Running with Hounds by Ron Hastings

The article below was written by Ron Hastings, who ran for these hounds when they were in Scotland and known as The Borders Bloodhounds.

Being pursued by a pack of baying bloodhounds is not everyone's idea of fun. To some it may even conjure up scenes of Sherlock Holmes in the Hound of the Baskervilles staggering across mist covered moors in the deep of night. Although the Berwickshire countryside can be wild and dramatic the reality of quarrying for Borders Bloodhounds is quite different. Forget the blood-chilling cry of the fictional "Hound". When the Bloodhounds of Berwickshire catch up with their quarry (as the runners are affectionately referred to) they are more likely to lick their "victims" to death. In this sport the only reward for the hound is a handful of dog biscuits, an encouraging word and a roll in a nearby ditch.

Nonetheless the bloodhounds make an unusual and impressive sight as they accurately track the trail put down by the runners. With their incredibly sensitive noses there is no need to lay aniseed or trailed baits. Just the telltale scent of a few overheated runners as they scramble through fields, woodlands and heather moors is enough. Bloodhounds live for the chase and with appropriate training and the expert guidance of the Hunt Master they rarely lose their way for long, with the best and most experienced hounds running to the fore, constantly "speaking" to the others to keep them on the line.

Each of the elements of the hunt, the bloodhounds, the Hunt Master, the mounted followers and their horses, the supporters and the landowners all play a distinct role. However this type of hunting is crucially dependent on having human quarry who set off ahead of the pack to lay down the trail. The Borders Bloodhounds are fortunate indeed to have Les Turnbull, an experienced and enthusiastic hill runner to act as "Quarry Captain". Les has been there since the inception of the Bloodhounds and turns out every week throughout the season come hail, rain or shine. His close connections with Norham Running Club has encouraged other runners to come along, including this particular author.

A typical days hunting starts at 11 on a Saturday morning. The location of the meet varies each week and includes a variety of countryside throughout Berwickshire and East Lothian, from the southern uplands of the Lammermuir hills to the lower lying lands of the Merse. It has been said that there can be no better way to discover "hidden" Berwickshire than on horseback. Being involved with the hunt is proving to be a revealing and rewarding experience even for someone who has lived in the area for years.

For a runner, one unusual aspect of running for the hounds is the tradition of the stirrup cup and feed before setting off. After years of starving for a few hours before a race it takes some getting used to the custom of drinking whisky or port accompanied by a variety of tempting eats to help you through the exertions of the day ahead. Having been fed and watered the quarry set off to the start of the first hunt or 'line' and climb into a darkened, mud splattered Land Rover to be dropped off at the start point designated by the Hunt Master. The area will have been carefully reconnoitred in the preceding days with precautions taken to avoid particularly sensitive stock and an appropriate route for the Hunt to follow. To assist them the quarry are provided with a somewhat outdated version of the OS Map with the contour lines cunningly indistinguishable so they don't get too discouraged! Depending on the terrain each hunt covers three or four miles and will generally take around forty-five minutes to run. Usually there are three hunts in a day so it pays to pace yourself. After a suitable interval the hounds set off in pursuit with the field following hard on their heels. The sound of the hounds on the chase can prove quite an incentive for the quarry to get their skates on and lends a competitive edge to encourage the quarry to get to the end of the hunt without being caught. Depending on the location, the riders will get a gallop and a variety of (optional) fences to test their ability. It is said that there is less standing around waiting for something to happen than in the traditional sport of foxhunting.

Recent meets this year have included three wonderful chases with jumping from Reedy Loch, taking in Manderston Estate and the suitably named Paradise before returning to the banks of the Blackadder at Kelloe Bridge. An excellent day in the Lammermuirs was had from Rawburn near the Watchwater Reservoir. On this occasion distractions for the hounds were provided by a flock of sheep crossing and "foiling" the line and several snow-white mountain hares springing out of the heather. However Hunt Master Jeremy Whaley was up to the task of putting the hounds back on line and the quarry did not have long to wait before they were again the focus of attention. The fine blue skies and dry overhead conditions of that day were not to last and the following week we had driving sleet and hail on the Greenlaw Moor with the hunt taking us to a suitably bleak location named "Hanged Mans Hill".

A day out with the bloodhounds whether on horseback or as quarry is certainly a day to be remembered and provides a challenging and rewarding experience on a variety of levels. Riders, runners or spectators wishing to be involved, either occasionally or regularly, will be given a warm welcome. Details of meets are available both on the web at www.borderbloodhounds.co.uk and in the local press. An open meeting to discuss the future of this new sport to this area has been arranged at the Black Bull Hotel, Duns at 6.30 on Monday 14th February and a good turn out is hoped for.