SOME say there were 100 out, others say 85, but whatever the count, there was a large turnout at the Kildare Foxhounds meet at Punchestown to welcome the new huntsman Peter Cahill to his first opening meet.

He has been autumn hunting four mornings a week on foot, and in October an additional two mornings on horseback. Cahill covered a lot of country visiting farmers all summer, and getting familiar with the hunt country.