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The music of the pack is it’s And here I say to parents,especially wealthy parents, 'Don't give your children money. As far as you can afford it, give them horses.'
Winston Churchill
On looking back over the last twelve months it is quite remarkable – compared to the last few years – what a trouble free and enjoyable year we have had. No disruptions such as foot and mouth or interfering politicians, some excellent days hunting in what I would have called an 'old fashioned' season and lots of fun and entertainment. Dare I say it, too, the finances seem to be in a relatively stable position thanks to the generosity of the Hunt Supporters Club, Car Club, Subscribers and, of course, the Masters. Everyone in a Hunt has their part to play and it is wonderful to see how we all come together to produce such excellent sport – for that is, of course, what it is all about.
On the legal front there have been some excellent judgements from extremely senior Law Lords to the effect that the Hunting Bill is a complete shambles and virtually impossible to implement. Well the House of Lords did say this in no uncertain terms but Labour decided to press ahead anyway. However there is absolutely no doubt that in order to return things onto an even keel this iniquitous Act must be repealed.
It seems a long time ago now but the Crewe and Nantwich By-Election was an absolute triumph and the part played by all the Hunt helpers who tramped the streets of Crewe and Nantwich and the surrounding villages cannot be over exaggerated. Personally I hate canvassing but it was a positive joy to walk around the dodgier streets of Crewe in the balmy May sunshine and to realise just how angry everyone – even dyed in the wool Labour voters – was with this shower of self important poppycocks who claim to be the Government of this country. And, of course, the result spoke for itself with Ms Dunwoody scuttling back to the Valleys with her 'Tory Toffs.' (This scheme of dressing up two young chaps in top hat and tails backfired spectacularly, not least because no self respecting Toff would be seen dead in a Grey Morning suit until after Royal Ascot......) To quote Winston Churchill again “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
The blueprint for this, and other, campaigns was drawn up as a result of our assisting to elect Stephen O'Brien at the Eddisbury By-Election at the beginning of the millennium. Our assistance has certainly not gone unnoticed by the Conservative Party and an apolitical organisation called Vote-OK has been up and running to co-ordinate country sports members to ensure that as many as possible pro-hunting MPs of any Party will be elected in the ensuing months or when the General Election is called. The Conservatives have pledged categorically to introduce an Act to repeal the ridiculous Hunting Bill and your help will, once more, be called upon to ensure that it will be.
Another great success – the brainchild of our Hunt Chairman – has been the Hunt Text Messaging Service where a simple message – such as 'Meet at 12 today' can be sent extremely quickly to whoever is on the list. If you would like to be added to the list please text me with name and mobile number on 07947 957 363. I will spare the blushes of the hard riding couple who, on being told it was a 'one horse day' turned up on their feet thinking that the only person allowed to be on a horse was Richard!
The 'Forthcoming Events' and contact numbers for WHSC officers is now in Meet Card form so pin it up in the kitchen and come to as many of them as you can. I have included the Hound Shows as these are wonderful days out in the Summer – just pack a picnic and meet up with lots of hunting friends. In particular Peterborough – now independent of the East of England Show – is a wonderful Show and not nearly as stuffy as it used to be! Sadly my favourite, Lowther, has already had to be cancelled as the Showground is waterlogged .
Finally, please find enclosed some Draw tickets for the Grand National. Please sell as many as you can and return them to the indefatigable Jannie Tulloch or bring them to the Draw at the Carden Arms on Wednesday1st April at 8.00 pm.
FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN
When taking on the role of Chairman I do not re-call reports being mentioned, but our Editor has dropped hints over recent days as the deadline quickly approaches, this evening I think.
We have been very fortunate that each Area was able to organise the annual Donation Rides, not even wet weather was able to deter organisers, resulting in great fun for all. Donations are going to the Air Ambulance and various local organisations.
A change of venue and evening for the Hunt Supporters Dinners took us to Grosvenor Pulford Hotel. Tickets were a sell out, with our Guest Speaker Marcus Armytage keeping us on the edge of our seats with stories and anecdotes. Mary kindly organised Irish Bingo with David Higham kindly standing in for Arthur Moore. We were very fortunate to have been given a beautifully carved Shepherds Crook which was auctioned by John Brereton along with the Speakers tie.
The Hunt Supporters have again contributed the cost of fence repair materials. In addition to that we had a request from Richard Tyacke for a donation towards the fencing project along the Ruabon By Pass.
It has been very encouraging to see the growth of the Young Hunt Supporters Club. The Tumble Fund party at Bangor Race Course was a an enjoyable end to the season. Please keep up the good work.
The Boxing Day Meet would not have been complete without Father Christmas alias John Davies armed with sweets for the children.
Thank you to all Areas for all the hard work and dedication put into the fund raising events. These events enable us to assist and support the Hunt in many ways.
AREA I (WREXHAM) REPORT
We are delighted to report that our annual Cross Country Donation Ride on 28 September was a great event raising £2,342, once again we have received wonderful feedback. Thanks to the landowners, members of Area I and all who supported the event by taking part. The ride enabled us to generously donate to the hunt and also present £1000 to Nightingale House Hospice. The cheque was presented to the Hospice by the daughters of Area I members, Jo Roberts, Stella Pierce and Catherine Byrne, the girls were smartly dressed in their show gear and we made the Wrexham Leader with a fabulous photo and write up.
