RECORDED Scarteen history only goes back to the early 1700s so we don’t know exactly how long the opening meet has been held in Knocklong but certainly in the recorded centuries, the venue has remained an unbroken tradition.

Part and parcel of that tradition is to have the hounds and followers (both foot and mounted) blessed for the coming season. This ecclesiastical duty falls to the local padre who came to the kennels with bell, book and candle to invoke divine support.

No doubt our young huntsman welcomed this as any huntsman, but particularly a huntsman on his first season needs a bit luck and a tail wind to see him through.

Well the young huntsman in question is Raymond O’Halloran, born within earshot of the kennels, but who has learned his trade with the South Nott’s Hunt in Britain. He went over as a raw apprentice to learn the secrets and finer points of venery but he was fortunate in that his tutor (the then huntsman) was Dick Chapman. He has spent six seasons in Nottinghamshire three of them as huntsman, but it has always been his ambition to hunt the pack he grew up with. So when the call came from Chris Ryan, he jumped at the challenge. As in most things in life, it was something of a joint decision as his partner Joanna Turvey, a mad keen hunting girl who was secretary of South Nott’s supporters club, is very much part of the team. They both very much looked the part, he on a warmblood he brought with him from the UK but who has taken to Irish conditions like a native. Joanna (sporting a South Nott’s blue collar) was on a very smart grey that had come out of the O’Halloran yard so guaranteed to be a jumper.

The Tans had been hunted for the previous three seasons by Mark Ollard who had previously hunted the Island. He gave sterling service to Scarteen and showed great sport during his tenure. As I write, news has just come to hand that he has taken over as huntsman to the Westmeath Foxhounds. This can only be good news as the world of hunting can ill-afford the loss of talent such as his.

A small but select band hacked on from the kennels towards the small but historic village of Knocklong where a large and enthusiastic following eagerly awaited their arrival. Opening meets are great gathering points and it was great to see many retired foxhunters now out as keen foot followers, including former chairman John Harold-Barry and his wife Dinky, both formidable cross-country riders in their day. Also on hand was Arthur Finnan, who was Tony Ryan’s stud manager for many years. Hunt staff looked a picture beside the Hill bar as refreshments were dispensed and a few words of welcome from Chris Ryan on his spectacular grey “Sprite”. Whips on the day were Frisk Jones and Jason Furlong, both amateur but more than professional in performance.

Formalities were kept to a minimum and hounds moved off to the first draw at Rory and Brid McCarthy’s near the Old Creamery farm, now a semi-mature plantation. While hounds briefly opened, it turned out to an outburst of early morning exuberance so they moved on to draw John Moloney’s farm at the hill of Knocklong. John, who only recently stepped down as manager of Galway Racecourse, has returned home to Knocklong as his son Michael has replaced him in management of the iconic track. The Moloney’s have been farming, hunting and breeding bloodstock in Knocklong almost as long as the Scarteens have been hunting.

The hill did not disappoint as it held a brace and hounds quickly settled on the more outgoing of the pair who took them on a quick circle of the hill before making for Mitchelstowndown and the creamery plantation. But our pilot was headed as he approached the plantation and swung right before finding a welcoming shore near the GAA pitch.

BEST OF THE COUNTRY

The day was still young and the best of the country had not yet been touched. Huntsman took hounds on towards Grange which is next to Scarteen itself. Michael Coffee’s semi-mature plantation is always looked on as a sure find and it did not disappoint. While hounds didn’t open immediately but when they did, the Scarteen orchestra was at its best. Our pilot quickly realised that remaining in the plantation carried a huge health risk and young Jay Riordan, on point, spotted him slipping away towards Scarteen proper. Young Jay, a fresher in UL this year, works on the Mark Twain principle of not letting college interfere with his education.

Swinging left-handed it looked as if he was heading for the railway but fortunately turned due south just short of the line and took hounds and the field on a guided tour of Scarteen. Scarteen always took a bit of jumping but, since last season, a fleet of JCB’s have been unleashed resulting in banks of Olympic proportions.

Almost dead centre in the farm is the titanic double onto the farm passage. A good group of foot followers had gathered to see what might entail and they were not to be disappointed.

While hunt staff stayed with hounds to the left, the field or at least the thrusters amongst them, came bankwards. Chris, on the grey Sprite, came at a gallop that would not have been found wanting in a members’ race and never breaking his stride, made it look easy only to be followed though not at the same speed by field-master Hughie Ryan. Val O’Connell, the senior course inspector and stipendiary steward on his good grey, got there nicely. However from then on, things started to go downhill. John Gleeson appeared to lose momentum on his approach and perhaps because he had missed the hound blessing earlier, decided to genuflect reverently, not once but three times, on attaining the upper reaches of the bank. It looked as if an involuntary dismount was imminent but the jockey managed to stay in the plate and continue. A lesser jockey would have succumbed but John learned his trade as PP Hogan’s last apprentice, and it shows.

IN THE DITCH

Farrier Tim O’Connell ended up in the ditch, but it was on a young horse, while his better half, Adrienne, gallantly had a go but got separated from her horse (but not her new Patey) on the summit. Young Rory O’Donnell on his cracking grey pony showed up the adults as he shot up the bank as if it was a bridle path! Ken Purcell had numerous adventures before getting there as had a German visitor who later compared it to the retreat from Leningrad!

All the while, hounds were running towards Lackelly before swinging back over the county boundary towards Scarteen. Just shy of Scarteen, our pilot decided enough was enough and found a welcoming shore under the road and was given best.

Hounds came to draw the Spinney at the top of Scarteen near the kennels. For a while it looked as if it might be blank but Journal 2015 (by Jostle) was not to be denied. He concentrated on a particularly forbidding thicket and sure enough, out popped a fine dog fox who ran for the Knockcarron road through Sonya Purcell’s farm with some smashing jumping. Sonya was unavoidably absent on IMFHA duty where she is general secretary.

Hounds crossed into Pat Casey’s before running on into Pat Halpin’s who runs a huge dairy operation. However it was not to last, with scent petering out.

Hounds drew on through Ballykisteen but with shadows lengthening and a much diminished field, the huntsman blew for home. If this is portent of things to come, horses will need to be fit!