Route Equestrian Charity Ball
Here are a few photographs from the Route Equestrian Charity Ball, which took place at the Lodge hotel Coleraine on Saturday 22nd February 2014.
On Saturday 22nd February 2014 over 200 Route hunt members and friends gathered at the Lodge Hotel Coleraine for the annual hunt charity ball this year supporting Diabetes UK. On arrival all enjoyed a drinks reception and many posed for photos taken by the local papers and Artemis photography. All were then called to the function room and were upstanding for the arrival of the hunt officials who were lead into the room by the piper.Huntsman Jonny Butler raised the first toast of the evening to hounds and hunting, Hunt Master Philip White raised a toast to the ladies and the style, Joint Hunt Master Ian Holmes raised a toast to Horses and Sport with Whipper in Gerard McCloskey raising the final toast to friendship and friendly rivalry . It was then time for dinner. The first course was Chinese chicken strips served with oriental salad. This was followed by leek and potato soup with a selection of breads and then the carvery banquet with roast beef, gammon, lamb and chilli chicken accompanied with honey roast vegetables, cauliflower cheese, roast , mashed and herby potato cubes, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, salads and accompaniments. Dessert was a trio of mini desserts – bannoffe pie, apple pie and custard and meringue, fruit and cream. This was finished off with tea or coffee and mints. With tummies full it was time for dancing and it wasn’t long before the dance floor was full and both young and not so young were grooving to the beat of Memory Lane followed by a disco.Raffle tickets were sold to raise money for diabetes UK and before midnight the raffle was drawn. Each table received at least 1 prize from the raffle as event organiser Norma Wilkinson had arranged for a ticket to be placed under a seat at each table. There was a great variety of prizes to suit those with horses and those without . As well as the raffle prizes there was a mirror with a horse and hounds, a painting of a horse and a water colour by Sam McLarnon of Ballycastle which were auctioned. Thanks goes to Norma Wilkinson for organising yet another successful equestrian ball, to the Lodge Hotel for the wonderful meal, the hunt members , friends and sponsors for their generous donations to the raffle and auction,the band and DJ for great music and once again the farmers and landowners without whom there would be no hunt.Photographs of the event can be viewed on the Route Hunt Face Book page and on Artemis website.
Weather permitting the next hunt will take place on Saturday 1st March at 12 noon and organisers hope to see a good turnout of members and visitors. For further details on this or about joining the Route Hunt please contact the secretary Julie Smyth ( 0779320899)