As you are all aware, Ann Jones has been a dedicated Chairman (or should I say Chair person!) and ambassador for Area I over a number of years, Ann has now decided to step down, however will remain integral part of Area I’s committee. Ann has handed over to Catherine Jones who will be a fantastic successor.
Our next event takes place at Isycoed Village hall on Thursday 9 April, a fun quiz night with delicious hot pot supper, a family fun night not to be missed! Further details and tickets will be available soon.
By kind permission of the Rosselli & Probin families, the Bryn y Pys show date has been set for Saturday 16 May – so pop it on your calendar now!
AREA II
We had a change from the Hog Roast this year and Asher and Mark with the help of Wendy Chesters organised a Summer Hunt Ball by kind permission of The Fearnalls at Alkington Hall who enabled us to share their tent. It was a super evening and made a good profit - well done - and thank you.
The next event was the Cross Country Ride. This is always a great success and as ever huge thanks must go to Charlie Barnett, Geoff Bourne, Robin Benson, the Mayers and the younger team and all the many people who helped out. A big thank you to the Brodies for the use of their field. We were able to give a donation to Bronington School and the Air Ambulance.
Our Quiz night seems to get more popular - it must be the quizmaster!! The questions get more difficult - certainly for my table! Again it was a fun and successful night.
The Farmers Hunt Ball we have just hugely enjoyed - what a great evening thanks to Mary and Bryan Probin's immaculate organisation. Thank you to a hard working and fun committee.
AREA III
We had a very successful ride over a completely different route which had taken Henry and David Adams some time and hassle to work out owing to the obvious route being denied us by a former hunting owner who then had the cheek to join in the ride but not offer to pay her dues; that left a nasty taste in the mouth I can assure everyone! Needless to say it was enjoyed by the paying public which is the main thing. We had a photographer again which was a success for both the photographer and riders. You can access the pictures from their website pedderz.com.
From the proceeds of the ride we were able to donate £400 to Hope House, the home for ill children in Oswestry and also £100 apiece to Bradley Chapel and Tushingham Church with £2,500 going to Central funds.
This summer we are holding another Art Evening in early July, hopefully with Daniel Crane; he's a glutton for punishment obviously and he has some stunning new pictures for our delight. This will be the first time held at Manor Farm, Wychough by very kind permission of Mr & Mrs Hutchinson-Smith who many of you will have met out hunting this season so we are looking forward to seeing you all there. David H will again be responsible for the Pimms so do please, come and enjoy yourselves.
YOUNG HUNT SUPPORTERS
We have had another very successful year despite the vagaries of the weather which led to the cancellation of our much anticipated Quad Bike Polo Tournament but we fully intend to try and run this event during the summer.
In between Christmas and the New Year we held an epic 'Lycra, Lace & Really Bad Taste' Party at Clutton Hall Farm by kind permission of Mrs K Tomlinson. This raised about £3,500 and we were able to donate £300 to Clutton School at the Rose Farm meet with the balance going to our reserves. A big thank you to all members of the committee who worked so hard over the holiday season to make this such a good event.
On Wednesday 18th March we are holding our annual Tumblefund Party – free to everyone who has had the misfortune to make a donation, otherwise £5 at the door. This will be held at Tilston Village Hall and we intend to make a donation to the Welsh Air Ambulance.
After the Point-to-Point on Saturday 23rd May we are holding a Post Point-to-Point Party at Bangor Racecourse open to anyone attending the Point-to-Point.
We still have some very attractive Hunt fleeces and polo shirts in stock to cover all range of sizes at reasonable prices and also had a great success with our first Hunt Calendar comprising of photographs of the Hunt and Hounds.
Once again a very big thank you to all members of the Committee for all their hard work
Nick Mapp
FROM THE HUNT CHAIRMAN
Notwithstanding the fact that we have had some real winter days this year and even snow, some great sport has been shown and not many days lost. The fence along the A483 has been a huge success and enabled the Masters to open up a bit of countryside we have not been able to use for some years and some great entertainment has been shown. The donations which were received from the Hunt Supporters Clubs and many individuals made this possible and we are all most grateful for this help.
As we all know, fundraising is an essential part of all our activities and we are all most grateful for the hard work which has been put in by many to make these events so successful. Notably have been the Rides, Christmas Entertainment, Hunt Ball and the Farmers’ Hunt Ball.
As the season draws to a close, we must thank those who have made it such fun. Most of all those who allow us to ride on their land and follow by whatever means and all those working so hard to make it possible to get about the countryside and, in particular, the Masters for the sport they have shown.
Charles Barnett BLAZING SADDLES
Congratulations to Arthur Moore on his first venture as producer of the Entertainment at Overton-on-Dee in December, and well done to all the cast who turned out yet again and all did so well. A brilliant effort, helped so much by all the backstage crew and waitresses. Many thanks to Jane Jennings in her great work with tickets sales and as treasurer.
