Coakham Bloodhounds Home Page

To view the BBC's Inside Out film: http://www.wwwebb.co.uk/.
Thank you Dave and Ruth!

A victory from the past: Strange as it may seem (!) Charlotte bought a April 18th 1980 copy of Horse & Hound on ebay and there were the Coakham sweeping the board at the Quorn Cross Country - The Vale of Belvoir Cup was won by David Robinson, George Goring, John Wales and AnnTodd. The Quorn Midland Championship by David Robinson, George Goring, Bob Baskerville and Mike Roberts. Click here for a pdf of the article

Runners up at the South of England Hunt Relay!

Both days are now on YouTube: Thursday and Saturday Final (with Sam on a different horse!)

The Photos - with thanks to Chris Field.

At the South of England Show last Thursday the Coakham sent a team of Clare Miles, Sam Field, Kieran Purkis and Michala Blackburn to take part in the inter hunt relay. The other teams were the Ashford Valley, the Surrey Union, the Southdown and Eridge.

Our first heat was against the Southdown, which is a rival team to Clare as there are family connections in that one! But we managed to beat them even with Sam having a few problems with Rouben, who found the whole thing a bit much, and refused to go anywhere, but with a quick baton change Kieran managed to race off and finish.

This meant we had qualified for Saturday’s semi finals. We had to polish all our tack and horses again for another turnout inspection. So with boots shining so much that you could see your face in them we were off again.

The 4 teams in the semi finals were the Surrey Union, the East Kent, the Kent and Surrey Bloodhounds and us. No pressure...just as long as we beat the Kent and Surrey!!!

The course was the same as it had been for the heats, starting with "beachers" a wide brush, and then galloping down the ring to the bridge and the gate. This must be walked through and the gate shut before turning sharp back on yourself to jump a parallel bar up towards the centre of the ring, where the was a "Roger" type of fence. A picket fence dog leg with a jump out the other end, another jink over a skinny roll top and then a U turn over a huge bullfinch.

The first to go were the Surrey Union and the Kent and Surrey. Both were very good and very fast but the Surrey Union were just faster so they were in the final. Next to go was us against the East Kent. We flew round and baton changes were spot on but we did have the dodgy gate. But that didn’t matter as we won. Phew we were in the final and not against the Kent and Surrey!

In the final Kieran got a flying start but then the gate started to play tricks, it would swing shut but just bounce back enough that you couldn’t quite get the string over to shut it. This happened to all of us and so the Surrey Union were able to just get their noses ahead but we raced on to finish a very close 2nd. A great achievement and great fun. Thank you to all that came and cheered us on it is great to hear voices calling out your team name as you are flying round!

Fallers Club Champion: Les Watson

Tuna Fish Award: Blobby and the famous Scoords Farm keys incident - and here is Sally's Poem to commemorate the event

For Sale: 16.3 5 year old ISH gelding by Orbis out of a White Clover mare. BROODMARE:15.2 8 year old by Catherston Liberator out of a TB mare.

PUPPIES FOR SALE
Jenny and Sally eventually had four black puppies (well, their dogs did!) - and there are three dogs for sale. The parents are Dylan, a chocolate lab and Flo, a black lab, both KC registered, from good gun dog lines and with marvellous temperaments.
Deposit secures puppy, Please call Jenny on 01293 871489 or 0796 8950481
or email JennyECRoberts@aol.com.

More Dates for your Diary:

BARONS GRANGE PONY SHOW
Sunday, 31st May 2009
12 years and under
Readers Lane, Iden, Nr. Rye,
East Sussex TN31 7UU
Schedule - Entry Form

Sunday September 6th
The Coakham Cross Country Open Day
at Firle Place.
Details to follow.

Saturday 21st November 2009
The Coakham Bloodhounds Ball
East Sussex National Golf Resort, Little Horsted, Uckfield.

