New Quarries Peter Larkin and Dominique Tillen had quite a challenge ahead of them when we met at Messrs M and J Gibbons' Upper Farm. This was to be quite a tight bit of country to run three hunts in, if hounds were not to end up overrunning one line and ruining the next. However Peter and Dominique rose to the challenge brilliantly, even using a compass to keep them going in the right direction!

The first hunt started by Berrywood Lane, with hounds running down to cross the Oxdrove Way. Skirting east round Bradley Wood, the lead hounds were pushing on hard by Wigdell Copse, leaving Stephen Kelk to bring on some hounds caught out at the start. Hounds were in overdrive as they ran past Burkham House to some stubble by Down Wood. They ran smack into a herd of fallow deer here, which distracted them a bit, but the Master quickly had them stopped and back on the correct line, giving the Field a chance to catch up.

The second hunt started down on Bagmore Lane, where it meets Herriard Common Wood. Hounds settled to the line very quickly and were well up together as they crossed Spain Lane close to the junction of Red Lane. The Field had to kick on hard as hounds ran parallel to Red Lane, to come to some plough below Brick Kiln Copse. However, hounds hardly slowed at all as they crossed the plough to catch their Quarry back at the farm.

The third hunt started at the end of the second and this is where the Quarry's great accuracy really paid dividends as the hunt was to make a large loop right round the top of Down Wood and inside the first two hunts.

Pictures by Fran Baker