Finally thank you all who so generously gave various items for the auction, those who purchased, and the major thanks to the Auctioneer, John Brereton, for his unfailing enthusiasm whilst getting maximum amounts of cash from the audience! Nancie Shepherd
MASTER’S REPORT
The Puppy Show was held this year on the 9th of June. The two judges were from Ireland, William Bryer the Limerick huntsman and Charlie Gundry who hunts the Kilkenny and needs no introduction. After much deliberation, they placed Parker 1st and Panther 2nd both walked by Lady Hanmer. 3rd was Barclay walked by Rosie Curran. The Bitch class was won by Gaiety walked by Sally Anson, 2nd was Gadfly walked by Mrs N Darlington, Barmaid was 3rd walked by the Evans family. The Best Working Hound of 2007 was Gangster. Wynnstay hounds went on to win numerous 2nd, 3rd, and 4th prizes at Builth, and Gadfly won an Old English Class at Peterborough.
Due to the late harvest, we had a slow start to Autumn Hound training. The Opening Meet was once again held at Higher Barns, hosted by Guy and Emma Myddleton. Everyone enjoyed an excellent day to get the season off to a great start. This set the pattern for the season to come during which we have had some wonderful days, notably from Bryn Hovah on the first Saturday after the Opening meet, and Marsh Farm (with a fun excursion into the Cheshire country) before Christmas. After Christmas we had excellent days from Scar Farm, Byn y Pys, the Hollies and Bettisfield.
Unfortunately hounds missed 7 days due to bad weather, the first time so many days have been lost for years. Ultimately, however, these breaks have likely enabled Hounds and Horses to stay fresh in a busy season with very deep going.
After two years as 2nd whipper-in, Chris Sage will be leaving us at the end of the season. Chris has been an excellent employee and we are most grateful to him for his hard work and valuable input. We wish him and Carly all the very best for the future.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful farmers and landowners for their ongoing support.
RT
ACROSS THE POND
Tim Park is currently at University of California San Diego (UCSD) for the 3rd year of his MSc Physics course at Lancaster University as an exchange student. His father put him in touch with Terrell (Terry) Paine who is Master of the Santa Fe Hunt which is located at Temecula, midway between San Diego and Los Angeles. Tim was invited to ride out with them on exercise and ended up schooling some horses for the Hunt Staff and the deal is that he continues to do this and in return gets the odd day hunting. The Kennel Huntsman, Gary, comes form Essex and the hounds are English foxhounds. There is a good website at www.santafehunt.com. Tim previously wrote:-
"On Sunday I went to ride out for Terry at his stables. The set up is fairly large with three stable blocks each with about 20 stables, one is for mainly hunt horses and the others he rents out to an event rider and a racing trainer. Terry also has a three star event course on his land so it is all fairly high quality. His horses are also fairly classy with several former race horses or eventers including one by Storm Cat who didn't have the attitude for racing. The first lot was hound exercise where Terry, the huntsman Gary, who is from Essex, and the whips take the hounds in front and the rest of us follow.
The horse I was on for this was a Quarter Horse type who was very lively and gave a few bucks, I think this was meant as a test, but I managed to cope with him. I then went out with Terry and one of the grooms on a thoroughbred, who had been an $180,000 yearling, for a ride through the bush which was an exciting experience with lots of sharp turns and steep hills. Terry is very welcoming and has already started planning which horses I might be hunting and I will be riding out again next week........"
“Today I went to the opening meet of the Santa Fe hunt. The meet was about 2 hours north of here and a couple of thousand feet up. This meant that the weather was surprisingly familiar with wind, rain and even a bit of hail. All of the locals were complaining about being too cold while I was perfectly comfortable as it was still warmer and drier then any day with the Wynnstay.
Hunting itself was very different to England. Firstly the organisation is different with Gary the huntsman hunting the hounds and Terry acting as 1st whip. The field itself was split up into three fields according to how much people wanted to do. 1st field jumps, 2nd doesn't and 3rd mostly just trots. One person is put in charge of leading each field. This means that a field of about 30 felt like much less, I was in the 1st field which started with 8 and finished with 5.
After a blessing of the hounds and hunt by a pastor we moved off. Hunting itself is best described as fast and furious. Coyotes are faster then foxes and tend to run in straight lines and because there aren't any coverts as such they are mainly just picked up in open country. We did have a few jumps over pallisades which was good then after two hours of charging around we were finished. We then moved on to smartest after hunt lunch that I have ever seen hosted by one of the members and in the most immaculate barn I have ever seen (it had a chandelier). This all adds to the impression that the Santa Fe is more about socialising and joy riding then actual hunting especially when I found out they catch about 2 coyotes a season. Overall it was a very exciting experience and lots of fun but never really felt like hunting. WYNNSTAY HUNT BRIDGE COMPETITION 2007/8
We had a good entry with sixty four couples entered (competitors not hounds!) and there were many excellent battles over the competition. The attraction of the competition is that everybody plays many opponents who might not be met otherwise, all united by the support of hunting – I have not received a single entry from a hunt saboteur!
