DESPITE an unfavourable weather forecast, last Sunday morning proved dry and pleasant for a morning of autumn hunting for the Scarteen Hunt at the home farm of hunt chairman John Hourigan on the hill at Murroe.

This is at the very end of the hunt country and is not for the faint-hearted. For all that, there were over 30 mounted including the new huntsman Jamie Cross on his good chesnut. He brought him with him from his days in Stonehall, but he has been well schooled on banks since arrival by Camilla O’Halloran, who was out with young Tommy (10, who features on this week’s Irish Horse World cover), who was crossing the country like a veteran. Jamie had his whipper-in Frisk Jones as pathfinder with former huntsman Hughie Ryan also out but on family duty as escort to young Scott (aged 8).