IN the last year, the Tara Harriers lost their senior and much respected master George Briscoe who, for over 70 seasons, hosted the opening meet. However in true Briscoe style, his wife Gene kept up the tradition and George’s presence was strongly felt as he seemed to be there in spirit as the sun shone and many of their old friends turned up to share this great tradition.

The two new masters, Oinri Jackson and Neville Jessop, were welcomed by the senior master and huntsman Henry Smith. Jackson was on a smashing grey hunter by the Irish Draught stallion Moylough Bouncer. They own the spectacular Brittas estate in Nobber, at one time owned by the Bligh family. As a military family, the Blighs had the plantations planted in the 17th century battle formations of opposing British and French armies such as the Battles of Fontenoy and Cherbourg. The family have connections with Captain Bligh, famed in the Mutiny of the Bounty, and even the actor Tom Cruise has traced his connections with the family.

Tara Harriers joint-master Imelda O’Donnell is the honorary secretary of the Hunting Association of Ireland. They represent the Hunting Association at government level, and develop policy, promote organised hunting at shows and game fairs, arbitrate in hunt issues and interface with the media.

At the lawn meet, Gene Briscoe and her team dispensed a wide range of refreshments to friends old and new. Stella Smith, the huntsman’s mother, was there as was Mary Shirley, Dr Finian Lynch and Richard Filgate from the Louths, Diana Wrangel, Liz Rosario, Dr Carlos McDowell, Jan Farrell of the Meaths, Patricia Nicholson and her daughter Suzanne Macken. Tara Harriers joint-master Lorraine McDowell and her husband John were joined by their daughter Lisa who was hunting and assisting with whipping duties. Miranda Mark’s daughter Louisa was busy that morning and would have won the best turned award for the way she presented joint-master Imelda O’Donnell’s hunter.

Flor Madden of Madden Events & Home Weddings was there to support his children – Kate (15) and Annie (13) who attend Loreto College on the Green, and represent the school at show jumping and eventing, and are also enthusiastic side saddle riders. They are remarkable for teenagers of such a young age as they won a distinction in the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition for their project in developing a feed remedy for horses that have gone off their feed and those that suffer from gastric ulcers. They use Joanne Quirke’s former racehorse Forpaddydeplasterer as their brand ambassador. With the assistance of Enterprise Ireland, they have gone into production and distribution with their company FenuHealth with orders from a number of countries and are currently have agreement from the Veterinary Licencing Board to run controlled tests on horses with gastric ulcers. Other young followers were trainer Dot Love’s grandsons Timmy on a three-year-old and brother Matthew on Turkey, assisted by sister Holly and escorted hunting by Emily Taylor.

Trainer John Carr, who won the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle with Sublimity in 2007, was out with his son Eddie and school friend Ignatio Tzigo from Spain. Kate Numile from Estonia was hunting for the first time. North Galway Foxhounds joint-master Lar Sheeran was grounded with rib injuries but Colm Kennedy and Fergie Maguire of the popular hunting and racing pub Fergies in Kilmessan were ready for the chase. Fergie is an uncle of National Hunt trainer Adrian Maguire.

Others out were Cathy and Peter Madden, Willie Smyth, Pat Prenderville, Cossie McGivern, while Sarah Meehan was on Charlie Noelle’s coloured hunter. Fingal Harriers’ joint master Brian Beggan was out on his grey hunter Honky while Hugh Leonard was on foot. Sarah Talbot, who looks after merchandising in Tattersalls, was on her smashing grey hunter Percy. Farrier Michael McEnteer was following by car while his son Ben was hunting for the third time that week.

In a field of over 60 mounted followers, there were visitors from the Meath Foxhounds, the Fingal Harriers, the Ward Union Staghounds, the South County Dublin Harriers while from Scotland, Nicky Morgan of the Dumfriesshire Hunt in Scotland was trying out a horse of Orla Madden and Brian Geraghty.

The huntsman had 12 ½ couple out with two couple of new entry by Meath Rancher, bred by the Tara’s kennel huntsman Sabine Dowdall. A quick hack through Bective village took them to the first draw at Lally’s dairy farm. Both Dermot and Frano Lally hunt with the Ward Union but daughter Maeve was on horseback. The huntsman drew around the farm and after a quick pipe opener, jumped out onto the Tribley Road where he drew Ned Hills and across Bagnal’s stubble crossing the road opposite Rory Collins’ Ennistown Stud.

From Donnelly’s, they jumped into Brendan Martin’s tillage and drew some soft ground. As that was blank, they crossed over the road to Knocktown Lane into Martin’s Bottoms which was also blank.

But they had better luck in Fals fields along the ditches in Ned Horan’s where hounds found a fox. It ran on through the maize in Carolin’s and made a line for Curtistown Covert, but he turned around and ran back in a circle and eventually hounds marked him in Donnelly’s plantation, where home was blown.

It was a pleasant and not too strenuous day’s hunting, with the huntsman careful not to exploit the landowners’ hospitality with so many cattle still out on grass. But it should get into full swing when the grass growth stops, together with a little frost, and when cattle move into the yards for the winter.

Click here to read about 84-year-old Billy Vance, Master of the Fermanagh Harriers for 53 seasons