The finals took place at Ash Grove on 21st June with the Cup won by Tricia Wilkins and Peter Rosselli who were blessed with the cards on the evening, defeating David Mottershead and Ted Hollins ( who was substituted on the evening by David Hiles) . In the Plate Mary Mottershead and Margaret Dawson triumphed over Tim Dilworth and Malcolm Smith .
Thanks to the great support, a cheque has been sent to the Hunt for £600 and £600 to The Air Ambulance who give such wonderful service to the public and have helped so many involved in hunting accidents.
I have yet again failed to pass the competition back to Di Warburton-Lee and feebly agreed to run the competition this year which is now nearing the final stages with similar good support from the competitors. We always need new blood so if anybody who has not been involved before is interested in entering next year, would they please get in touch with me by Email at postmaster@rosselli.plus.com or Tel 01978 710 626. Entry forms will be sent out in the Autumn
Peter Rosselli
HUNTING OBSERVATIONS BY “PRAEFECTUS”
On Marking to Ground Many a good hunt has been lost by a Huntsman assuming that, because his hounds are marking to ground, the hunted fox has gone to ground. The ability of his hounds to mark is laudable, but they are not necessarily discerning as to which fox they are marking. A hunted fox will often try earths that have been inadequately stopped but, if hard pressed, will not linger to check that there are rooms to let; preferring instead to try his luck elsewhere.
On coming up to his hounds, the Huntsman should immediately lift them from the mark and cast them as he would had they checked; indeed he can afford greater perseverance as, should his fox have gone to ground, he has nothing to lose by this action and possibly much to gain.
On Point Duty To be sent on Point is to assume a position of great responsibility, upon which the success of a day’s hunting can depend. When still a good way from the cover – two or three fields at least - the Huntsman should send on his Points to take up their positions before hounds enter cover.
Because the Field are coffee housing on one side of the cover, instead of being tucked up tightly in one corner or, better still, tucked up tightly in a the corner of a field well away from and down wind of the cover, do not assume that their side is being watched; how often has a fox sneaked away on this side without the Field being aware of it. Far better to have sent on someone trustworthy who will pay attention to the game in hand rather than to the games of the previous night’s Hunt Ball.
Approach your position as quietly as possible and with extreme vigilance; the best fox is invariably the fox that leaves first, often before hounds have even been put into the cover. If hounds can hunt this fox then in all likelihood they will be able to return to draw the cover afresh later in the day. Stand at your post as quietly as can be and, keeping your eyes peeled, listen. You should be able to follow the progress of a hunt inside the cover by sound. Have an ear for those Judases of the wood; the Magpie and the Jay; a shriek from either will pinpoint the exact location of Charles James. It is astonishing how often your horse will sense a fox, and prick his ears, before you do.
On viewing a fox, do not move, do not utter a word, do not breathe. Let the fox make his own way and watch him like a hawk. Mark where he was last seen and then pause. Make sure that your fox is the hunted fox as best you can and once you are reasonably certain that your fox is the fox then sing out with abandon until acknowledged by the Huntsman doubling his horn.
Your duties do not end here; position yourself to indicate where the fox has gone whilst still being able to be seen by the Huntsman as he arrives. If possible, move to the spot in the hedge near to where you last saw your fox and stand there with your hat indicating the direction so that the huntsman can bring his hounds up from behind and prevent them running heel. Perform these duties correctly and you will be assured of the finest start to a hunt that you could wish for - allow yourself a certain amount of pleasure in imaging the other Points having to play catchee uppie, but there time will surely come too.
On Changing to Second Horses With the exception of the Hunt staff, changing to a second horse should be an entirely private affair, comparable to getting undressed or having a bath, and should be treated in that manner, out of public view and off the public highway.
On Farmers and Landowners Consider the small farmer who has never ridden to hounds in his life but with warm smile and cheerful wave invites the Field to help themselves to his grass and hedges – “And let the cattle and sheep take care of themselves….”
Also consider the wealthy landowner who has no trouble helping himself to the aforementioned – and countless other farmers’ - grass and hedges two or three days a week, yet when it is his turn to play host “the coverts must not be disturbed” or “ the land is too wet” or “the grass too far advanced” or “the ewes are heavily in lamb” – indeed anything to avoid the inconvenience of entertaining hounds.
I have no trouble whatsoever in deciding which company I prefer to keep and would rather dine with the greatest Vulpicide in the County than with such latter day disciples of Janus.
A FISH OUT OF WATER
If you are 27 it must be quite fun, but if you are 72 it is very daunting. Sarah Jane Gullick of African Horseback Riding Safaris had asked me in August to go as her “walker” on a riding trip in the Wadi Rum, Jordan. Little did I know that I would be the only man amongst nine international women aged from 46 to 66, only 3 of whom were happily married. I made this discovery on the first night drinking large quantities of whisky with William Wakeham in a smart hotel in Amman. His reaction was total astonishment and he left as soon as possible clutching 10lbs of Wych sausages and bacon.
The trip included the usual Roman and earlier remains in Amman and Madaba, a quick look at the promised land like Moses from Mount Nebo, and a wonderful day at Petra. This was followed by six days riding in Wadi Rum and finally a quick dip in the Dead Sea. I had then arranged for myself four days with the Wakehams in Amman.
