THERE are some days that have to be special, that have to be classed as red letter days before hounds even move off. Coolmore Stud’s lawn meet of the famed Co Tipperary Foxhounds certainly fits this description.

However, I write these notes with a heavy heart as the very sad news of the death of Michael Higgens has just been announced. Michael, as master, hunted the Tipps for over 30 seasons with great distinction, never missing a day out of a punishing four-day-a-week schedule. In addition, he had hunted several other packs such as the Avondhu, East Galway and finally, the Kilmoganny. There was no finer huntsman, cross-country rider or perhaps, more importantly, gentleman than Michael. His likes will not be seen again. His memorial service will take place in Fethard on Tuesday afternoon (see A76-77).

It has become a tradition for Coolmore to invite the Tipperary Foxhounds at the end of January or thereabouts, to come and hunt the glorious paddocks that make up the world’s greatest stud farm. Running to 3,500 acres and standing over 20 top-class sires, by any standards, it is world-class and awe inspiring. Three new stallions have joined the existing team for the coming season: Churchill, Highland Reel and Caravaggio.

Naming these great horses is an art in itself and Coolmore specialise in names of historic or geographic significance such as Rock Of Gibraltar or Holy Roman Emperor. This is a task that falls to Susan Magnier and she is never found wanting in coming up with iconic names. Of course, head of the constellation of equine superstars has to be the great Galileo, one of the world’s leading sires of thoroughbreds and whose undisclosed stud fee is beyond the dreams of all but the most successful breeders.

The stud was founded by Vincent O’Brien who, in turn, handed it over to his son-in-law John Magnier. Coincidentally, they were both sons of neighbouring farmers from North Cork.

Hunting is very much part of the DNA. Both Vincent O’Brien and later John Magnier would have been enthusiastic followers in their native Cork with both the Duhallow and the Avondhu and later the Tipps. However, the Coolmore meet is not an elite affair by invitation, all those who normally hunt with the Tipps and some lucky visitors are welcome to turn up and hunt.

While other much lesser studs can find reasons for not having hounds on their land, John Magnier has been resolute in making the Tipps welcome year on year. For that and his services to the world of Irish thoroughbred breeding, he must be complimented.

They unboxed just down the Fethard road at the Danehill Yard and made the short hack to Coolmore central offices where all and sundry were offered refreshments by a Coolmore team led by the ever debonair Tim Corballis. Tim was not mounted but hunts regularly with the Waterfords.

There were many familiar and friendly faces both afoot and among the 70 mounted but among the first we met were Edward O’Grady and his two daughters Mimi and Rosie Mae, all three mounted and ready for action.

Visiting from Aspen Colorado was Frank McDonald who makes his Irish hunting trip an annual pilgrimage. Three of the joint-masters were on hand: Tim Hyde, whose family have such strong connections with hunting especially in Tipperary, Liam Kearney on his good grey and Lt Col Tom Freyne from Fethard, an international showjumper in his day and now the distinguished commanding officer of the Army Equitation School at McKee Barracks in the Phoenix Park. His wife Jacqui, Fethard born and bred, daughter of the late Dr Paddy Stokes, was out on her faithful grey. Missing were Andre Michalski, Marion Goodbody and senior joint-master Paul Ronan who was skiing. The Ronan family were however represented by his brother Thomas and niece Georgina Magnier, daughter of Pamela Ronan. The family and the hunt lost Tom Ronan snr during the summer. Tom, a great hunting man, had been master of the Tipps for many seasons.

The rest of the front bench were out, both in their first season in office. Ber Bourke from Golden, who works in Coolmore, has become hunt chairman for the coming season, adding to her role as point-to-point secretary, while Roseanne De Vere Hunt is now hunt secretary. It would be hard to find two more enthusiastic foxhunters. Roseanne, from Cashel and an auctioneering family, heads up Sherry Fitzgerald Country Homes and Estates and was out with her partner, former National Hunt jockey and now saddler, Aidan Fogarty.

Tipperary Foxhound hunt ladies (l-r) sisters Rosie-Mae and Mimi O'Grady, Ber Bourke, Rosanne De Vere Hunt and Jacqui Freyne (Photo: Catherine Power)

It has become part of the Coolmore hunting tradition to have a photocall just across the road at the impressive gates of Coolmore House and Irish home of the Magnier family.

It was impressive to see the line-up of young Gavin Shorten, now in his third season carrying the horn, with his 12 and a half couple of hounds bred on modern lines. With the three masters present, the line-up was completed by first whipper-in David Beecher from West Waterford, cousin of international show jumper Paul Beecher. Making up the team were amateur whippers-in James O’Donnell, who lives nearby, and Seamus Kelly from Ballingarry, who disregards his condition of Cystic Fibrosis on hunting days and crosses the country with energy and determination, an example for us all!

With a touch on the horn, Gavin led his hounds to the first draw under the ever watchful eye of Sadler’s Wells in statue form. Perhaps it was fortunate that the stud didn’t hold as it allowed the jockeys an uninterrupted view of Coolmore as they hacked through from yard to yard. All the while we were kept in touch by Tipperary veteran John Farrell, whose wife Jane has just become national secretary of the Pony Club.

REAL HUNTING

Sightseeing is fine but it doesn’t compare with real hunting and there was plenty of that to come. This was no beauty pageant but a proper day’s hunting and as they jumped into O’Donnell’s, three young jockeys staged a race: Sean Coen, Andrew Wall and Jack Sheehan. History doesn’t relate who won but none of them would have been pulled in before the stewards accused of non-trying!

Hounds then crossed the road and drew Coolbawn Fort. It was probably at this point and the arrival of Charles Blackmore, on a home-bred five-year-old, that hunting proper could be said to have started. Hounds had barely touched down when second season hound, the home-bred Pluto (by Tipperary Pontiff out of Tipperary Pastry), opened and with the pack rallying to him, quickly had Reynard afoot.

The Tipperary orchestra were in great voice as they ran for Meehan’s, Cooney’s and on to Blackmore’s extensive acres before crossing the Kilenaule road over some challenging country before running back and being marked to ground in Bawn Brack Stud well over an hour since he was found.

Many a coat was muddied and not all from splashes but not found wanting was the veteran John Breen of Cashel crossing the country like a two-year-old. Father of international show jumpers Shane and Trevor, he could, in Coolmore terms, be described as the “sire of sires”. Charlie Swan was, as one might expect, also well up front. Local trainer Thomond O’Mara was out with his wife Roisin and son Niall.

While many huntsmen might well have blown for home, young Gavin was full of running and drew on through Richie Houlihan’s farm on the Killenaule road. Richie was out on a nice bay and his farm held a fine dog fox who took them over some of the best country Tipperary could offer. At this stage, Tom Freyne had lost a shoe but he was able to change with Jacqui who was able to have the shoe put back on in jig time by the Coolmore farriers and was back in the fray before you could say “Jack Robinson”.

Hounds hunted through Aidan and Pat Kennedy’s farm with its knife-topped banks which claimed its quota of jockeys but hounds were running so no one was counting!

Back through Blackmore’s, though sadly without Rachel, Ireland’s leading lady National Hunt jockey. Forty five minutes later, hounds marked their fox to ground and gave him best.

A red letter day by any standards.