TUNA FISH AWARD POEM

When I said that Bear should win

He said he wouldn’t buy it

And so I wrote this poem

In the hope that he’d be quiet !

A fish is not a useful thing

For opening a gate

A key’s the very thing you need

Without it – you’re in a state.

So when we met up on Toy’s Hill

I put one in his mit

And said “Now keep this carefully -

Don’t drop it down a pit”.

Of course he rolled his eyes at me

And said “Do you think I’m four ?”

“I’ll have you know I’ve opened gates

A million times before”

“But I will do just as you say

And put it in my pocket

And when we reach the farmer’s gate

Then I can just unlock it”

The phone ! It’s Blobby out of breath

And sounding slightly sorry.

“I put the keys inside my jeans –

But I left those in the lorry !”

Now Linda’s there and off she drove,

Wheels spinning in the damp

But was back ten minutes later

Saying “I can’t lower the ramp”.

So Nic explained and off she set

To try her luck again

The field didn’t mind much

They like standing in the rain !

And back she came, but sad to say,

(And here I want to weep)

The keys that she brought with her

Were the keys to Blobby’s jeep !

So we gave up and skipped that hunt

Took a shorter route instead.

Well it was getting dark

And would soon be time for bed.

Poor Blobby was embarrassed

But I thought “Well, what the heck”

So here’s your prize – a Bear Key Ring

Now put it round your neck !

Manor Farm, Wateringbury PHOTOS!!!

With thanks to Mike Clapham

A MESSAGE FROM MIKE:

Hi everyone

As you are probably aware, Maria myself and Roxy are off to live in Slovakia in May, we enjoyed our last hunt on Sunday at Manor Farm and it was great to see everybody again.

It seems a long time ago since we first met Nic and Sue and we have had a really great time working and training with them, both of us have learnt so much about the hunting life and with it we have met so many really nice, genuine people.

Thank you very much for always making us feel very welcome, we will miss you all but hopefully we will be back from time to time and will try to fit in a days hunting, if Maria has got fitter she may even run!!!!!

If anyone wants any info on where we are going we will keep a picture diary on www.mikesimages.co.uk and you can use the email on the site if you wish to keep in contact.

We would like to wish you all the very best and have great season hunting

To all the Coakham photographers: Send me your photos - no matter how many or how few and I will do a season's round up of all the meets! I have seen many taking pictures, but few have found their way to me which is a shame as we all love to see piccies of the hunting! jocarr@f2s.com

Another plea! "I really enjoyed my day hunting with the Coakham at Ashburnham. Like you, I saw a number of photographers out at various fences and would love it if some pictures came to light of us all jumping. I look forward to hopefully seeing some on your website soon. Thanks, Nicky Earland"

The plea has borne fruit - Thank you Rose and Chris - Please keep them coming! There are lots out there just waiting to find their way to cyber space (and some more YouTube specials are also on the way) ...

Rose's photos from the Bull at Benenden and now Torry Hill - Thank you Rose!

Chris Field's photos from Hole Park, Kitchenham Farm, Brightling, Austins Wood and Benenden.

Some photos from the Season, from Chris:

Fallers Club: Spy "Squealer" has also dobbed Jane Baker in as a faller over the drop rail onto Master Roger's land! Huntsman Nic Wheeler made a spectacular late bid for the championship at Benenden. Howard and Sam added to the toll with two exciting falls.

Howard's walk of shame - courtesy of his father in law!!

And the massive anaconda Mel and Robbie disturbed in the forest:

TIME TO SETTLE UP ON YOUR FALLERS CLUB DEBTS - OR YOU WILL BE NAMED AND SHAMED!!

Virgin Bloodhounders!!

Can I say on behalf of Harriet Fairhurst and myself Kate Connell what a wonderful 2 outings we have had with the Coakham Bloodhounds, starting with the meet at Ashburnham and last week at Brightling. Unfortunately Ryan lost a shoe there and was a little footsore until Wednesday so will not be out this weekend at Broadoak but we hope to be out again at Beneden. Fantastic weather, jumping and company what more could you ask for!!! Thank you again for making us feel so welcome. See you at Beneden.