Amman has a few ruins but was most remarkable for the number of 5 Star hotels and fields of cabbages between the tower blocks. Amazingly most of these hotels seemed quite well occupied. Although you hear of thousands of Iraqis who have fled their country somehow you assume they are all impoverished, not so. The impoverished went to Syria and the rich went to Jordan to be joined by the international and security set hence the hotels and endless smart villas.
Mount Nebo did have a good view of Israel, Moses was quite right, but the main interest was the shopping frenzy of my rich companions when they hit the first tourist shop. Our guide, presumably on 10%, was thrilled. Madaba, a particularly boring little town, is renowned for it’s mosaics.
We now headed 150 miles south to Petra. Our hotel was one of those places with lots of cottages up a steep hill. My expedition to get early morning tea for Sarah Jane involved the use of crampons and knocking on a strange Dutch couple’s door. They were the only Dutch people I have ever met who didn’t speak English which caused some embarrassment at 6am.
Petra is stunning and unmissable but marginally spoilt by thousands of very fat slow moving tourists. An important tip - get through the gates first in the morning and see the Treasury building when the sun first hits it. Later it is swamped by the population of the world, camels, donkeys, carriages and small boys selling stones. Second tip - walk up to the Monastery building, most can’t make it due to obesity, and then come down on a donkey or mule without a leader. This is better than the Adrefelyn hedges. It is very steep with precipices, which attract the donkey, if you lose your nerve and pull the donkey’s lead rope you unbalance it, so you close your eyes and descend at breakneck speed occasionally uttering obscenities. Finally we were told to meet at a smart hotel which King Abdullah just happened to be visiting at the same time, causing a certain amount of delay and confusion to our intrepid band.
Our first two days in Wadi Rum were not helped by the ghastly luxury camp we were billeted in. The accommodation was in smelly Bedu goat hair tents which on previous trips I have always made a point of avoiding. The beds were recycled pallets balanced on insecure logs, the place was filthy and the loos and showers made no attempt to work. I was very impressed that our American ladies did not mutiny especially when for some unknown reason we stayed for two nights. To cap it all the manager was a particularly sleazy gent who insisted on massaging the ladies feet whether invited or not. Since Sarah Jane’s bed immediately collapsed with great chivalry I slept on the floor with the feral cats and rats. Not quite 5 star, but character building.
Our introduction to the horses was totally haphazard, but for some reason worked. I got there first, a trick I have learnt with age and settled on a tall flea bitten grey not unlike Jordie but with better hindquarters. Our guide Attullah looked slightly put out and it was not until later that I realised I had chosen his personal horse which pulled like a train and was a retired endurance racer.
It was a joy that everyone rode well and although the riding was not challenging no one held us back as so often happens. Four horses were exciting. Mine called Shama who pulled, but since I had the only whistle I rode at the back with blistered hands, Sarah Jane and Joanna Townsend on current endurance racers and Cynthia Taylor from Argentina who was an ex international show jumper and rode like a dream was on a stallion.
Wadi Rum is a stunning and magical place which tragically can now only be appreciated on horse or camel. Unmanaged hoards of tourists have taken over driven in clapped out trucks by Bedu who make their own tracks wherever they go and consequently the desert is being steadily degraded. There is plastic litter and toilet paper everywhere. What will happen when the ATV’s arrive I dread to think? Luckily all this is within five miles of the numerous static camps and visitor centre. We travelled 20 miles per day for five days, reached the southern border of Jordan with Saudi Arabia and explored some little known Wadis and gorges.
Our friend Attullah, who had never run a so called 5 star mobile camp before, learnt to supply the needs of the American ladies quite quickly. His pride and joy was the specially manufactured loo made out of welded metal plates which became like an oven by the midday stop. There was one small design problem. The bit you sit on was too close to the door so you either sat down with the door open or stood up with it closed - an awkward anatomical decision. This magical metal box followed us on the back of a pick up wherever we went - tragically mostly unused.
There was one major misunderstanding with our guide. I would question him about the routes and hideouts of Laurence of Arabia and he would answer vividly and knowledgably with complete nonsense, including the fact that his father rode with Laurence. It was Joanna Townsend who suddenly realised that he was talking about the film, which was fairy story, while we were talking about the actual events. Laurence’s description of Wadi Rum was better than anything I could attempt:-
“The Wadi Rum was one of the most spectacular sights in the whole of Arabia: a maze of sandstone whose continual process of evolution was so clearly visible that the vast boulevards and buttresses of red rock appeared to be part of a living organism. Great bastions of rock, skewered and scrolled and fissured and wrinkled by salt and sand and wind into shapes that no delirious mind could invent.”
Goodbye horses, hello Dead Sea. We stayed at a resort with a name something like Moving Prick. Quite comfortable, good food and thank god excellent showers. The ladies lavished themselves with endless and expensive massages scrubs and something called defoliation, which sounded painful. The high points were firstly a rather drunken sortie after dinner with Sarah Jane and Salka, the Swede, to swim which was terminated by an Health and Safety officer. Yes, Jordan has Health and Safety. Secondly the lack of humour of the Germans next day when they massaged each other with mud grunting “das is gut”. We had a mud pie fight which was much more fun.
