Hopes ran high for the 600 hounds representing 37 packs at the Virginia Foxhound Club's 69th annual Show of Foxhounds on May 29. All five rings boasted quality across the boards. At the end of the day, the four Foxhound champions — Potomac "Templeton" – American, Midland "Striker" – Crossbred, Iroquois "Hackle" – English, and Moore County "Shakerag" – Penn-Marydel — gathered on the lawn in front of the historic Morven Park mansion for the Grand Championship.

Presiding judge Dr. John W. D. McDonald, MFH London Hunt studied each champion's conformation and then their movement when shown off lead. As the hounds gamboled back and forth, chasing after kibble, they displayed athletic grace and beauty in motion to the appreciative crowd of enthusiasts enjoying the finale against the timeless backdrop of the jewel that is Morven Park. In that atmospheric setting, Lt. Col. Bob Ferrer, USMC Ret., MFH Caroline Hunt, announced that Midland "Striker" had been awarded the William W. Brainard Jr. Perpetual Cup as the Grand Champion Foxhound of the Show, with Iroquois "Hackle" earning the honors as runner-up grand champion.

"This class is somewhat difficult because we're looking at different types of hounds and we're trying to decide which is the best example of their type," said Dr. McDonald. "In addition, we're judging dogs and bitches together and that adds a little difficulty. What one is really judging is conformation of the hound and its movement. In my view, the one that had both perfect conformation and beautiful movement was Striker. He was excellent. They were all quality hounds. Hackle had good conformation and showed herself well, but I think Striker's quality was outstanding."

Mason Lampton, MFH Midland, would agree. After all, Striker's the get of two Virginia Crossbred champions. Several years ago, Lampton was in England to judge at the Meynell where he was dazzled by a "pretty bitch" in a farmer's pack and brought her home. Midland "Moorland Staffordshire Stunning" earned the English championship at Virginia in 2014 and has proven herself in the field and in her two litters. Stunning and Midland "Rocket" — 2011 Virginia Crossbred Champion pinned above Midland's Champion Bitch "Instant" and in whose veins runs the legendary Midland "K" bloodline — this was the pairing that produced Striker.

Under the capable handling of Midland huntsman Ken George, Striker was chosen Best Unentered Crossbred Dog en route to the 2015 Crossbred Championship and the reserve Grand Championship at Virginia – heady events for the young hound, whose first season proved that he hunted as well as he showed. This year, Striker not only defended his title as Best Crossbred Hound, Entered, he relegated littermate "Stellar" to reserve honors when he claimed this year's Crossbred championship. It was Midland's day for glory.

"I'm thrilled," said Lampton. "Striker really is the vessel of some great new blood, but also of that absolutely terrific "K" line – our Kill and Keep, and Tony Leahy's Kentucky. If you look up the history of the last 15, maybe 20 winners in the Crossbred ring — I know that our Roxanne, Rocket and Instinct won — it all goes back to the K line and I bet it's in 75% of the Crossbred winners at Virginia. I think how amazing and how dominant that look, that type is to the judges' eye, even though it's all been different judges. Striker has won the Crossbred championship this year at three different top shows: Southern, Virginia and Bryn Mawr. You know, I don't know if that's ever been done before – at least not in my memory. He's just a very special hound."

By the way, in case you're wondering: Ben Hardaway, senior Master at Midland, still goes to the kennel every day and, from the time he first saw Striker, predicted great things. As of mid-June, seven packs had bred to him. Hardaway has been absolutely ecstatic about Striker and all of Midland's showing successes – most especially that they hunt so well, to boot.

[Continued through the extensive article with sections on American Foxhounds, Crossbred Foxhounds, English Foxhounds, Penn-Marydel Foxhounds, Special Classes & Memorial Traditions, and concluding remarks about the show's success and future plans. The article continues with details about junior handlers, awards presentations, and comments from judges and hunt staff.]