Noel Mullins

NOW that the hunting season is coming to an end, it is appropriate to thank hunt staff, masters, and particularly land owners, for their dedication to our sport. While followers have the luxury of having a lie-in if the weather is not too kind, hunt staff and masters have no such option. They have no days off from looking after the welfare of horses and hounds and be at meets on time after canvassing the generosity of landowners.

It is a time also to remember that hunting is the largest equestrian sport in Ireland, providing opportunities to sell hunters and make a significant economic contribution to businesses in the countryside. It would be a significant marketing boost if Horse Sport Ireland would subsidise travel for teams of skilled Irish huntsmen and women to visit other packs abroad mounted on Irish hunters in the same way as it finances the travel of show jumpers and eventers, to demonstrate the exceptional quality of our hunting stock.

The meet of the Island Foxhounds in Ferns, Co Wexford, had an impressive line-up of quality hunters, and in the foulest of weather imaginable, penetrating rain, and a huntsman’s nightmare - high winds. Yet huntsman Conor Dwyer and honorary whipper-in and show rider Aubrey Chapman rose to the occasion and it did not stop car followers from turning out in their numbers either. Hunt staff and horses were impeccably turned out, complimented by a smashing pack of hounds, but then Dwyer completed a clean sweep of eight classes and championships at the Irish Masters of Foxhounds National Hound Show at Stradbally last year. And he has a good breeding plan to keep up the standard using Middleton Gunner ’07, West Wicklow Cardinal, and now Rupert Macauley’s latest import Zetland Woodcock. The pack has had a number of ‘red letter’ days recently, particularly at Ballymore when only the huntsman, ‘Mouse’ Murphy and Michael Condon finished, together with some fast runs at Brian Colliers, the Monument at Gorey, Hydro in Killmuckridge and Monageer.

Harry Poole should publish a book, he has so many great hunting stories. He recalled last season when George Dobbs’ horse disappeared in a dark ditch with Dobbs on board. The combination halted the water in the ditch and, as it got higher, Dobbs was heard to remark after being rescued that he knew he was in trouble when the fish began to swim over him! Former huntsman Billy Connors was on crutches with an ankle injury after his horse took a tumble at the Ballagh, and as if that was not bad enough, he is waiting to be called for a new knee!

George Chapman was following in his new capacity as honorary life master of the Island which is well deserved for his dedication to hunting in Wexford and Wicklow, and also as a former chairman of the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association. Jackie Corrigan, master of the Carlow Hounds, was at the meet as his son Willie was hunting. They stand the Irish Draught stallion Castle Crest by Coolcronan Wood, by the international show jumper Sea Crest who is a full outcross to both King of Diamonds and Cloverhill. The stallion frequently carries the huntsman and has evented and show jumped. Two of his foals were first and second at Balmoral Show last year. Hunt honorary secretary Ashley O’Connor was surprisingly absent, apparently exploring the catwalk at a fashion show in Tinahely being hosted by Pippa O’Connor.

American visitors hunting were Lindsay Haselden and Ashling Adler from Georgia who were on a buying trip for traditional Irish-bred novice horses likely to make hunter pacers or eventers. While they found a number of horses that were suitable types, they were in need of being produced properly for the US market.

Chairman Paddy Kavanagh of Kavanagh’s Crane Hire was hunting with his granddaughter Emer, who competed in show jumping in Belgium riding her horse Dolly Mix and pony Rock of Dawn last November. Show jumping talent is in the family as her sister Aoife also competes, as do her cousins Patrick, Aidan and Thomas. Mounted and ready for the off were Brian Plummer, Shane Barnes, Herbie Rothwell and Emer Hickey on Sweet and Sour, who also has been driven in Driving for the Disabled in the RDS by Herbie’s wife Lucy.

Field-master Ted Nolan was hunting as was Robert Hogg, Gary Adams, Sarah and Maria Dunne, Marie Sutton, Charlotte Stammers and Pam Chapman on Kojac. Richard Nolan was on foot for a change.

Roddy Bailey, who is one of the main organisers of the IMFA National Hound Show, and his wife Ronnie - a well-known show horse producer and judge - were following by car, as was Paddy Kinsella, Ned ‘Slim’ Brown and Dave Nolan, who is one of the key personnel in the hunt kennels.

TOUGH WEATHER

It was going to be a rough day for the huntsman with high wind and blustery rain, making it a difficult scenting day for the pack, but they were up for it. If foxes were there they would be hunted, as they hacked to the first draw off the Carnew Road near the Waterworks. A fox was soon afoot but he was reluctant to leave his territory as he probably had readymade meals in the town of Ferns, but the pack hunted him well in cover in circles, and were sometimes difficult to hear in the high winds. Eventually he left across McGuire’s but was unfortunately headed by road followers as he was running for open country. He returned to the cover for a few more circles but this time took a different direction towards Ferns village, when the huntsman stopped the pack. Rory Nolan’s Covert was blank as was Tom Carton’s Aidan’s Wood, Masterson’s and John Carroll’s. But there was better luck at Moneydurtlow Bog where hounds hunted a stale line and worked up to a fox that left earlier and marked him to ground. The pack found again in Crowley’s Brow and hunting him well in cover, but this sensible fox obviously did not relish heading out in the open country and, being buffeted by the wind and rain, he headed underground.

The Long Wood in honorary treasurer Herbie Rothwell’s farm was next on the list. Herbie, who was hunting, was encouraging the young followers to get some hedge jumping experience. There was some great jumping displays, particularly by Ellie Murphy whose style resembles ‘hailing a taxi’, but it works. Her 15-year-old brother Eoghan was riding his father’s 17hh, a six-year-old hunter by Yeats by the show jumping stallion Cruising who gave some flashes of brilliance as well. The last draw at Kilboro Wood produced a nice woodland hunt for a fast 30 minutes, when it was decided to blow for home.

It was certainly a day to test the young huntsman Conor Dwyer and honorary whipper-in Aubrey Chapman and the Island hounds. But if perseverance is a measurement of success, the Island hunt staff won hands down and the hospitality at Doyle’s Bar was very timely and welcome.

Finally now that the season has come to an end, I would like to thank all the packs I visited during the season for their courtesy and hospitality.

HISTORY

In the latter part of the 1700s, the Island hunt country was hunted by two packs before Mr. Bolton took over and formed one pack named the Island Hunt after the name of his home.

FACTFILE

Chairman: Paddy Kavanagh

Masters: The committee

Honorary life master: George Chapman

Huntsman: Conor Dwyer

Whipper-in: Aubrey Chapman

Field-master: Ted Nolan