Mike and Fran Baker welcomed a record Field to the Opening Meet at Cedar House on Sunday 19th October, and the weather was just perfect. Thanks to the generosity of the Ellis family, Richard and Rosemary Keyser and Anthony and Julie Silk we had some great country to hunt over. But this was to be a special day, as for the first time ever, we were to have our first "blind" hunt in Hampshire. A blind hunt is where the huntsman knows where the hunt starts, but no more than that. The Quarry has a map of the area cleared for hunting, and it is entirely up to him where he goes. When this pack was in Scotland and known as the Borders Bloodhounds, blind hunts were not unusual, but this is the first time we had suitable country to do it in Hampshire.
Nick Hudson was our Quarry for the day and he had quite a tough day in front of him. The first hunt started by Week Green Farm running south, and the hounds stability was to be tested, as four roe deer went through a hole in the hedge in exactly the same point as our Quarry. But the hounds never blinked, sticking tightly to the Quarry's line as they crossed Soalwood Lane by Wyke Green Cottage. Running across the stubble behind Pipers Farm, it was clear our Quarry had put in some turns to try and dislodge the hounds. However, hounds maintained a good pace to catch their Quarry by Froxfield Farm.
The second hunt has become a bit of an Opening Meet classic, but this time it was livened up by the addition of some jumps. Rumour has it that our Senior Master and Huntsman nearly went out the side door, but without photographic evidence he is refusing to confirm or deny the rumour - is he planning a career in politics?!! Starting once again by Week Green Farm, this time running north, by Rings Green Farm. Hounds were at fault here and with horses piling over the jump onto the line, they had to be helped back to the line. They were soon running again towards the Trooper pub and the Master was glad to see the Quarry had followed the written instruction "DO NOT STOP FOR A DRINK!" Turning by the road hounds went through the hedge and on to the Green Lane. Hounds were once again at fault here and followed a line down the lane until they realised they were wrong. Without help, the leaders regained the line in the neighbouring field and flew by the Kennels to catch their Quarry at Barnet Side.
The third hunt was to be a short scamper round Lupin Farm, but once again the hounds were to be tested in the first field. As hounds ran east from Becksteddle Lane, four Kamikaze roe deer ran out straight in front of the hounds. Only four hounds were tempted by this distraction and were very promptly advised of the error of their ways.
The last hunt of the day was the blind hunt, and Nick decided he would start opposite the Telephone Exchange at Priors Dean. Hounds were soon running north east up to the top of the hill and to the edge of the Hawkley Hanger. A strong breeze had started and hounds checked here on the exposed hill top. They were soon running again northwards along the edge of the hanger. The Master noticed someone walking along the route and made a mental note of where he had seen him. Hounds ran all the way to the start of Holtham Lane. As this was the limit of our cleared country, the Master knew hounds had deviated onto another line, probably the line of the walker. Unlike foxhunting, where changing foxes is not unusual and acceptable, clean boot requires hounds to hunt only their chosen individual Quarry. So hounds were cast back below where the man was seen, and hounds regained the line, this time back downhill towards the Manor House. Hounds were clearly at fault again, but this time the Master had not seen the cause, someone else this time walking their dogs. Cast towards Church Farm, hounds regained the line to run behind Church farm and south west up hill. Crossing the road, hounds ran above Valley Cottages and on to the Church. Crossing the road here, hounds ran to the back of the Telephone Exchange where they caught their Quarry. Blind hunts are not easy, especially when the area has other people walking about, but the Master was delighted to hear that when he compared where hounds had hunted with where Nick had run, they were in fact very rarely off the line. Penny Mileham had a nasty fall on this hunt when her horse tripped in a hole and rolled over her. Penny has broken her collar bone and has extensive bruising, so we all wish her a speedy recovery and hope it hasn't put her, Rosie and Freya off hunting - we would miss you. More pictures and a report will be added to the News Archive section in due course.
Photographs by Fran Baker and Gill White (Click to enlarge)
