Meet The Comittee
Chairman - Keith Long
President - Elin Richards
Treasurer and Vice Chairman - Rob Franks
Secretary - Sam Clark
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Chief Steward & Cup Steward - Jo Franks and Christine Green
Show Secretary - Tracie Howie
Acting W. Trials Secretary - Jo Franks
Regalia - Sam Clark​
Other Committee Members:
Dave Scrivens, Lynda Hayden, Cindy Flowers, Christine Jones
and (co-opted) Clara Freer
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Non Committee Roles
Magazine Editor - Ann Freer
Chairman
Keith Long
Keith first joined The Club in 1965 and the committee in 1986 and became Chairman in 2008.
Special memories- Spending many days over the years, out in the field competing, judging, assisting or just enjoying watching the hounds hunt, in the company of fellow enthusiasts.
Future Vision- The continuation of our ancient breed and the hope that all breed enthusiasts can live in harmony.
President
Elin Richards
David and I bought our first Bloodhound from Mrs. Joy Piper (Abingerwood) in 1967 as a pet. We were lucky and she turned out to be both a Champion in the show ring and a senior tracking hound.
Our last hound (Ch. Cilgwri Starlight of Chasedown) died in 2016 at the age of almost 11 years.
We bred and showed over 20 Show Champions including a Group winner and a 3rd place group winner at Crufts, 2 W/T Champions, one a Dual Champion, and 5 International Champions .
Although I don’t think the dog world will ever be the same as it was when we started breeding, I hope the Club will go from strength to strength promoting the Pure Bred Bloodhound and looking after its members
Secretary
Sam Clark
Sam has been a club member since 1991, and already served on the committee in the past.
Sam, with her Farlap Bloodhounds is based on the edge of Dartmoor, and is actively involved in both the showing and working side of the breed and has a special interest in breed health.
Special memories: Has to be the four ‘Farlap’ best of breed wins at Crufts.
Future Vision: Ensuring we have a healthy dual purpose breed, that is fit for function.
Show Secretary
Tracie Howie
I have been around dogs and animals all my life and trained at 18 as a veterinary nurse.
Before becoming involved with Bloodhounds We bred and kept Weimaraner’s, mostly as working gun dogs. When we lost our last home bred bitch Helga, I could not face another as I would always compare a new one to Helga she was truly a special unique character.
I have always loved Bloodhounds and growing up in London had never actually seen one live except on the “Beverley Hill Billies”, I used to say as a child when I’m big I’m going to get a Bloodhound.
When researching the breed I ended up speaking to Sue Emrys-Jones who typically didn’t mince words on the pitfalls and responsibilities of Bloodhound ownership she put me in touch with Nick Sutcliff. Trying to persuade Nick to let me have a pup I stated that I wanted to show and would make her a champion. I think this amused him and he let me have Daya (Sanft von Jagersmann) in 2011.
Daya was hardcore dominant, headstrong and difficult. I had gone in at the deep end. We survived, 7 CC’s later we finally had our Champion I was smitten and haven’t looked back.
Through Showing (my passion) I got to know Sue Emrys-Jones better and eventually ended up bringing on 2 Marksbury Puppies at different times Marksbury Wheedle (Bluebell) and Marksbury Hessie.
Both Bluebell and Hessie became Champions and multiple CC’s and BOB’s. Hessie was top Bloodhound in 2019. Sue made me her partner at Marksbury as she was retiring, I was very honoured to accept the challenge. Sue will always be my guiding light in the breed.
We bred Bluebell and kept Bert and Bertha. We had 2 litters with Hessie one in lockdown and one in October 2022 We kept Victor (Marksbury Ruthenic of Millvery) and Violet (Marksbury Regina of Millvery) We own these 2 in partnership with Colin Avery and Ken and late Pat Miller of the Millvery Affix.
Highlights
The year Bert (Marksbury Malfoy) became a champion at Crufts and got Best of Breed
Future Vision
I am an ardent supporter of Breed Health and am keen to promote this going forward.
With the wish to see fit, healthy happy hounds fit for purpose.
Treasurer &
Vice Chairman
Rob Franks
When did you first start to be involved bloodhounds? – 30 years ago when Jo Franks (mum) took me to my first working trials where she hunted a line with ‘Biggles’ in record time – I was hooked from then on!
Best memory of bloodhounds – Achieving second in the Junior Stake on Tuesday, competing in the Intermediate Stake on the Wednesday and winning – all with the great ‘Biggles’
Vision for the future of the club – To grow the club by embracing the members’ enthusiasm, innovation and strong traditions both at working trials and the show ring
Jo Franks
I got involved with bloodhounds due to emotional blackmail from my husband, Tony, following a heart attack. He had secretly yearned from childhood for a Bloodhound (whilst recovering from meningitis he used to cycle over to Tring Museum just to gaze at stuffed Chattley Blazer), so, in a moment of weakness and misplaced affection, I succumbed and bought him ‘Hubert’. This was the first stage of Bloodhounds taking over my life.
The second stage was when, having only been a member of the Bloodhound Club for a couple of years, I found myself pitchforked into the role of Working Trials secretary which dumbfounded a lot of people and me. I had made the fatal mistake of letting on I could map-read and survey land for Trials. I was doomed and stuck with the job for in excess of 20 years. I loved it though it had its moments. Line-walking at night, when stuck waist deep in a muddy ditch at 03:00 hrs in rain and pitch blackness, I did question my sanity.