Our gallant leader, or matriarch as she liked to be called, now flew off to Egypt for more 5 Star expensive riding experiences. Sarah Jane, Salka the Swede who was a gorgeous ex model, Joanna and I spent a special morning being shown the Royal Stud of Arab horses in Amman. 176 in the yard and many international show horses amongst them. The show technique was novel. They were led into the ring, let loose and then grooms with plastic bags on the end of sticks chased them around, great fun to watch, but somewhat different from the Horse of the Year Show. We sat with tea and cakes in the shade making appreciative comments. It was all rather Raj – like and fun.
My last days were with William and Jo Wakeham and their gutsy children Tara aged 5 and George a large 2. My first night was novel in that I went to bed to find a white rabbit sitting on it. Amazingly he never did messes and enjoyed being held upside down by Tara. William of course wants to eat him. I saw the Crusader castles and Laurence’s HQ at Azrack……..and got food poisoning. A good all round end to a good all round trip.
David Brooks
A PRAYER BEFORE HUNTING
O Lord, give us patience, That throughout this day we may give the hounds room, And give us time to greet others cheerfully along the way. Give to us all a grateful heart that we may forever enjoy this precious countryside. These things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN
THE QUIZ - ROUND 1
1. Complete the following :- One One was a Racehorse, Two Two was one too. Two Two won a race one day... 2. Who is the Chief Constable of North Wales? 3. Who was the son of Jehoshaphat about whom, in Kings 9:20, a watchman warned Jehorem saying "he driveth furiously" 4. How many capsules does the London Eye have? 5. What is the common name for Beethoven's Symphony No 6 in F Major 6. The clock on the Banqueting House overlooking Horseguards Parade in London has a black dot above the 2 on the dial - why? 7. Why is a twelve bore shotgun so called? 8. What is beche de mer? 9. Who replaced Judas as the twelfth Apostle 10. There are four Shakespeare plays with 'and' in their title - what are they?
ROUND 2 1.At what age do horses run in the Derby? 2.Where in London is Rotten Row? 3. Won in 1513 by the English under Henry VIII over the French, at Guinegate, N France. This battle was called the Battle of the Spurs. Why? 4. If you were wearing the maillot jaune what would you be doing? 5. To the nearest quarter of a mile how long is a lap at the Silverstone Grand Prix? 6. HMS Victory was a First Rate Ship of the Line. At the time of Trafalgar how many guns did she have? 7. What is the Cribbar or Widowmaker? 8. In the song 'Green Grow the Rushes O' what does four signify? 9. What are Criadillas? 10. What is Scrapple?
ROUND 3 1. Where will the 2010 British Grand Prix be held? 2. If something was cooked using the ceviche method how would it have been cooked? 3. Which Island features in the Round the Island Race? 4. Which Peaks are climbed during the Three Peaks Race? 5. Who was Charybdis' twin? 6. Said to be the motto of Cecil Rhodes' Matabeleland Expeditionary Force, Complete the following lines:-"Whatever happens we have got......." 7. What is Eiswein? 8. Who is the patron saint of lost causes? 9. What dubious distinction does the Castor Bean Plant hold? 10. The UK Ordinance Survey Grid Square SE 83 22 near to Adlingfleet, East Riding of Yorkshire has what claim to fame?
ROUND 4 1. What is the collective noun for a group of foxes? 2. If you had a bag of rubby dubby with you what would you be doing? 3. Who was socially ostracised after making the remark "Alvanley, who's your fat friend?". 4. Which fictional character was first introduced in a story entitled 'The White Fokker?' 5. What is The Scoville Heat Scale? 6. In the Bible, what are the only two animals that speak ? 7. What was the name of the 19th century journalist who was born in Denbigh in 1841, emigrated to the USA and instigated a famous meeting on November 10, 1871. 8. Laxton Superb, Bristol Cross, Conference and Merton Pride are all types of what? 9. According to folklore why was the Staffordshire Knot allegedly invented? 10. How did the winner of the 1901 Grand National, Grudon, contribute to the dairy industry?
ROUND 5 1. What are Fingerlings? 2. What were winklepickers? 3. Where does the A1 run from and to? 4. Which is the oldest racecourse in Britain? 5. What was Ambrosia? 6. What are the constituents of the cocktail called a Dog's Nose? 7. What does 'Gymnastics' mean in Ancient Greek? 8.What is currently the last bridge in full use over the Thames before the sea? 9. What are Dorothy Perkins, Grandma Dixon and Iceberg breeds of? 10. What was the name of the battle that prompted Shakespeare's Henry V to say "Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more? ROUND 6 1. Where did the Chiuhuaua originate from? 2. What is the main ingredient in the soup Borscht? 3. What does a sardine grow up to become? 4. Which literary character made their first appearance in 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles? 5. Where is the Blue Bell Railway Line? 6. What does a Banderillero do? 7. What is Crockfords? 8. What is a Carboy? 9. Who became Lord Mayor of London in 1397? 10. How many A levels did Prince Charles pass? ROUND 7 1. Who was Edgar Rice Burroughs' most famous creation? 2. What mythical creature was half man half horse? 3.Bewick and Hooper are types of what? 4. How many teaspoons in a tablespoon? 5. Which animal performed the wedding in the Owl and the Pussycat? 6. From which animal does the perfume ingredient ambergris originate from? 7. Which sport requires competitors to throw stones at houses? 8. Who were Biggles' three co-pilots? 9. What is the name of the electronic line judge at Wimbledon? 10. Which city is served by Dum Dum airport?
