Jevington Place Farm
May 5th, 2002

Hounds met at Jevington Place on May 5th, for the last meet of the season, by kind invitation of Steve and Fizz carr. A large field gathered for the final meet of the season, including several from Jevington Place yard, who were taking advantage of the free day. But for the first time for many years hunting at Jevington there were no Carrs hunting or running - they were busy doing the tea!

The hounds were taken down through the village, and laid on through the field of peas at Oxendean Farm. They hunted up through Pentlands over the set aside and onto the gallops. Here a lot of walkers had just past by and hounds swung down the end of the gallop, but they were stopped by some extremly sharp action by Master Clare Miles who was whipping in, and soon returned to the line. They then hunted into Friston Forest and, after crossing the main track the quarry turned towards the top dew pond. However the hounds cast over the next track and unfortunately picked up our second set of runners and were away down into Charleston Bottom at top speed. Our planned rest at the top of the hill was to no avail and we set off at full tilt twisting and turning through the forest towards Lullington Heath. At the top end of the forest the hounds took the quarry, who were ten given ten minutes law to run on to the bottom of Snap Hill. At this point Caroiline Richardson, who had been held up in bad traffic, arrived having amazingly found us right in the middle of the forest. She later said she just left it to her horse, who kept picking up the sound of the hounds, but everyone was grewatly impressed by her navigational skills, especially as she did not know the forest at all.

Hoiunds were laid on the line again, and hunted really well through the trees to take the quarry at Snap Hill dew pond, where they had a much needed drink and swim.

Drinks were taken at the top of Snap Hill while we gave our first set of runners enough law. The hounds were laid on into the beech trees and hunted away down towards West Dean. They checked in the fir plantation, and were cast on, picking up the line, but five hounds missed the break and were brought on by Clare Miles. Meanwhile the main body of the pack had hunted into a section of the forest we tend to avoid for the runners sake, as it is extremly thick and with six foot high brambles, but Robbie, the quarry captain, got lost again. Luckily the quarry had made a good pass for the hounds, and they made good time through the brambles. Running parrallel with the main track, they took the quarry at the bottom dew pond, near the waterworks. .

Meanwhile, the second set of quarry, captained by Adrian had been enlarged an hour earlier. Hounds were laid on into the woods below Anna Newton Smith's gallop. Hunting at top speed up the bank they crossed the bridleway and on through the beech trees, which were being felled. They swung down across the main gyp rock track, and took the quarry at the top dew pond.

At this pont we realised that Beetle was missing. He had joined the dog walkers who had left him at the cottage by the waterworks, where the kind people contacted us and he was soon picked up, much to Sue's relief.

Meanwhile the hounds hacked back to the meet and held with some difficulty in Robbie and Clare's trailer, as Sue was still out searching for Beetle in the hound van. As they entered the yard, Major Nigel Budd, who used to hunt the bloodhounds drove in just in time for tea.

Everyone retired to the house for an excellent tea to finish the season, where Clare was given her birthday cake and Pop was delighted to have seen another season through.

The hounds had been out 31 times this season with 107 hunts.