The 2018 winners of The Chase “Bench Challenge” have been determined. The roster of winning hounds for last year included not only individuals who primarily competed on the bench, but a couple of the top finishers crossed over into the field as well. I recall a conversation that I had a few years ago with a wise gentleman, Stanley “Hi” Petter of Lexington, KY, who bred and raised thoroughbred weanlings as well as hounds. He compared a thoroughbred and a foxhound saying if you look at the two very carefully, you will see that a foxhound possesses many physical attributes that the thoroughbred does, an anatomic parallel that distinguishes them from all other dogs. The “Bench Challenge” began as a way to pay tribute to the hounds that have the conformation necessary to excel at the shows, while recognizing the owners who work alongside them. The top three finishers in last year’s competition are as follows:

1) Ch. Tri. Co. Emoji IGWT 375750 – 680 Points
(Crossroads Just Rt. Joe – (B) CH. Tri. Co. Breeze)
Owned by CMK and Tri. Co. Knl; Chris and Angela Powell, Supply, NC and Ann Whitfield, Creedmoor, NC

2) Ch. Pinedale Top B. 377902 – 560 Points
(McMillan’s Little D. – Mtn Top Allie)
Owned by Pinedale Knl; Robby Bogue, Thaxton, MS

3) Ch. After Hours Willie 376483 – 550 Points
(After Hours Al – After Hours Annie)
Owned by After Hours Knl; Tommy Shackelford, Achilles, VA

The hound that placed first in the “Bench Challenge” this past year hails from a kennel who is no stranger to this competition. Chris and Angela Powell of Supply, NC, have had great success with their hounds the past several years winning their fourth title with a hound called Tri. Co. Emoji, IGWT. Emoji won several of the major bench shows last year that counted for double points, including the VA International, Greene Co. Open Show, and the Eastern NC FHA Open Show respectfully.

Both the second and third place hounds in the 2018 “Bench Challenge” in addition to the bench, also competed in field trials. Robby Bogue of Thaxton, MS took his nice male, Pinedale Top B. and won a number of three-day associated shows throughout the state region including the Int’l Running Hound Classic and the MS. State with five Best in Show titles to his credit. He is off of McMillian’s Little D, who also sired the winner of the 2017 “Bench Challenge”, McMillan’s Pharoah.

A hound by the name of After Hours Willie surged toward the top of the rankings late in the year winning at various locations such as the Tidewater and Virginia State at Poole’s, the Pee Dee at Tar River and the GA State Masters 3-Day in Swainsboro. Tommy Shackelford is very proud of his young male calling him a “smart hound”, who knows how to handle himself in every respect. Congratulations to all the hounds that placed in the 2018 Chase “Bench Challenge” and look for an extensive rundown and photo segment of the hounds who made the list of this contest in the May issue of The Chase.