurity. After the Saturday classes, the Futurity holds a banquet at which the breeder awards are given, as well
as other awards of recognition and appreciation. The raffle follows shortly thereafter, and beaglers kick back for an evening
of fun before the classes on Sunday.
Above: Ed Brown paints the number assigned on
Bob Sweet's hound.
The camaraderie at this distinguished breeders’
event is always great, and this year was no exception. The beaglers look forward to meeting up with old friends who make the
yearly trek to the Futurity (many with kids and campers in tow). Some traveled from locations between California, Louisiana,
and Prince Edward Island in Canada, hopeful to see success from the breeding they made two years prior. As this weekend passed,
they enjoyed their visits over delicious home-cooked meals and gracious hospitality from the members of Waterville Beagle
Club. Each class of hounds had running and after a considerable time under judgment, the winners were announced and awarded.
Beaglers Sally McGehee (KY) and Lyn Ricker (NH) enjoy
chatting as the hounds are hunting.
Kevin Monroe (KY) and Don Hoog (OH) chew the fat in the
gallery. (I think Don's trying to make a point here... Kevin looks skeptical)
Left: Mel Faust's grandson, Brian, takes his job as handler very
seriously.
