Having got soaked to the skin the Sunday before walking the country - although we were grateful to Fred French for driving us round a lot of it - it was good to see the day dawn mild, dry and almost sunny.
We met at Nurstead Court by kind permission of the Edmeades-Stearn family, who have lived there for over 400 years. The large field enjoyed the nibbles supplied by joint field master Ruth, and there was a large crowd there to see us off. We were very pleased to have our host family out in force, with Guy on horseback and his sister Annabel, a marathon runner, joing our quarry and keeping them on their mettle. Fred French, Master with the Mid Surrey Farmers, was also out to show us just how the drag hunts over his farm - keeping Ruth and I as field masters on our mettle!
The first hunt took us around the park, carefully avoiding any of the event fences being nurtured by organiser Ginny in preparation for the BE affiliated event there on the weekend of April 22nd/23rd. It was an excellent fast hunt, taking in the new fence suggested by Ginny and built by Guy's team, with the only holds up caused by hounds picking up walkers and heading back to the house at one point, and off down a footpath mid way through the hunt.
We then hacked to The Cock pub, where the landlord, Andrew, resplendent in a magnificent waistcoat, plied the field with port. The second hunt went from the bridlepath next to the pub, with hounds leaping through the shoot cover hot on the trail. Some of the walkers on the bridlepath were a little taken aback to find hounds and horses bearing down on them, but all were passed without mishap. The hunt took us onto Lucy French's land, which has an excellent cross country course. A sharp right hand turn caught out a young follower on his black pony, but he then ran almost as fast as the pony to catch him up again - jumping back on and racing me down a line of jumps in fine style - chatting all the way!! The hunter trial course jumped well, although certainly my hunter, Mr Splash, was a little perturbed at being asked to jump barrels, and we all arrived at Lucy's farm in one piece.
The third hunt started across the Meopham road on Fred's land. Nic was concerned when he looked left to see that our host was teaching the field bad habits as he led us up the crop tramlines rather than the rough track - but as Fred says, with the arrival of the Single Farm Payment, who knows ahet the crop will be worth this year anyway. This was another fast hunt, as we jumped some excellent timber in and out of the woods, dodging the trees as we went. Hounds followed the twisting route well, although the field was not sure at one stage whether they were in front of or behind the hounds - luckily we had Fred there to lead the way. We then hunted on around the fields of rape to finish over a couple of big rails - which my horse, having decided he was in a race with Fred, took rather too quickly!.
We will then hacked back to enjoy and excellent tea in the house, with thanks to our hosts and the French family.
Jo and Ruth
