WITH the festivities of Christmas barely behind us, we were invited to a birthday party recently at The Cobblers Rest, which was bursting at the seams as we arrived, with all kinds of birthday hospitality being dispensed by owners, Susan and Martin. But it was no ordinary birthday, it was the 40th birthday to the day of the East Clare Harriers, who had their first ever day’s hunting on January 1st, 1984, where the meet was at nearby Ogonolloe. Sadly, Ogonolloe has gone downhill over the years, having lost its pub and shop, which made switching the meet to Bodyke sound like perfect sense.

Huntsman on that day 40 years ago was the very young but enthusiastic amateur, one Michael Blake of Scariff, a son of one of the founders, John Blake MRCVS. Looking almost as youthful as ever and still wearing the coat he hunted hounds in 40 seasons ago, Michael was raring to go. This coat has its own provenance, having been donated to him back in the day by the late Maxie Skully, on his retirement as master. This was the coat that saw Michael establish the bareback puissance record of 2.17m (7ft 6 in old money) on Mark Skully’s horse, which stands to this day. His younger brother, John was also out, but not riding and he explained that he had been the youngest rider of the day back in 1984. In the meantime, Michael has entered the sporting history books as the most successful manager ever of the Irish show jumping team, since the days of Major Jed O’Dwyer back in the 1930s. Under Michael’s direction, the Irish Show Jumping Team are number one in the world.

The two other hunt founders were Tony Marsh of Broadford and Sean Jones, also of Scariff. Last man standing of the original founders is Sean Jones, who was there on the day and has remained a lifelong supporter of the hunt. Sean is a well-known and very successful breeder, who frequently features in the pages of The Irish Field, as he is the award-winning breeder of many show champions, including View Point, the recent Supreme Horse of the Year Champion.

Michael Blake, Irish Showing jumping Manager and Chef d’Equipe of the Irish team sails over the walls at Whitegate \ Catherine Power

The Jones breeding has run true with his two nephews, Pat as master and David as whipper-in, on the home-bred mare by Young Carabawn. He had hunted her dam for many seasons and she was really a cracker. Their other brother, Shane, carried the horn for almost 20 seasons and brother number four (Frisk) is amateur whipper-in to the Scarteen, a proper black type hunting family. The younger generation, while not yet in the saddle, were equally enthusiastic; Abygail (6), Norah (4) and young Elsie (2), were all under the watchful eye of their mother Rose, while Pat’s family, partner Catherine and daughter Shauna, were also out.

Tony Marsh, while no longer with us, was represented by his two daughters, Catherine and Genevive. Of those who were out on that first day in Ogonolloe, in addition to Michael Blake and still hunting, were Pam Jackman and her sister Clare Woods and Declan Durack MH, while John Blake, Michael’s younger brother was on foot. He had been the youngest rider on the day, aged 12 back in 1984.

Of birthday cakes to be cut, there were plenty and good cheer even more, but sadly the weather gods were not smiling, as it rained almost incessantly all day. The drag pullers on the day were Sadbh McGran and Owen Nugent and they didn’t delay.

The weather didn’t appear to bother the riders (or the hounds), but our photographer struggled, as modern electronic cameras and rain are poor bedfellows. This meant we made a return visit last Sunday to the nearby village of Whitegate, just close by to the mighty waters of Lough Derg. Declan Durack MH was there to greet us at the Half Barrel and a finer or more welcoming gastro/hunting pub it would be hard to find. Here, we met hunt treasurer Siobhan Garret-Cooney, originally from Laois and Sarah Whelan, who grew up in Yorkshire.

The East Clares are a proper drag pack, one of the few in the country, but they try as far as possible to replicate proper hunting. The drag puller in Whitegate was young Cathal Durack riding his father, Michael’s chesnut hunter, who really knows how to take on the challenging walls of East Clare at speed.

Whippers-in for the day were David Jones and Cathal Nugent, whose father Tom is hunt chairman and our pathfinder on both days, who kept us unfailingly up with the action. Without delay, our huntsman Michael Dwyer took his hounds to the first line just down from the village at Gweeney and they spoke straight away and it was close enough to flat out over a lovely bit of wall country. Michael, from Birr, had previously hunted the Ormond and East Galway, so he is no debutante to the art of venery.

They hunted on towards the lake and the very picturesque farm of the Durack family, where our drag layer naturally knew every blade of grass. This idyllic spot looks straight across at Dromineer and Luska pier, where we were last week, but separated from it by perhaps 10 miles of water. Here, they had almost unlimited walls to jump, with going all top of the ground. While there were a few near misses, everyone appeared to have a clear round. Clare Woods was out with her family, young Logan, a veteran at nine and daughter Amy. In a remarkable feat of horsemanship, Clare managed to stay in the plate, as her black cob made a sprawling landing over a wall.

Hounds were then taken on to a second line back towards the village, where the field took on the walls as if there was no tomorrow.

Hunting in east Clare is nothing if not sociable and before the next line was attempted, refreshments suitable to all ages and tastes were served and horses and jockeys got a welcome breather.

Here, there was a change of personnel up-front, as David Jones had to retire early for a family event and Michael Blake was pressed into service as whipper-in for the rest of the afternoon. He could be seen in a later run, having lost none of his style or dash, jumping up-sides point to point style with huntsman Mike Dwyer, neither giving an inch.

However, all good things come to an end and all too soon our huntsman blew for home and, with horses washed off, a compulsory re-fuelling stop was required at the Half Barrel.

How did Michael sum up his day: “Delighted to be asked and even better to be out after 40 years”.

Very shortly, he leaves for the UAE and he won’t be a weekend in Ireland again until next Christmas. In the meantime, he has the Paris Olympics in his sights and, with Ireland having a real chance for Gold, we can but wish him and his team Bon Voyage. Jump on and keep the poles up!

East Clare Harriers

Kennels: Scarriff, Co Clare. Couples: 20.

Chairman: Mr Tom Nugent

Joint-Masters: Mr Declan Durack and Mr Pat Jones

Secretary: Miss Kiki Novak VS

Treasurer: Siobhan Garret Cooney

Hunter Trials secretary: Mr David Jones

Huntsman: Mr Mike Dwyer

Whipper-in: Mr David Jones, Patrick Nugent

Field Masters: Siobhan Garret-Cooney, Kiki Novak VS

East Clare terrain - varied, stone walls, banks and hedges.

Brief history: East Clare Harriers were officially formed in 1974, when the Co Clare was divided between the county pack and the newly formed East Clare Harriers. They are predominantly a drag pack.

Previous Masters: Michael Blake, Sean Jones, John Blake MRCVS, Tony Marsh, Joe Brogan, Timmy Ryan, Shane Jones

Meets: Sundays 12.30pm (sharp). Visitors: Welcome by arrangement. Sub: Apply to secretary. Cap: Apply to secretary. Affiliated to: IMHA.