Sparkle, a working foxhound from the Percy Hunt, made history by becoming the first working foxhound to compete at Crufts and was named best of breed. The hound, handled by huntsman Robert McCarthy, won the foxhound class at the show, impressing the judge with her obedience and friendly nature towards horses and other hounds.

Robert McCarthy entered Sparkle in Crufts to showcase the foxhound to the wider public, and the judge at the show praised her as the best example of a foxhound he had seen in the ring for a long time. The Percy Hunt, a working pack that follows scent trails across the Northumbrian countryside, is an accredited member of the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA), which promotes hound welfare and governs trail hunting.

The BHSA has been working towards greater transparency and inclusivity for all trail hunts, with competing at Crufts being an important part of this process. The association aims to highlight the pedigree and history of foxhounds, which can be traced back to the mid-18th century, and to showcase the dedication of huntsmen like Robert McCarthy in maintaining the breed’s standards.