Morghew
March 27th, 2002

Hounds had a bye day at Morghew, where a small field met to enjoy a day over new ground, which Master Roger Manning hopes to open up for the hunt next season.

Hounds were taken and laid on at The Quarter. They hunted past Plumber Wood and swung right down to take their quarry near the Kent and East Sussex steam railway. A fast hunt with hounds very full of themselves despite a hard day last Sunday at Brightling.

For the second hunt hounds were taken over the railway and laid on towards Pudding Cake Farm where they hunted along the valley swimming the dykes before turning back alongside the Cray Fish Lagoon to take the quarry near to where they had first started in a ditch full of red iron deposits. Hounds all came out red in colour, looking like Rowntree. The foot followers on the hill had an excellent view and said the hounds were spot on.

For the third hunt hounds were taken across the railway. They hunted up the hill past Heron Den and hunted round Gazedown Wood which is an old wild boar pen. They entered through one of the gates into the wood where deer came charging past the huntsman and whip in the opposite direction. Unpeturbed the hounds hunted on and out of another gate. They hunted really fast right the way down to New Mill Channel where the railway crosses the river. An extremely fast hunt with hounds crossing some bare plough really well.

While we were waiting for our quarry to run the next hunt our chair James Ramus remembered that the carted stag hounds crossed the river at this point on the railway bridge 50 years previously. A horse had slipped on the the bridge and was lefty hanging by one leg with its leg just above the water. After much prising they got its foot out and it plunged head first into the water, swimming out onto the bank totally unscathed.

For the fourth hunt the hounds were laid on next to dyke wall. They hunted really well for 200 yards and then half the pack checked where the quarry had stood still, creating a scent pool while they discussed tactics with the field master on the other side of the river. They were soon back together, hunting past Great Bulleien and up the hill to take their quarry just short of Morgue Farm. This hunt left the horse toiling a long way behind on some particularly sticky ground and hounds caught their quarry at least five minutes ahead of the horses.

Hounds flew and the horses toiled in some sticky ground as a small field enjoyed a nice bye day.