WE were spoiled for choice – there were three top-class Scarteen meets back-to-back so it appeared only logical to cover all three. With Christmas comes a choice of great hunting and with scent (that essential but illusive ingredient) improving daily, the omens were good and so it proved.

The hunt have just entered a purple patch of brilliant hunting, after what even their most fervent admirers would admit was slow start. However, even one good day is enough to dispel all moderate memories.

Such a day was Lattin. The little village is so called because of its background in the classics and was a seat of learning in the Middle Ages. The story goes that a weary traveller asked the way to Emly Cathedral of three roadside workers. The first answered in Gaelic, the second disagreed in Latin, but the definitive directions were given in Greek. Gone are the classics and the little village on the Tipperary/Limerick border would hardly warrant a backward glance from motorists, but on a Scarteen hunting day, it becomes a mecca with keen enthusiasts arranging days off, with marriages postponed and births delayed so that they might be there because it is a special place.

Horses had been rested and galloped with the point-to-pointers in preparation for the day. Sadly, not all those enthusiasts make the cut as many were balloted out, not even making the reserves. But for those lucky enough the line up outside the Top House was impressive.

The field-master on the day was Turf Club course inspector and general racing supremo Val O’Connell on his third-season grey. Val didn’t earn his spurs just by turning up but by being a leading National Hunt jockey going on to be placed in the Grand National before the course was dumbed down. He then went on to be one the great cross-country riders and field-master. There are days when he is tested, if the Ryan brothers are out, Olympian, Michael and brothers Hughie and Pat who, when available, fill the role of whippers-in to Scarteen.

Sadly, there was only one joint-master out, Kate Jarvey up from Kanturk, who fills the dual mandate of also being senior-master to Duhallow. They have likewise with huntsman Ger Withers hit a purple patch. Now in his second season back home, Raymond O’Halloran, who previously hunted the South Notts in Nottinghamshire was in close confab with his whipper-in Frisk Jones. Scarteen have broken with tradition in having an amateur whipper-in in Frisk who brings a skilful enthusiasm to the role.

First draw was right beside the village in Joe Breen’s farm where he and brother James were on hand to see hounds through. The Breens are a family steeped in horses and hunting with nephew Shane currently jumping in Dubai. The first big bank claimed more than a few but having no problem, their nephew young John Breen on his good bay as always gave a great display.

The morning proved quiet with even the great Mooresfort being blank. However, just as they jumped into John Finnan’s farm, a fine dog fox was spotted slipping away by Hughie Ryan. They were in the cream of Scarteen country with every bank a challenge. A really sharp 20 minutes resulted before our pilot was marked to ground in Corby’s.

Cullen was to follow where an excellent day was enjoyed again over smashing country. Sadly, space does not allow for a proper account so we will kick on to Knockcarron.

ANCIENT TIMES

The feast of St Steven is celebrated in Scarteen from time immemorial with hounds meeting in Knockcarron which straddles the Tipperary/Limerick border and just a stone’s throw from the kennels. As always, it was a gala occasion with a large mounted field and a Thomond Park-size crowd on foot.

Among the onlookers were James Hanly of the all-conquering Ballyhimicin Stud, accompanied by his brother-in-law Lord Gardiner. A former chairman of the Conservative party, he is director of political affairs for Countryside Alliance and chairman of his local hunt, the Kimblewick in Buckinghamshire.

After a short address from senior-master Chris Ryan, hounds moved off to their first draw nearby in Matt Gleeson’s horse farm which has a disused quarry right behind the stables. With car followers and onlookers having a bird’s eye view of proceedings, hounds spoke almost immediately and a dashing dog fox was spotted by the eagle-eyed Frisk as he slipped away towards Lackelly. Hounds were briefly at fault but second season hounds, Total and Lifeguard, soon had the pack on line, possibly the only check all day.

It was probably the only time for the day that field-master Eamonn Gleeson had any difficulty in controlling the field. He was on his second season grey that he thinks the world of, despite bucking him off last season resulting in Eamonn being in a body cast for a couple of months. With a large well mounted field, the excitement was palpable but once hounds properly picked up the line, Eamonn later admitted he was almost redundant as the speed was such the field were strung out over most of East Limerick and West Tipperary.

They ran towards Monemore and former hunt secretary James Purcell’s farm. They met and jumped a high single bank, guarded fore and aft by wide trenches. This bank has form as it is the second last in the Scarteen cross-country race and is frequently decisive in determining the winner.

Raymond O’Halloran led the way on his new horse’s first day. This horse had been found by Dermot O’Halloran (Raymie’s brother) on a day with the Limerick Harriers. This chesnut had showjumped at a high level before returning to hunting and had been produced by Dessie and Danielle Lenihan who produce some outstanding hunters. Hot on his heels were his three whips, then gate-openers and general assistants Johnny Halligan and Mark Clery, who had to ready to peel off their horses in a split second to keep the action going. Purcell’s single resulted in at least half a dozen jockeys taking up beagling but happily they all got reunited and continued.

Hounds then crossed the Monemore/Emly road and appeared to be making for Mooresfort but not before crossing Mairead English’s farm. At this stage, Mairead was showing the way with every bank of Becher’s proportions. Before reaching Mooresfort, our pilot knowing where he was going, swung right-handed again through John Finnan’s before they jumped into Johnny Halligan’s farm near Ballywire.

GIGANTIC BANK

Here was probably the biggest bank of the day, a monumental double guarded by a lesser tributary of the Shannon. While it has been jumped before, it is usually the other way with the benefit of gravity.

At this stage, Johnny Halligan (on home ground) and veteran John Gleeson were showing the way. With or without his trademark cigar, he is an outstanding cross-country rider having been schooled by the great PP Hogan. Neither were the fair sex found wanting with Jo Turvey who came back with Raymie (our huntsman) from the Sth. Nott’s showing how much she has learned about bank jumping since she arrived. Hounds at this stage were several fields ahead but their voice was so good, the field were able to stay in touch by sound.

Here they crossed the Galbally/Tipperary road into Russell’s farm. Well up on the pace was young Dave Russell on his good grey that was brought on by his Kilkenny cousins, the McHenrys. He follows the principles of the great Mark Twain who famously remarked that school should never be allowed interfere with a good education!

All good things have to come to an end and just when horses were reaching the end of their tether, our fox was marked to ground near Gallbally coursing field and quite rightly left and given best.

After a decent breather which allowed stragglers, of which there were many, to catch up, hounds returned to John Taylor’s farm to draw on. A great hunting family, they were well represented on the day by Elaine Taylor and her brother James. The Taylor family have been the backbone of the hunt, their dad John only recently surrendered his jumping licence. Hounds found on the famed beech ditch before swinging left-handed towards John O’Brien’s, Johnny Purcell’s, and Hennessey’s. It was around here that Joe Kearns went for a swim (mostly under his horse) and ended up in A&E with Florence Nightingale (Mairead English) to see him through. As hounds were approaching Ballywire, scent petered out just as light was failing.

What was still left of an exhilarated but bedraggled field hacked back to Knockcarron and the hospitality of the Foxe’s Den where the day was relived and banks rejumped.

I’m sure all hunting readers will join with me in wishing Kate Jarvey a speedy recovery from a nasty schooling fall at home. Kate, get back in the saddle as soon as possible! Hunting needs you.