I suppose my best Bloodhound moment was owning and making up a working Trials Champion, to wit, the infamous Biggles (aka Brumbies Eclipse). A bloodhound known to make arrests if the line-walkers moved away after being ‘identified’.
The Bloodhound Club has always been a happy club and I should like it to continue to be so. We are very lucky in our new younger (to us oldies everything is relative!) and enthusiastic committee. A big thank you to them.
Christine Green
Before I married my husband Robin I realised he came with strings attached as he kept on saying ‘we must get a bloodhound’ (his father had bloodhounds from the 1920s).
My first meeting with bloodhounds stole my heart. Working Trials always attracted me. I enjoy walking lines (even in the middle of the night). I learned to map read at school, which came in handy. I started to handle hounds when Robin had to give up. Working a hound is exhausting, exciting and unpredictable!
One of my most exciting moments was when Walnut (Marksbury Humility) following a line went into a field of sheep (she was correct) and completely ignored them, and did not turn a hair. Fabulous!
The Club has always promoted bloodhounds and with the keen new ‘blood’ joining the committee, I am sure will continue to do so.
Dave Scrivens
​I got my one and only Bloodhound when I was 21. She lived to the grand age of 13 years and was my constant companion.
My interest is mainly the working side of Bloodhounds and this is why I’ve remained a member of the club.
I regularly help at trials either line walking, assisting the judge or as a judge.
I live in Salisbury on the South coast with my wife and two daughters. I run my own company working in TV and theatre lighting. I’m a keen runner, mountain biker and canoeist and love being in the outdoors.
Lynda Hayden
In 1968, to the detriment of my school work I spent every spare moment helping George and Lily Ickeringilll with their famous Brighton Bloodhounds.
Some 40 plus years later I finally had my first, a Farlap hound and currently enjoying my fourth. My wish is for the continuation of health testing and encouraging like minded people to appreciate this amazing breed.
Christine
Jones
I joined the Bloodhound club in 2010 when I purchased my second Bloodhound Ted, thinking it would be a good place to start learning about showing him.
It took me 2 years to source my 1st Bloodhound. I was changing breeds in an attempt to down size as I had previously had 6
danes over a period of 20 years, usually 2 or 3 at a time. Whilst I didn't intend stopping having Danes, I thought having 1 Dane and a smaller dog would be easier on my shoulder joints. It didn't take me long to discover there was a lot more housework involved in having a Bloodhound. However I was then smitten with Bloodhounds and couldn't imagine being without one.
The Bloodhound club was the 1st canine club I'd ever joined and although the numbers of people who attend shows isn't large, its generally a nice day out. Seeing volumes of Bloodhounds together never ceases to impress me.
I have attended many dog shows across the UK and always felt our club was missing the fun factor. When I was asked to join the committee I hoped I could contribute something that would help improve people's show experience. It didn't take long for me to realise the show side of the club was the easy part. I had no idea how much work went into running the club, keeping members, defending the breed, organising trials, keeping up to date with Kennel club rules and much much more.
I am generally in awe of the committee members and all they know and do.
Whilst I don't breed and I don't have the knowledge of other members, I do have the energy and enthusiasm to do whatever is asked of me to keep the club going and promote our breed.
The breed has improved so much in the past few years and my hopes for the future is that the progression continues in the same vein. I hope my attendance improves my knowledge and that the club gains many more enthusiastic members.
Cindy
Flower
I have always had working gun dog breeds, and when my last Springer passed away, I vowed I could never replace him or have another dog in my life. My world was empty for four whole years, although life was busy with 3 young children to look after, I felt that my children were growing up without the understanding and responsibility of having a pet.
I have loved the Bloodhound breed ever since I was a child, so I started to research the Bloodhound Breed, after 2 years of research and speaking with two breeders, my partner James and I finally became the proud owner of ‘Arlo’ (Castledee Scooby Doo).
I have learned that once this breed touches your heart, it does so in a way that no other dog can fulfil. It is loyal, a protector of our children, gentle, absolutely loving, and gives the best hugs ever! Not forgetting the slingers they get everywhere and the adolescent-like stubbornness. It's like living with a hormonal teenager at times, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
One of James and I’s most rewarding moments was leading the search and rescue for a vulnerable person, Arlo was only 13 months old when we were asked to help, he was spot on and did incredibly well for the conditions. He is registered for aid with our county Police Dog Unit.
I have only been a member of the Bloodhound Club since 2021, and as a committee member in 2024, I look forward to improving my knowledge of the breed and promoting it to our wider communities.
Clara
Freer (co-opted)
My parents brought home our first bloodhound over 20 years ago. From the moment I met her I was in love with the breed. She was a lovely little hound who was tolerant of me dragging her around the show ring as a junior handler, but we both enjoyed playing hide and seek far more. It was from her that I learnt about and came to love working trials.
Over the years I have taken part in many working trials; judging different stakes, walking lines, managing and handling hounds.
My greatest achievement to date is winning senior with a clean sweep of trophies and a CC on Dartmoor in biblical weather with Maud. It still amazes me what the bloodhound’s nose can do. Qualifying for a special stake for the first time was a bonus.
Maud has also given me my first litter of puppies, I am enjoying watching the sisters grow and develop into amazing dual-purpose hounds.