IT had all the signs of autumn with a display of fallen golden leaves along the roads leading to the Kildare Foxhounds opening meet at Punchestown Racecourse. It was like a festive occasion with the lavish range of refreshments and hot ports to nourish the large number of mounted and foot supporters in the new Hunt Stand.

Maintaining standards is very high on the Kildare Hunt agenda with continuous investment in the kennels. Since my last visit, they have installed a new hound showing ring finished off with well-designed steel railings. The masters were all there: Paul Doyle, Gavin Nangle, Richard Sutton, Basil Valentine and Mary Healy who brings a wealth of experience of hunt management having served for so many years also as honorary secretary. The chairman is former master Charles O’Reilly whose father Frank also held that position. A hunt would have to cast a net very wide to find a huntsman as committed as Peter Cahill. He has very high standards of kennel management, welfare of horses and hounds and attention to turnout, sport, and is so popular with the followers. Of course he is very experienced having hunted the Kilkenny Foxhounds and the Carlow Farmers, but like many of the top huntsmen, he spent time hunting on foot with the Coolnakilla and the Bride Valley. He was often autumn-hunting five days a week getting his 13½ new entry well prepared for the season.