SUIR VALE HARRIERS

Kennels: Rossmult, Drombane, Thurles, Co. Tipperary

Chairman: Tom Joe Spillane

Master: Seamus O’Dwyer

Secretary: Tom Tynan, (telephone: 086-8817192)

Point-to-point secretary: Tom Tynan

Huntsman: Seamus O’Dwyer/Emma Ryan

Whipper-in: Emma Ryan

Field-master: Raymond Burke

Country hunted: From Knock of North Tipperary to Rearcross, taking most of mid Tipperary, mostly banks and ditches.

HISTORY

Formed in 1992, the pack was recognised by Irish Masters of Harriers Association in 2004.

Meets: Sunday 12 noon. Wednesday: 12 noon.

Visitors: By arrangement.

Affiliated to: IMHA.

THE Ragg, surely one of Tipperary’s most sporting pubs, was our venue last Sunday for a meet of the Suir Vale Harriers. Hounds didn’t have too far too travel as their kennels are nestled in the hills below Drombane and were within sight most of the day.

The pub was bustling on arrival between riders and followers mingling with those there for Sunday lunch. The Ragg is not your ordinary country pub but a road house with restaurant, function room and so forth. It is located on the Thurles/Nenagh road, just past the racecourse and Semple Stadium.

This is a time to meet old friends and hunting acquaintances such as Tom Tynan, the hard working hunt secretary. He spent many years as a Garda driving instructor, based in the nearby Templemore training college. The hunt had six or seven English visitors, all of whom were staying with Noel Wallace in Bunratty Manor Hotel, through the good offices of the inimitable “Suntan” Aidan O’Connell. Unfortunately, the man himself couldn’t be there as he is recovering from a nasty infection.

They came from all over the UK and one from Carlow, Nicola Bolger, a rugby physio. The only male in the group was Orlando Bridgeman, a solicitor from Malton who hunts with the Middleton in Yorkshire. Octavia Pollock was there from Horse and Hound where she produces the Hunter of a Lifetime series. There was Rachel Hampton who hunts with the Beaufort, and Sarah Byrne, originally from Carlow, wearing a Charlton Memorial hunt coat, double breasted in Royal blue. The Charlton were the private pack of the Dukes of Richmond, then and now owners of Glorious Goodwood. The hunt, defunct since the early 1900s, was briefly revived and everyone out was made an honorary member, including our Sarah. When not hunting, she acts as dress adviser to Francesca Cumani of ITV racing. Finally making up the group was Rosie Van Cutsem who hunts with the West Norfolk. The Van Cutsems are close confidantes of Prince William with HRH and Kate attending the wedding of Rosie and her husband William Van Cutsem.

All their horses were provided by Mush O’Dwyer who runs a hunting yard in Fethard. While he may have another name that might appear on his passport, to all and sundry in the hunting world, he is known as Mush. He prides himself for the quality and performance of his horses and in being able to produce a suitable horse for any kind of rider. He supplies horses to the Tipps, Suir Vale and Golden Vale as well as further afield. When not hunting, he is a builder and has done many high profile jobs around Fethard.

Seamus Dwyer, the founding master and huntsman, was there but in a supervisory role as Emma Ryan is hunting hounds this season. When not in the hunting field or kennels, he is a public servant as well as running a progressive suckler farm. It is reversal of roles since last season when she was expecting their first baby, young Tadhg, who was brought, at least briefly, to the meet. A competent rider but a consummate hound person, Emma can identify a hound three fields away and its pedigree trips off her tongue at will. She really looks the part in John Peel green and a more determined or competent foxhunter it would be hard to find.

Raymond Burke has been field-master for more than a couple of seasons. Formerly, he worked in the meat industry but is now a full-time carer for his son. All too soon, conviviality had to be put aside as the saddling bell sounded. Before move off, the obligatory photos had to be taken but here the Ragg car park, which would be large enough for a Munster Final, proved ideal.

PICTURE PERFECT

Emma was on her favourite grey, who can really do the business. With 12 and a half couple of beautifully matched Old English, they looked a picture as they made the short hack down the Ballycahill road.

Assisting her was first whipper-in JJ Kinnane. Their first draw was in Connie Ryan’s before they jumped a good stiff rail into hunt secretary’s Tom Tynan’s farm. Now retired almost 10 years from the Gardaí, he is able to dedicate his time to important things such as keeping the country open and maintaining a good relationship with local farmers and landowners.

Emma’s grey gave a particularly fine display over the rails, as did our host, the veteran Tom Tynan, on a borrowed grey. The bay had been very sportingly lent by Caoimhe Egan who, in turn, borrowed a bay for the day. Unfortunately the replacement bay threw an almighty buck and unceremoniously dropped his jockey. Winded but unhurt, she gamely got back on and continued as if nothing had happened.

Hounds found and hunted on through Jackie Cahill’s farm and on into Liam Cullagh’s where he was marked to ground. However, hounds found again almost immediately and they hunted across the Balycahill road where they were at fault. It is at times like this that a good huntsman will look for guidance from their best hound, so Emma looked to Solo (‘14) by Duhallow Sober, and she quickly had them back on track.

They hunted on by Molloy’s farm at Crossogue where Veronica Molloy produces the award-winning and world-renowned Crossogue Preserves. The Molloys are a very sporting family with Tony regularly stewarding at major meetings such as Punchestown. Their son Mark has now developed the estate into an equestrian holiday centre.

Hounds marked a fox to ground in a gravel pit near Castle Fogarty. Castle Fogarty was burned down by Republicans during the Troubles but enough of it survived for it to remain a family home for almost the next 100 years.

Hounds pressed on to draw Ballinahow which was blank but John Ryan’s big bank in Mullanabrack produced a dashing dog fox who took them on a guided tour of the Barony of Eliogarty, as the area was once known.

Here there was drama aplenty. A good stiff log had to be taken at speed only to be followed by a furze bush which required a quick left-handed side step almost on landing. This is where experience tells and hunt chairman Tom Joe Spillane who, admits to almost being a septuagarin, deftly avoided the hazard and continued as if nothing had happened. Another clear round came from Clare Maher who comes from nearby Kilrush.

However, our colleague from Horse and Hound, Octavia Pollock, was not quite so lucky and went out the side door, taking a heavy fall. Luckily, the day was almost done and with a little TLC and a short visit to The Ragg, she was as right as rain for the following day. They went on to hunt with the Duhallow from Freemount on Monday where, by all accounts, they had a very good day with Ger Withers who is having a red letter season.

Hounds had to be stopped as they reached the Nenagh road where traffic was particularly heavy. All in all, a very enjoyable and successful day was had by all.

As a footnote, Seamus assured me that his days on foot are limited and he expects to back in the saddle before season’s end.