ROUND 8 1. Who painted the Laughing Cavalier? 2. What are the names of the two Brooks crossed during the Grand National? 3. What does the phrase 'Caveat Emptor' mean? 4. Who is the Patron Saint of Mountaineers? 5. Who sang the theme to the Bond Film Thunderball? 6. Who invented vulcanised rubber? 7. In modern weapons what is a Tomahawk? 8. In a pack of cards what does the King of Spades hold in his left hand? 9. What was the Christian Name of Phil Archer first wife? 10. Which is the only Virgin Brand that does not have the 'Virgin' name attached to it? Bonus: If someone was monorchic what would this imply?
He also had a quality uncommon To early risers after a long chase Who wake in winter ere the cocks can summon December's drowsy day to his dull race A quality agreeable to woman When her soft, liquid words run on apace, Who likes a listener, whether saint or sinner - He did not fall asleep just after dinner.
Anon
FROM JOHN WRIGHT'S RESEARCHES
With all the problems that the Ward Union had in Ireland last season in their attempt to carry on their Sport and tradition in hunting a 'Carted Stag' it is a pity that we didn't carry on this tradition here in Wales which we had also and which may surprise some of the readers. In Victorian times Mid and North Wales had quite a good population of Deer; not only 'Park Deer' which most of the large estates had (Red and Fallow) but good herds of indigenous wild herds of Red Deer in the countryside as well. The Vale of Conway was said to be the richest Deer Forest in the whole of Wales.
Just for the record the last Red Stag to be killed on the Wynnstay Estate, Ruabon, was around 1939 but whether it was 'Grassed' or 'Taken' needs further research. This all leads to the sport of hunting the 'Carted Stag' by the Earl of Powis in Mid Wales; a tradition that may have preceded the Ward Union's initiation in the 1850's. The Earl of Powis, in common with other British Landlords, had estates over in Ireland so perhaps he took this sport over there.
STAG HUNT NOV 1881 Last Saturday being the occasion of the anniversary of the birthday of the Right Hon. The Earl of Powis, the day was celebrated in the usual way, a Stag Hunt commencing the day's proceedings. In the town the bells of the church started ringing in the morning and continued throughout the day. At about half past eleven there was an unusual aspect noticeable by small knots of people assembling at the corner of the streets whose object was apparent by the occasional arrival of gentlemen on horseback in Huntsman's attire, making their way through the town along the road by the canal.
The pedestrian traffic, too, by this route was somewhat unusual and this notwithstanding the rain coming down in anything but gentle showers with the mud being some two inches deep into the bargain. On coming up to the Moat Farm about two miles out of town the sight was more lively. Earl Powis was here conspicuous on a fine grey animal while in other portions of the field horsemen and ladies were exhibiting the form of their steeds who seemed uneasy to get away. Several carriages were also on the ground and there was a fair sprinkling of others on foot and under umbrellas.
At about half past eleven the Stag was brought onto the ground and uncaged at twelve o'clock. It was a fine animal and quickly bounded off in the direction of Trehelig Farm, crossing the river into Penylan Wood. Thence he made his way through Penylan farmyard to the Church House, on to the Woodlands for Flos, Hendoman and Court Calmore, through Llandysil Wood and Gurney Heath, down Vron Heilrad and across the Meule Brook and into Fraith Wood.
Here he remained for a short time and then crossed the railway for Llanmerewig, down Kelry across the school yard, thence up to Mr Kinsey's, Cloddiu, on to Kerry Hill where he got into Mr Naylor's new pool and swam for some time. A boat was here obtained to drive him out and he was finally taken just beneath the dam of the pool and housed at Mr Venables of Kilford. This was at 3.30 after a spin of about three hours, the deer proving himself a fine beast although not quite so good as last year. He ran in view too long whilst the other ones got away from hounds and thus added to the enjoyment and excitement of the Hunt. There were somewhere between 40 and 50 followers on horseback and as soon as the deer was caught they made the best of their way home, the weather during the run having brightened and the rain ceased.
To conclude the day the annual dinner was held at the Royal Oak Hotel where a large company assembled with keen appetites to appropriate the excellent meal that is invariably provided. The Mayor (Mr G D Harrison) presided and the Earl Powis was joined by well over 100 Gentlemen and others! As soon as dinner, which occupied about an hour and a half, was over the tables were cleared and grace said by the Rev LL Boyes. The Gentlemen were then joined by their wives for a grand evening of dancing and merryment.
