Jan 2012
CL&C Grand Tour (2011/12) | The C+H and The OSB&WK
22/01/12
With the shooting season inching towards its climax, Saturdays in January are always in demand across our country. At this point the Masters tend to shake uncontrollably - as does the carefully planned Meet Card - and look towards the kindness of neighbouring packs. Sedating us this season were the Crawley & Horsham on Jan 14 and a week later the Old Surrey Burstow & West Kent. We had a terrific time at both. Coincidentally the two huntsmen are brothers. Nick Bycroft at the Crawley and Mark Bycroft at The Old Surrey.
Butterstocks Farm was the venue for the first and what a day we were given in and around Knepp country. To say it was well-fenced would be an understatement of almost criminal magnitude. Wonderful hedges, timber uprights and tiger traps kept us moving throughout the day and the few of us who could last the eye-wateringly fast day came home in the dark. Thanks so much to the Masters, who organised such a great day. Genuinely, much appreciated by all. The C&H have some beautiful country and we were privileged to be on such a well-maintained part of it. Really great fun. We all came back having made new friends.
For yesterday’s meet in OSBWK country, around 15 of us made the journey to Hever where we met in the shadow of the castle at the KIng Henry VIII pub. Sage, as you can see, took a few couple of hounds to augment the Old Surrey pack. It was another tremendous day over turf and in woodland. Fieldmaster Jeff Pegrum warned us that country was a bit tight, though so fast did he keep us moving we barely noticed. What a friendly bunch they are and what great support they show their huntsman and hounds. There must have been 100 out on a day which Mr Pegrum said would be difficult. Far from it. Tiger traps and uprights kept us on our toes (the second of the day with a deceptive sheer drop...) and it was non-stop from 11 till 5. Great, great fun.
Both away days earned nicely for Tumblers League. Addison’s Law, hurriedly enacted at the Pythchley earlier in the season (commemorating Mrs Lucy Addison’s valiant attempt a large hedge), allows us to count falls away from home. Thanks to the Masters and Secretaries of both packs for giving us great days when ours might have been left wanting.
Butterstocks Farm was the venue for the first and what a day we were given in and around Knepp country. To say it was well-fenced would be an understatement of almost criminal magnitude. Wonderful hedges, timber uprights and tiger traps kept us moving throughout the day and the few of us who could last the eye-wateringly fast day came home in the dark. Thanks so much to the Masters, who organised such a great day. Genuinely, much appreciated by all. The C&H have some beautiful country and we were privileged to be on such a well-maintained part of it. Really great fun. We all came back having made new friends.
For yesterday’s meet in OSBWK country, around 15 of us made the journey to Hever where we met in the shadow of the castle at the KIng Henry VIII pub. Sage, as you can see, took a few couple of hounds to augment the Old Surrey pack. It was another tremendous day over turf and in woodland. Fieldmaster Jeff Pegrum warned us that country was a bit tight, though so fast did he keep us moving we barely noticed. What a friendly bunch they are and what great support they show their huntsman and hounds. There must have been 100 out on a day which Mr Pegrum said would be difficult. Far from it. Tiger traps and uprights kept us on our toes (the second of the day with a deceptive sheer drop...) and it was non-stop from 11 till 5. Great, great fun.
Both away days earned nicely for Tumblers League. Addison’s Law, hurriedly enacted at the Pythchley earlier in the season (commemorating Mrs Lucy Addison’s valiant attempt a large hedge), allows us to count falls away from home. Thanks to the Masters and Secretaries of both packs for giving us great days when ours might have been left wanting.