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Baron's
Grange Where our Chairman found himself down to one stirrup and our Quarry Captain became stuck in the mud... Hounds met at Baron's Grange, by kind invitation of the Ramus family who were out in force to enjoy the day, with Pop, our oldest supporter, James, our chairman and his wife, Joy, whipper in Alex and quarry Chris. The day was overcast and drizzly. Hounds were laid on below the farm and hunted across the grass into the boggy wood where our field master, chairman and host broke a stirrup leather. Luckily he was quickly rescued by Sue, who had some spares in the hound van, and soon rejoined the hunt. They crossed Readers Lane into the Young Orchard and on through the main orchard. Crossing the fishing ponds, hounds turned back up the corn where they were brought to their noses. They soon picked the scent up and were away over Rectory Lane into Brabands Wood, hunting round into the corn they took their quarry next to the main Rye Road. For the second hunt, hounds were laid on directly over the road, hunting past Lea Farm and along the water meadows before climbing up the hill, leaving the horses struggling in their wake. They hunted on down towards the marshes where the post and rail took some jumping out of the soggy ground, before taking the quarry at the bottom of the hill. The quarry had hoped to climb but unfortunately, while wading through a particularly revolting black muddy ditch, Adrian had become stuck and we had to rescue him. Hounds were taken up the hill and along the bridleway and laid on for the third hunt through the orchards into Norland Wood. This was the first thick wood the young entry had encountered this year and although the older hounds hunted through and out the other side all the young entry were missing. The older hounds took their quarry at the top of the hill by Leas Farm. The young entry were brought on by the whippers in, in time to move on to the next hunt which started next to the bridleway in Kings Wood. They hunted through the woods and into Iden Wood and out the other side to The Moat where the hounds checked, the quarry having taken a strange route down the road and over some sheep fencing. After casting about hounds picked up the line, hunting past the moat and through the orchards, crossing the lanes by the Pack Houses behind Baron's Grange to take their quarry in the duck pond. A hard day for horses and hounds especially as Nic, Sue and the hounds were setting off that evening for Scotland, an eight hour drive. Quarry for the day were Chris, Adrian and Robbie.
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