About the ABB

What we can offer members

Organisation

The management of the Association is vested in the Committee, with administration being carried out by the permanent officials, who are the Hon. Secretary and the
Hon. Treasurer. Certain of the Committee Members are responsible for organising and running the Shows, and the Bloodhound Trials, and for the magazine, sales of insignia and other items, and Cup and Trophy records.

Magazine

A magazine is issued twice a year, Summer and Winter, and sent free of charge to all Members. Every effort is made to put out an informative, interesting, and readable magazine but it is also the main method of communication between the Executive and the Membership and so contains official notices, and Bloodhound Trials and Show results.

Sales

There are always items of insignia, training books and other publications, and various goods for sale. A full list of these is given in the magazine and on this website and any item can be obtained from the Miss Billett, or at most Shows.

Training

Training Days are held in various parts of the country at suitable times of the year so that Members can obtain practice and advice in hunting their hounds.
To qualify for entry into the Novice Stake at a Championship Bloodhound Trial, hounds must have been awarded a Working Permit which can be tried for at an official Training Day or by private arrangement with the Bloodhound Trial Secretary.

Welfare Fund

The Association administers a Fund set up to benefit Bloodhounds who are in need.
Voluntary contributions from Members, and cash received from fund raising activities, maintain the Fund which is available for rescue, veterinary fees, accommodation and food. The very high standard of responsibility of Members, particularly the breeders, ensures that the Fund is called upon only when really necessary.


Judges Lists

Lists of Show Judges and Bloodhound Trials Judges are maintained during the year. At the end of every year these Lists fall in their entirety and are replaced by new lists compiled by secret ballot of the Committee.
Members are invited, through the magazine, to submit names for inclusion on the ballot papers.
The Show Judges List is sent to the Secretaries of Championship Shows which offer Kennel Club Challenge Certificates for the Breed.

Shows

The Association organises and runs its own Open Show and Championship Show each year, usually in June and September respectively. Kennel Club Challenge Certificates are on offer at the Championship Show.

There are several other major Championship Shows throughout the country at which Kennel Club Challenge Certificates are also on offer.

Bloodhound Trials

Every year the Association holds two, four day, Championship Bloodhound Trials, one in the Spring and the other in the Autumn. There are also three Advanced Limited Stakes which are run during the Winter. The locations for all these activities vary considerably and may be anywhere in Great Britain depending on where land can be obtained at the time. There is also a Veteran Stake.

At the Championship Bloodhound Trials there are Novice, Junior, Intermediate and Senior Open Stakes. A Kennel Club Bloodhound Trials Certificate is on offer for the winner of the Senior (Open) Stake.

Brough Cup:- Hounds obtaining 1st or 2nd place in the Senior Stake at A B B Spring and Autumn Trials may compete for the Brough Cup on lines 6 hours cold.

Bracken Trophy:- The winner of the Brough Cup and hounds awarded a Certificate of Merit in that stake, along with Working Trial Champions by invitation, may compete for the Bracken Trophy on lines 12 hours cold.

Marlwood Beaker:- The winner of the Brough Cup, the winner of the Bracken Trophy and hounds awarded a Certificate of Merit in that stake, along with Working Trial Champions by invitation, may compete for the Marlwood Beaker on lines
24 hours cold.