Benny O’Kane tackling the imaginative course designed by Davy McLaughlin and his team 

On the weekend of 7th and 8th June the Mid Antrim Hunt hosted a two day Inter Hunt Chase with a Barbeque on the Saturday night and, as a Dublin Qualifier for the finals at the RDS Show in August, it attracted a good entry of teams from the Southern packs. Davy McLaughlin and his team had built a very imaginative course with all sorts of obstacles along the way, even including a pair of ghostly dummies at the end of the track. The Saturday kicked off with the pony teams competing in the most difficult of conditions and much to the annoyance of Davy McLaughlin, who had been the chief course builder, the ground which had been perfect the day before, became saturated. This did not deter the teams and the winning pony team, Rosie’s Rockets, consisted of Joe and Bob Hamilton, with Joe riding two different mounts, and Laura Gordon. The Belgium Belles, named because of their very successful recent visit there for pony club games, were second with an all female team of Orla O’Kane, Erin Dunseath, Brigid Delargy and Courtney Hamilton. The Dingles with James and Sarah McNabney, Josh Marks and William Hamilton, were third.

Brigid Delargy of the ‘Belgium Belle’s’

The adults came next with the weather improving marginally but the ground was more like winter hunting than mid summer. The Killinick teams had come all the way from Wexford and were unbelievably professional with their speed and slick change-overs. The Killinicks proved victorious with their “White” team of Johnnie Roche, Benny & Keira Walsh, and James Rath beating their “Wine” team of Jass Codd, Conor Scallon and Katy Stafford into second. The Ward Union and the Kildare Black teams were joint third. The home team of the Mid Antrims were not so lucky this time with their team consisting of Beverley Caves, Richard Cowan, Fiona Magill and Orla McLaughlin, but Fiona Magill definitely gets the prize for stickability staying on her horse when it seemed impossible. The one person who did not enjoy the day as much as he should, was Jamie Sloan, normally part of the team but grounded with a broken ankle, but he did manage to help out all he could and presented the rosettes on both days, with the aid of his crutches.

Orla O’Kane & Erin Dunseath of the ‘Belgium Belle’s’

The next day was a very different story with the weather, and with sunshine and a good drying wind, the rearranged course set up by the river had much better going than the previous day. This time the Killinick White were victorious again with the Taras in second, the Kildare Black and Killinick Wine teams were joint third. The Killultagh, Mid Antrim, Kildare Green, and Ward Unions were also competing with the Mids having Benny O’Kane in their team on the Sunday. The two Best Turned Out Prizes were awarded on the Sunday as the conditions had been so bad the day before, and they were won by the Taras and the Kildare Blacks. After this came the pony pairs competition and the girls Orla O’Kane and Erin Dunseath on their grey ponies rode brilliant rounds to beat Joe Hamilton and Laura Gordon into second place, with the Hooligans team of Bob Hamilton and William Hamilton third, and The Boss’s team of Courtney Hamilton & Brigid Delargy fourth.

Killinicks v Killultaghs in hot competition

They would also like to thank Ian Wilson of Wilson’s Auctions who very kindly provided the commentary van, Noel Fitzpatrick who was as helpful as ever bringing many of the jumps, Doherty and Gray for sponsoring much of the meat for the barbeque, Ballymena Rugby Club for providing such a perfect venue for all the hunt chasing as well as the evening’s entertainment, the hard-working ladies who beavered away with the food preparation, and last but not least all Davy McLaughlin and his band of helpers who put so much work into the preparation, re-arrangement, and dismantling of the course.

Rebecca Sim on Lupin clearing the big bale

Saturday 15^th March was the last hunt of the 2013/2014 season for The Route hunt  with the proceeds of the meet, organised by Jazz Horses, going to RDA Coleraine.Hunt members and friends gathered at Ballylagan Equestrian Centre in glorious sunshine and enjoyed refreshments provided by Martin & Frances Mellet of Jazz Horses. Before setting off a cheque for £1000 some of which was donations on the day was presented by hunt host Martin Mellet & hunt masters Ian Holmes & Philip White to Mr Rex Humphries President of RDA Coleraine. Mr Humphries expressed his thanks and appreciation for the generous donation which would help fund the worthwhile work of RDA Coleraine. At 12.30 pm the hunt left the yard at Ballylagan and headed for the jumps on the forest path, the gallops and the outdoor arena . After  this there were a couple of jumps before a surprise drop hedge.

All loaded up ready to follow the hunt

The hunt then hacked along Ballylagan Lane and onto the Coolyvenny Road to Mr Humphries farm. Here there were numerous fences, bales, ditches, hedges and laneways. Several riders parted company with their horses and for Rachel Kelly and Jill Hughes it was a trip to A&E while hunt master Ian Holmes used the expertise of GP Mark Quinn to sort a dislocated finger rather than visit A&E. After 3 hours and over 70 jumps horses and riders were happy to return to Ballylagan where all appreciated the refreshments provided . Thanks goes to the Jazz Horses team for another great hunt which had taken many hours of hard work to set up. To Rex Humphries for the use of his farm and to the many farmers and landowners who allow the hunt the use of their land throughout the year and to the hunt organisers who set up the hunts throughout the year.

Route Hunt Officials &, Hunt Host Martin Mellet presenting cheque to RDA Coleraine President Rex Humphries

The next Route Hunt event  will be  hunter trials held at Maddybenny equestrian centre on Sunday 13^th April 2014.

Classes :-                                               Prizes

75 cm optimum time                        1^st £50    2^nd  £30     3^rd  £20

85 cm optimum time                        1^st £50    2^nd  £30     3^rd  £20

95 cm fastest time                            1^st £75    2^nd  £50     3^rd  £25

75 cm pairs   fastest time    1^st  2x bags of horse feed & 2  x luxury Easter eggs

2^nd  2 x Easter Eggs

3^rd    Cream  eggs

The course will be as used by Eventing Ireland on Saturday 12^th April so as well as being a great training ground with lots of prizes and rosettes up for grabs it should also be a fun day for all.

For further details on this or about joining the Route Hunt please contact the Hunt Secretary (Julie Smyth 07793209899)