Woodcock Inn
28th April, 2002

Hounds met at The Woodcock Inn, Iden Green. It had been raining over night and there was a strong, cold, south westerly wind. Hounds were taken down the road and laid on into Moor Wood where they hunted through some thick undergrowth, and lost the line. They were taken round and cast down the track below the sewage works. Here they picked up the line of the quarry and they hunted on out of the woods.

Crossing the fields they then entered into some more thick woodland. Here the horses could only pick their way through the dense woodland and the hounds rapidly disappeared out of earshot. Eventually jumping out into the field, they found the hounds had checked before coming back towards the wood and hunting up to Pullington farm, where the quarry had run up to a large pond. Here the hounds took a five minute break having a drink and swimming round the pond. Once collected together, they crossed the road and hunted down into Beacon Wood. This wood is extremely difficult to negotiate and the horses were yet again struggling to stay with the hounds.

Crossing over to Tinker Wood, Gillian Ransome took a tumble, and a loose horse held the field up. Meanwhile the hounds were struggling on some cultivated land, where the scent was being blown by the strong wind. Once in Tinker Wood, they were away. This is another extremely difficult wood to negotiate on horse back, and Basil took the quarry (see picture below!) a full five minutes before the main body of the pack arrived, with the huntsman. It was at least another five minutes before the field negotiated an interesting range of hazards and jumped into the last field over a jump which claimed Master Clare Miles.

For the second hunt, the hounds were taken down the road and laid on into the sheep field alongside Hempstead Forest. Jumping into the forest over a testing jump, a post and rail with a ditch two strides after it which took even the field master, Roger Manning, a few goes to negotiate hounds hunted into the forest, taking a twisty route. The quarry had found the undergrowth had grown more than expected and they had made little headway. After 20 minutes hounds took the quarry who were totally lost and stuck in the brambles, with only the huntsman, whip and chairman in attendance. The rest of the field were galloping round the wood in search of them. On hacking out of the forest the field were found.

For the third hunt, hounds were taken and laid on into the rhodedendrums in Beneden School. The quarry had really struggled through the undergrowth, but the hounds held the line well. Hunting past the lake and once into open ground and past the lake, the hounds really flew down into the woodland, where the field had to negotiate an interesting stile. Here David Betts horse was injured, but luckily Luke Poor from Bell Equine, and our mounted vet, was in attendance and he gave David the advice that he should retire. Hounds meanwhile had flown, and the field had to crash out of the woods through an exciting bullfinch, only to find that luckily the hounds had checked in the wind.

On being cast round the woods, they hunted down to the track at Mount Farm. Crossing the main Beneden Road, through the back garden and over a large drop hedge where the pack were chased by a ferocious Labrador, they hunted over the jumps into the Master for the day, Roger Manning's, paddocks, through his garden gate, across his immaculate lawn, past his back door, to take the quarry standing on the island of his garden pond. Basil was once again well ahead of the main body of the pack with the huntsman and whips in attendance and the field not far behind. Refreshments were taken here, with the large gathering of foot followers.

For the fourth hunt the hounds were laid on into the orchards behind the house, which were in flower and a wonderful sight. The hounds hunted through the woods, coming out onto Caroline Richardson's ground where the field had some entertaining jumps. Crossing into Stream Farm, they took the quarry at the water tank at the bottom of the hill, where home was blown.

An interesting day, the hounds had to work hard on the open fields where the scent was being blown by the very strong winds. But in the woods they really flew, making it difficult for the horses to keep up. The horses had numerous and varied obstacles to negotiate, including some hairy stream crossings. Tea was taken in the Woodcock Inn, where Pop Ramus entertained us all by recounting how, many years ago, they used to catch the carted stag at the end of the hunts with the Mid Kent carted staghounds. Much to everyone's amazement this involved jumping on the stag and leading it back to the box. Nic now wants to do this with the quarry.

Quarry for the day were Robbie and Adrian.