Kate and Harriet

FOR SALE/LOAN: 16.2h thoroughbred Bay Mare for loan initially as a
good home is absolute priority.

MESSAGES FROM AN EVENTFUL BRIGHTLING:

I would like to thank everyone who firstly helped me to remount my hasty stead, who left me lying in the middle of a field, I think, though I must say I have no memory of what happened. Thank you to all those who rang to enquire after my health, it cheered me up no end, my pride being a bit damaged, as I can't even say I fell off jumping, plus you all managed to fill in a few of my memory gaps. A hugh thank you to Sally, whose day hunting was cut short to babysit me back to my lorry and give me a lead home.

Jenny

Just thought I must thank you all at the Coakham Bloodhounds for a wonderful day on Sunday. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, despite loosing a shoe after the 3rd line!!! I shall look forward to catching up with yourselves next season.

Kind Regards, Sam Wilkinson

Dear all,
Many many thanks to every one who helped to push me out at meet, especially to gallant James Ramus & ever helpful Alex also to handsome but ,due to my age, name unknown young man from surrey? My confidence bucket having emptied, shall try again at Broad Oak.

Sincerly, Anne Derby.

MORE PHOTOS FROM CHRIS FIELD - YIPPEE!!

The Opening Meet!

PHOTOS FROM CHRIS FIELD - YIPPEE!!

First up - Mountfield Park Xmas Meet Oct 2008

"Not Again Les" is the new Leader in the Fallers Club.

If you missed the excellent BBC Inside Out film of the Larkins Meet -
watch it on BBC iPlayer. Yes, Nic is caught smiling on camera, Robbie's hat cam footage is superb, Sally socks it to them - and Mr Splash is very handsome!!

From the Reporter/Producer of the piece, Vince Rogers: "I've had a lot of good feedback about the item........ Pass on my thanks to all. We got good viewing figures; 23.4% share. That means 23.4% of people watching TV in the SE region were watching us". Sally went hunting with the OSB and says she felt quite famous!!

Rickney Farm meet photos from Michael Clapham

Barons Grange Xmas meet from Mike Clapham

2009 MEET CARD

The Xmas period has added a few to the Fallers Club, with a new leader on three fall: Ann Derby! Montague Xmas Meet photos from Chris

A Xmas YouTube message from Ruth and Charlotte and the Coakham Oz Branch

The Xmas Eve meet on YouTube! Love the soundtrack!

The Coakham Bloodhounds at Bassetts Manor on YouTube!

Paddling at Larkins Brewery with the BBC on YouTube
Its a little blurry in places as Splash was offended
at the idea of standing still!

Some pictures and an amusing bit of long distance hedge jumping video - especially the sound track - from Frankham Farm

Some photos from Garth of the Pickney Bush Farm Meet

Looking for Thank You Cards - look no further - the Coakham in Full Cry cards are now available! £8 per pack of 10 available from Sarah Rogers 077430 42700

And don't forget I have the high resolution (3mb) Horse and Hound photos if you want a copy for posterity! Just email me the number of the photo you want - you can see it if you hover the mouse over the thumbnail - eg HandH Penshurst 149.jpg or tell me which album and which number - eg Album 1 number 32 0f 46. Jo Carr

Ball Photos now available:
http://www.spidge.co.uk/gallery/Black_Tie_Events/Coakham_Bloodhounds_Ball/

Following the untimely death of Nick Mills, his family have asked that his friends and clients send in their favourite Nick stories, memories etc so that they might produce a book of the many entertaining episodes that made Nick so well loved. Please send any stories to: info@nickmills.org

Bed and Breakfast in Cornwall near Tavistock http://www.welcometreebandb.co.uk/index.html