We were delighted to be welcomed by Lord and Lady Mersey to hunt on their beautiful Bignor Park Estate; however the Master was slightly concerned to see two fallow deer grazing in the first field hounds were due to hunt in. It was also good to see CL&C amateur Whipper-in Nigel Dallyn and his daughter, amongst others, trying this alien sport!

After enjoying some generous hospitality at the meet, the hounds were taken back up the drive to start their first hunt in the field where the deer were seen earlier. Hounds roared away by Bowler's Crab Wood to run past the house before turning back by the lake to run into Decoy Copse. Turning North hounds joined the bridleway to turn again South East. Always a testing time if the Quarry takes to a footpath, brileway or track, will they come off it where the Quarry does, or will they run on because somebody else has used it as well? No worries today, they left the bridleway at the corner of the first field and ran on past Hospital Copse and the Swares to catch the Quarry on the coach drive. A fast hunt and some heavy going in places.

Hounds were taken off the estate for their second hunt on David and Toni's Green's well fenced Sutton Farm. Hounds were a bit over enthusiastic at the start, a common problem with bloodhounds, and they had a short burst towards the farm before realising their mistake and returning to where their Master was patiently waiting - or all right, waiting! Putting themselves right they crossed the stream to run down into the hanger, where foot followers saw a number of fallow in front of them. Hounds behaved and stayed with the Quarries' line as they crossed back over the water to finish near Bignor Mill. A short hunt, but lots of fun "in the air" for those who wanted it.

Then it was back to the estate for another short hunt, before the hounds started the last hunt amongst Stuart Dallyn's cattle at Keyzaston Farm. The cattle started to look a bit frisky, so hounds were stopped and held round the cattle to pick up the line into the woods to Column Hill. The Quarry had done well to pick there way through the woods, first running back down to Keyzaston and then swinging away to Broad Halfpenny woods where they were caught by the hounds, who had ignored a large fallow buck that crossed in front of them. A very satisfying day bearing in mind hounds had not met fallow deer before, nor had they hunted in so much woodland for some time. As well as being grateful to the landowners and farmers mentioned, we are also very grateful to the Bignor Park shoot, who helped us find acceptable routes.

Believe it or not we have no pictures of the meet!
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