KEEN, MEAN &WHISKERED

17 December 1999

KEEN, MEAN &WHISKERED

As the foxhunting season moves into top gear, and resolve

strengthens to save it from the proposed government ban,

supporters of Nick Valentines pack of hounds are defiant –

particularly as this pack is unique. Jeremy Hunt reports

THE Ryeford Chase is the UKs only working pack of Basset Griffon Vendeen, a rough-coated hound. And just to make this Herefordshire-based pack even more unusual its hunted alongside a pack of Teckels, the original working strain of Dachshund.

The first Basset Griffon Vendeen arrived from France in the late 1930s. They were imported by the Buchanan-Jardine family – the famous hunting dynasty from the Castlemilk Estate in Dumfriesshire. When the family decided to concentrate on their now famous black and tan foxhounds, the Bassett Griffon Vendeens were dispersed to other packs throughout the UK.

During his time in hunt service, Mr Valentine encountered these charming bewhiskered hounds and became so interested in them that he established a small private pack which moved with him as he took up new positions as he pursued his hunting career.

Mr Valentine is now retired but he keeps 30-couple of Basset Griffon Vendeen at his home near Ross-on-Wye. Its a private pack – which means it is not run by a committee – but is under the sole ownership of Mr Valentine. It meets twice a week and will follow a wide range of quarry.

"Theyll hunt just about anything that moves but they are tremendous on rabbits. We have cleared as many as 40 rabbits in just a few hours and would be delighted to hear from landowners who have a rabbit problem and would like to see a pack of hounds working to sort it out," says Mr Valentine who is sole master and huntsman of the Ryeford Chase.

The pack will also hunt foxes and has proved very useful when invited to work in conjunction with farmers who want to shoot foxes and value the hounds ability to drive foxes to the waiting guns.

"If a landowner wants to shoot foxes its certainly an effective way of making sure foxes are brought out into the open for an effective method of despatch."

The Basset Griffon Vendeen has more recently been imported by dog breeders with showing in mind; there are now "petite" and "grande" versions of the breed being exhibited at dog shows but Mr Valentine refers to the show-bench types as "headbangers" when it comes to their working instinct.

"Following a pack of Basset Griffon Vendeen hounds on foot is a wonderful experience. They can be very independent and excitable but they are marvellous to hunt," says Mr Valentine.

His 10-couple of Teckels hunt alongside their larger kennel mates. This breed is the original German working Dachshund; its wire-coated and is mid-way in size between the miniature and standard Dachshund varieties widely seen in the UK.

"They are an excellent working hound that is bred to go to ground. They are very agile and courageous and far stronger than the Dachshunds most people are familiar with."

Teckel bloodlines have been imported from Spain, Germany and more recently from Iceland to ensure the breeds future in the UK.

During the summer the Ryeford Chase hounds paraded at several agricultural shows and won many admirers. "We were spotted at the Cheshire County Show by Princess Anne. She had no idea what breed they were but made a point of coming over to find out," says Mr Valentine.

Farmers requiring an effective method of rabbit control from the Ryeford Chase pack should call: (01989) 750877