Route Hunt Enjoy Pre Season Mini Hunt
Anthea Moffett on Chip clearing the hedge
Saturday 18th October 2014 was the Route Hunt pre season mini hunt at the kennels. A total of 25 riders turned out and this included some hunting for the first time as well as some familiar faces.
Before leaving hunt Master Philip White welcomed everyone to the kennels and thanked Huntsman Jonny Butler and joint hunt master Ian Holmes for all the hard work involved with getting the kennels looking in tip top shape. Ian Holmes then introduced the field masters and gave everyone guidance on conduct for the day. Huntsman Jonny Butler then asked everyone to be mindful of the hounds especially the new hounds out for the first time.
Laura Downs And Lesley McDowell clearing the wall side by side
The hunt left the kennels at 10.30am and hacked along the Gateside Road before turning onto the Corbally Road. This gave everyone the chance to get their horses settled before the stubble fields that were ahead. Some time was spent here exercising around the fields and jumping the small hedges and fences that had been built into the hedges. There was then another hack to get to the next fields. Here there was a large ditch which caught a couple of riders out and saw them parting company with their horses , a few others had near misses and several decided to miss it out and take the laneway instead. After a few more jumps the excitement built as several hares appeared out of the thicket. The hounds took off in chase in several directions and made chase for some time. Unfortunately for them the hares were able to outsmart the hounds and they came
Setting off 18th Oct 2014
back empty handed. After this excitement the hunt headed towards the hill at the back of the kennels and enjoyed the view out over Portrush. Once again the hounds took off after a scent but were called back as it was time to go home. The weather had been perfect and both horses and hounds had enjoyed the day out as well as the riders who were discussing the events of the day on the way home. The first official hunt of the season is at 12 noon on Saturday 25th October followed by the Master dinner that evening. For further details on this or about joining the Route Hunt please contact the Hunt Secretary (Julie Smyth 077932009899)
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- Heading Home
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- Lined up ready for action
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- Setting off 18th Oct 2014
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- Vicky Slater on Paddy leaps the wall
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- Rosemary Moffett on Mo clearing the gate
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- Philip Abernethy clearing the fence on his first hunt outing with The Route
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- Norma Wilkinson On Tara clearing the wall
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- Laura Downs And Lesley McDowell clearing the wall side by side
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- Jan Barr on Broody clearing the gate
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- Hope Gardiner on Rufus leaping the hedge
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- Fiona Thompson on Ronnie flying over the jump
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- Anthea Moffett on Chip clearing the hedge
