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Huntsman's
Report
Hounds met at Rickney Farm, Rickney Bridge by kind invitation of Master and Mister Miles. The large field started by toasting the health of Clem "Pop" Ramus, who had celebrated his 97th birthday the day before and provided the drinks for the meet. Pop is our oldest, (although age is a relative issue with Pop when surrounded by the ladies of the hunt!) but most loyal supporter. On a serious note joint master Clare Miles reminded everyone that they must book in earlier (by Friday, please) so that tea can be organised and she also asked that everyone waits for hounds at the end of the day, and not rush off back to be first at tea. We were very lucky with the weather again, with a gloriously sunny day with very little wind. The quarry for the day were Adrian, Robbie and Louise. The hounds were taken down the road and laid onto the grass field of Martin Hole's, below Horse Eye. They hunted round the flooded fields with great enthusiasm, and on through the flood water, reflecting the sun, and the field were treated to excellent hound work as the quarry twisted and turned round the gateways from field to field. They eventually took their quarry below Horse Eye farm. The second hunt started next to the flint barn where they hunted over to the main river. Instead of crossing the double hounds were at fault here but they were soon brought back. They immediately picked up the line running parallel with the river, past Henty's Barn they then swung up towards Horse Eye swinging round back towards Tehran River again. They hunted on but checked when the sheep ran all the way down the line the quarry had run. The hounds were held until the sheep were off the line and then hunted their quarry to the road. The third hunt started beyond New Bridge. The hounds were laid on next to the river, where the sheep again intervened blocking their way out of the field. The hounds were held whilst the sheep were pushed out of the way. They continued on, checking in a large field of corn, where they cast out in the middle with the huntsman on his feet. Picking up the line they fairly raced through the dykes crossing the main river, which our quarry had had to swim, Meanwhile the field were able to ride parallel with the hounds jumping the post and rails. The hounds took their quarry just short of Rickney Bridge. An extremly fast hunt, probably the best of the season so far, with a bit of everything for everyone. For the fourth hunt, which started over Rickney Bridge onto Montague, the quarry ran around the marsh below the hill, where Nicola Wilson's horse missed the bridge and dived into the ditch, firing Nicola straight across the other side before managing to scramble out. Luckily neither rider or horse were injured. But the horse was very wet. They hunted round over the top of the hill and took their quarry just near Rickney Bridge. It was extremely wet going and hounds and horses had had enough by the end of the day. A beautiful day on the marshes and the hounds hunted extremely well, Rowntree had an excellent day but Tootsie is coming back to her own having been in season. We then went back for an excellent tea at the Miles's, where Pop was given his cake by Polly Miles, ably assisted by Gundrada and Martin Hole's children.
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