New meets are always great, but the stunning views across Hampshire to West Sussex and great hospitality from Hilary Robinson certainly made this day a bit special. The field had a grandstand view of the first hunt, which is guaranteed to make our Master/Huntsman a bit nervous, given that the hounds enthusiasm and energy verge on the semtex level as they hack towards the start of the first hunt! As well as having a new hunt on Scotland Farm, we enjoyed a new hunt on Lyss Place, thanks to Hans Snook and Helen Demmy, and a hunt on Derek Amesbury's Wheatham Farm. It was good to see all our hosts at the meet.
The Field had a good view as Quarry Nick Hudson started the hunt, with the inevitable cries of "run" from the Master as ge sat on his horse stuffing his face with sausage rolls and Port! This was a very tight hunt round Scotland Farm, with plenty of twists and turns, but the hounds stick well to the line and gave the foot followers a good view. The hunt ended with the Master praising Nick for his great accuracy on such a tight route - Nick nearly fainted!
The second hunt on Lyss Place also went very well and gave the mounted Field a good gallop over the hunt's portable jumps. Once again the Master praised Nick for running so well over new ground. Hans Snook and Helen Demmy then plied the Master with Port, while Nick set off for his final run on Wheatham Farm, ground where Nick stables his horse. So it came as some surprise to Jeremy when the hounds appeared to be running off course and too close to where Nick was due to finish the hunt. Then the inevitable happened and the hounds overran the outgoing line of Nick's route and found the homecoming line, with hounds cutting out half the hunt and catching Nick early. It would appear our Master was, as Queen Victoria would put it, "not amused." Members of the Field tried, pretty unsuccessfully, to stifle their amusement, while the Master took the hounds back to hunt the missing part of the line. Hunting with bloodhounds is not, as some people would put it, predictable!
Pictures by Louise Hudson and Sarah "Minky" Kelk
