Dickie Power

IN keeping with tradition, the end of the hunting season in Scarteen is marked every year by the members cross-country race for the June McCalmont trophy.

This race over the biggest and best of Scarteen country is reserved for members on horses that have been fairly and regularly hunted during the preceding season. The race has been won over the years by such notables as Grand National jockey and now course inspector, Val O’Connell, Jim Mulcahy, Liam Ryan and on one occasion, on a quiet year, by your correspondent.

Hunt uniform and catch weights are the order of the day and with just 10 runners, the field was somewhat smaller than usual as a hard season took its toll on horses and jockeys.

The course was laid out and flagged by Chris Ryan and Scarteen huntsman Mark Ollard and, like the Grand National, extended to around four and a half miles.

Last year’s winner Sylvia O’Donnell was missing as her horse was lame so five-time winner Billy Halligan was favourite, having secured the ride on jt Master Daniel Crane’s new hunter, the aptly-named Twenty Grand.

Runners and riders were given an opportunity to school over banks on land owned by Irish Master of Foxhounds general secretary Sonya but the start proper was in Scarteen where a really decent double bank posed the first question.

As the runners disappeared into the country, the field was well bunched and it looked anyone’s race.

The first faller was James Casey, whose horse just failed to make it at a steep up bank on to a farm roadway. Happily he held his horse and made it on his second attempt.

The next significant milestone was the famed and feared Beech Ditch in John Taylor’s. This involved fording a decent stream and jumping up a sheer bank to the summit before facing a mini canal to follow.

Challenging for the lead, Jude Curtin on his good bay gelding Paddy hesitated momentarily on the ascent but class and experience told as Twenty Grand, living up to his name, soared to the top and got his nose in front.

The finish in James Purcell’s farm had a few decent banks which had to be jumped, but the first and second places had been decided at the beech ditch.

Pursued all the way by Curtin, Halligan and Twenty Grand won by 50 lengths.

A remounted James Casey was third and junior subscriber Julia Crowe, riding the palomino Casper horse provided by Jude Curtin, was fourth. Dr Carol PH Quish was the first lady subscriber home.