ST Stephen’s day saw the small village of Clashmore en fete for the traditional meet of the West Waterford Foxhounds. But then the West Waterford are, above all, a welcoming and inclusive hunt, be it to regulars or visitors or to those who just want to look on.

Just a couple of miles inland from the Cork seaside town of Youghal, this picturesque village was bursting with activity, including Santa Claus dispensing all kinds of good things that Santa is supposed to have, mounted for the occasion on a tricycle adorned with the Tricolour. The role of Santa was filled by Pat Daly of Youghal Community Radio who presents a very popular weekly traditional music program.

Among the young sportsmen to receive presents were Katie O’Connell, all of eight, on her pony. Katie, a grand niece of Commdt. John Ledingham was out with her mum, Anne Ledingham. The family who live locally were further represented in the field by their dad Brendan O’Connell, and Oisin (15) who overcomes cerebral palsy to ride and to hunt. Young Oisin was on Joey, a cob he acquired from whipper-in young Alan Curley, similarly affected by CP.

Bustling scene

It was a bustling scene with almost 40 mounted and a multiple of that on foot to see the hunt off and generally show support for hunting and the West Waterford in particular. A short address from hunt chairman Michael Browne from Knocanore, thanking the landowners and wishing one and all a happy and safe hunting new year, set the tone for the day.

Huntsman Donal McAuliffe from Ballynoe had 11 and a half couple, mostly home-bred and looking a picture. His whipper-in again this season is young Alan Curley who has overcome cerebral palsy to become both an enthusiastic and competent rider never missing a day with the West Waterford as well as working with his dad in their schooling yard at home near Tallow. His father Connie, who was field-master for the day, attributes Alan’s recovery to his first pony Pebbles who got him going and he has never looked back.

Behind every man there is a good woman supporting, in Donal McAuliffe’s case, it is his girlfriend Sinead Dahill, who is also hunting.

Area manager for the day was Terry Sloan. When not hunting, Terry travels the world as a sales advisor for Agri King, the US-based bovine nutritionist company. He now manages his time so that most of his travelling is done out of the hunting season.

Katie Ledingham (8) on her first day hunting, riding her pony Blue, takes the fences in her stride while out with the West Waterfords \ Catherine Power

Followers aplenty

All the joint-masters were in attendance and no day in West Waterford could be complete without the inimitable Philip Desmond who has hunted and been master of more packs than one could count. He and his better half Angela are hugely involved in running the National Hound Show held annually at Stradbally Hall.

Philip was riding the home-bred chesnut (by Harkaway Lionhart) who can really do the business. Martina McGrath, looking very gallant in scarlet, a retired bank manager and treasurer of the IMFHA, was out as was her husband Pat Roynane, riding a nice grey. Lorna Ward MFH, who joined the hunt from the UK, was on a nice bay and Paul Beecher was hunting a smashing first-season chesnut which he is bringing on, but then every horse ridden by him looks good and performs accordingly.

Paul won the Hickstead Derby back in 2012 on the home-bred Loughnatousa WB. The hunt has multiple Hickstead connections including the Ledingham family where young John learned his early riding skills with Tom and Elsie Morgan when they hunted the West Waterford.

Few have had a more impressive show jumping career than Commdt. John Ledingham. Having grown up among a huge family of 14 in West Waterford, he went on to represent Ireland in over 60 Nations Cup competitions – lifting the Aga Khan Trophy no less than five times and claiming victory in the famous Hickstead Derby on three record-breaking occasions on Kilbaha.

Finally, the list of masters on the day was made up by the veteran Tim Beecher who has been in office since 1993 and looks as if there is still plenty of running in him. He is off to Dubai shortly to support his son-in-law Joe Whitaker, who is married to his daughter Fiona, and is jumping in Dubai for their big international show.

Hunting

As well as Santa Claus, refreshments designed to beat the worst effects of the winter cold were being liberally distributed to one and all by huntsman’s parents Kieran and Regina McAuliffe, who run a very successful dairy farm near Ballynoe.

But all too soon, festivities had to be suspended as huntsman Donal hacked out the Youghal road for his first draw in Murty Barron’s farm. Hounds found almost immediately but Reynard, who obviously knew the lie of land, found a welcoming shore after just a couple of fields and was given best.

However there was loads of draw ahead and hounds just crossed over the road to draw Jamie Oliver-Murray’s extensive farm which held and hounds ran on through the late Tom Fitzgerald’s before running into Michael O’Halloran’s glen which runs all the way to the Irish Sea, if not further.

Marvellous music

The field and foot followers alike were treated to some marvellous music as the West Waterford Orchestra struck up.

All the while we were under the expert guidance of John Joyce from Ballyduff who runs a point-to-point yard and has his own pack of foot harriers. Assistant guide was Angela Desmond, Philip’s better half, who at this stage, knows every turn in every boreen in West Waterford.

Showing excellent hound control, the huntsman managed to call up his hounds and go on to draw Tom Dee’s farm. Here a small but forbidding spinney caught the interest of a second season dog, Bismarck, bred by the Ballymacad but walked by Philip and Angela Desmond, who soon had a fine dog fox afoot. He was spotted slipping away by young whipper-in Alan Curley who was going a bomb on his new horse.

Some smashing jumping ensued and not found wanting was Nelius Mulcahy whose son, the dashing doctor, is now hunting with the Oakland Hunt down under in Australia. But a special merit award must go to the youngest rider of the day, Katie O’Connell, who showed all the family flair as she took a lead from mother. Another great display came from the Fennell brothers John, Lar and Edward, all from nearby Dungarvan.

But as shadows were lengthening, hounds went for their final draw near John Conner’s grain tower and here hounds found resulting in a smashing dash.

While it was mostly headlands only due to winter corn, there were some really great dykes and giving a dashing lead which would put a young steeplechase jockey to shame was Philip Desmond, closely followed by hunt secretary Linda Cunningham on her good grey, and Pauline Dahill just behind. Juniors John and Darragh Buckley on their ponies were not found wanting either.

Little was left but to retire to the refreshments at May O’Rourke’s welcoming hostelry back in Clashmore.

Catherine and I would like to wish all our hunting readers a very happy and safe hunting new year.

Factfile

West Waterford Foxhounds

Chairman - Michael Browne (1993)

Joint-Masters - Philip Desmond, Martina McGrath, Lorna Ward, Paul Beecher, Tim Beecher

Honorary Secretary - Linda Cunningham

Huntsman - Donal McAuliffe

Whippers-in - Alan Curley, Philip Desmond

Field-Master - Connie Curley

Treasurer - Ann Ledingham

Previous masters - Michael O’Brien (1915-’20), Capt Tom and Elsie Morgan (1953-’89).