The meet at East Dean proved to be a bit exclusive, but it was nonetheless a good day to be out on the South Downs. As we hacked to the meet, a pony decided to jump out of its field, charge through the hounds and head off for the forestry! We were fortunate to have Olly Room running for us as he is a local and knows the country well. A little too well as it turned out because instead of having to follow the notes carefully, he was able to take the shortest route across some of the crops, leaving us to follow the very much longer route round the crops! Unfortunately our regular photographer Ann Brewer was not out, but fortunately Fran Baker did manage to get a few in between manning road crossings and looking after our Quarry.

The first hunt started east of the village heading up High Down before turning down by Ides Barn to cross the road. Our quarry had crossed a large muck heap here and then on over stubble towards Potcomb. Hounds struggled on the foil, but warmed up as they hunted the line onto the winter rape along Wallerdean Hill. Getting back into top gear, they ran down to the road south of Manor Farm, where they checked. A cast up the road showed the quarry had run the road a short distance before crossing it to run south of Manor Farm before turning back north to catch their quarry by the Charlton road.

The second hunt started at the northern end of North Lane and hounds were really flying as they went by Wood Lea onto North Down. This is where the quarry turned hard east, leaving the Field well on the outside of the hunt. The Field was about half a mile behind the hounds as they went over the top of Court Hill and the Master tells me that as he got to the top of the hill, he saw in the region of 15 fallow bucks standing within 30 yards of where the hounds had run. This proved to be no problem as the hounds had run straight past and were now entering the field behind East Dean church, where they caught their quarry. Both these hunts took place on Mr Holt's farm on the Goodwood Estate and we are most grateful to them for their help.

The final hunt was due to take place on Mr Humphrey's farm on the Goodwood Estate, but we decided we had had a good day and we wanted to help find the escaped pony. So we put the hounds away and rode up to the forestry to help with the search. I am pleased to report that the pony was found on the South Downs Way!