We didn’t hunt on Boxing Day this year, but went to the ever popular Warren Farm to enjoy Stephen and Val Batten’s hospitality on the 28th.  Anthony Silk is so kind having the bloodhounds so often, and being able to include Mr Mitham’s farm on the Rotherfield Estate and Mr Carter’s ground at Pennyhill, made it a cracking day’s hunting.  The going was good and this enabled us to take on a few hedges on Anthony’s ground, as well as jumping the hunt’s portable jumps.  Sarah Ross and John Cowper-Coles joined the Master for a ground kissing session over one hedge on the hill, and John even got a ride in a helicopter out of it!  I think we’ll miss that hedge next year! Our Quarry was Nick Hudson and he had plenty of hill work in front of him.

The first hunt started by the bridleway by Warren Farm and hounds settled immediately to the line, running down by the church to cross the road by the Manor House and go behind Valley Cottages. Skirting round north of Church Farm, hounds were pushing hard as they ran south west up the grass to cross the road to Slade Farm. Hounds were well in front of the Field as they raced across Penny Hill to catch their Quarry by the house.

The second hunt was to be a good long one, over 3 miles, and Nick was obviously feeling confident when he told the Master over the radio that he could start. Hounds raced away from the northern end of the Five Ash track, to cross the road south of Priors Dean Church. They flew across the Hawkley road south east of the Manor House and climbed the hill to the start of Holtham Lane. Hounds were held here for a few minutes to give the Field a chance to catch up, and then they were released to run down behind Goleigh Farm. As they ran down towards the road, the Master could see Nick struggling across the plough on the other side of the road in a desperate attempt to get to the end of the hunt before the hounds caught him. He failed by 200 yards as Sunshine 03 ran up to him!

In an uncharacteristic act of kindness, the Master set the last hunt downhill, to give the Quarry a bit of a break. But as it turned out it wasn't the Quarry who got the biggest break! As hounds raced along the top of the hill by Keyham Farm, the Master had a crashing fall over a good drop hedge. Getting out of the way as quickly as he could, Sarah Ross followed, only to come to the same conclusion. Perhaps third time lucky, but no, John Cowper-Coles had a crashing fall and for a while there was great concern for his health. John was air lifted to hospital where he recieved treatment for a broken shoulder. Apart from this one low point, this had been a great day with a number of jumps, including three hedges.

Pictures by Mat Baker

Pictures by Louise Hudson