As always I am indebted to John Wright for his fascinating researches into the Victorian hunting field. Two things immediately sprang to mind from this article; firstly the phrase “There were somewhere between 40 and 50 followers on horseback and as soon as the deer was caught they made the best of their way home, the weather during the run having brightened and the rain ceased.” which conjures up an image of latter day John Fearnall's hacking their way home across country without opening the gates....... One also wonders what the poor wives were doing whilst their husbands were sluicing and troughing in the Royal Oak; I somehow think that we wouldn't get away with it today.......
Green grows the grass, O'er a sporting old stager Who overrode hounds Of an ex-Indian major
ANON
LIFE AT OLD BEACHIN FARM
THE TELEPHONE AND HAY BALING
The early telephone system was worked by a manual exchange at Broxton by a Mr. And Mrs. Warburton and was a far cry from the modern all singing all dancing mobile phones that everyone carries round today.
It was only one stage further from lighting a Beacon on the top of the nearest hill. If you wanted to make a call you picked up the receiver and this rang the exchange and the first time a polite voice said number please and with a bit of luck you got through to the person you wanted.
If you wanted to make a number of calls it was advisable to inform the operator to see if it was convenient at that time? If it happened to be meal times after the first polite answer, the next would be a short hello, and the next one more of a rather short "what do you want now?" next time you got a very sharp "not you again?" It was very entertaining to see the reaction of someone from the city when they used our country phone. If they started rattling the plate under the handset all hell was let loose at the exchange with a very rough "alright I'm coming what’s all the hurry?" and service was very abrupt for the next week or so.
It was a good job we didn’t have T.V. then calls would have had to have been made by appointment only. I wouldn’t say they listened in but it was funny how the old phones made heavy breathing noises during calls and if you happen to mention it to the person you called you heard a small click and the noise stopped.
On the good side if they were in a good mood they could tell you all the latest news about who had died, had a baby or gone to hospital. And any other bits of good news that was going round. As you can imagine night time calls where a totally different experience as you had to wake them from their beauty sleep. If it was a call out to the Vet for a bad calving case George the Vet would say when he arrived you upset the silly old B. well and truly phoning at this time of night, but at least George would have a drop of Scotch before he left.
HAY BALING
You may wonder what Hay Baling had to do with telephones? After we moved from loose hay the first stage was to use the stationary balers that went with the threshing machines and a hay sweep mounted on the front of a tractor. This consisted of about ten long wooden spikes mounted on a frame attached to the front axle of the Standard Fordson. The spikes were like the lances the Knights of Old used in the ancient jousts and worked very well if all your fields were like a bowling green but with good old Cheshire butts and reames you snapped them off like cocktail sticks. They didn’t bend like the modern loader tines you see with chronic arthritis on loaders today.
We then moved to the pick-up baler and for a number of years employed a contractor with a Jones Lion pick-up baler. This was the next step from a stationary baler and made large bales not much smaller than the old balers and if the hay was not really dry they were very heavy so you needed a loader or elevator to load and unload them.
In order to obtain the services of the contractor you had to use the phone and as he promised to be in about half a dozen places at the same time it paid to get in early. This usually happened when he was milking his cows in the morning so when you went through the actions of phoning him someone had to go and take the message to him and bring back the reply. He had quite a large family and while this was taking place a little voice would come on and say you don’t know who this is do you? And before you could answer it would say ta ta and replace the receiver and you had to start all over again.
The Jones Lion was quite a large and heavy machine and needed a big tractor to drive it. The contractor had an American Tractor with two sets of cylinder heads with about an inch space between them. During harvest this used to fill with hay seeds and dust and about once a fortnight would get hot and burst in to flames. This caused a bit of entertainment for a while but with the help of a bottle of pop you could put the fire out after it had cleaned it out and all was well. Happy Days for contractors, there were not many about then and their machines would only work at a slow pace so if you wanted good service you made sure you paid his bill sharpish so he was there next time.
Some bright seeds salesman had the bright idea to plant Cocksfoot Grass in a reseed on our heavy land saying the roots would go down and help break up the clay and we fell for this one and planted eighteen acres. It grew to about five feet tall and the day after we cut it started and rained for three weeks the swaths were so thick the odd thistle in it grew straight up out of them. This coincided with us buying the first second hand pick up baler it was a real Yellow peril a Salopian the most diabolical machine that ever was made and to drive it we had the Old Galloping Major tractor The Ford E27 N The F. Model and if you ask what the F stands for you have never driven one and we had three of them.
These tractors did not have a live power drive and the baler did not like a heavy crop of hay, so trying to bale this lot was like patting your head with one hand and rubbing your stomach with the other while riding a one wheel bike. We ended up with one man driving the tractor about six yards forward then knocking it out of gear, one feeding the hay into the baler and one stacking the bales behind the baler.
Then having to stop the baler to put the tractor back in gear and start all over again, the cocks foot hay was more suited to thatching and nothing would eat it, I bet there is still the odd bale lurking some where up the lofts.
One day I had gone to Chester Auction with dad and Knutsford Motors had put a Galloping Major in the bargain basement to get rid of a trade in. A crowd gathered round as Billy Williams came to sell it - the company had offered to deliver it within reasonable distance. Then some bright spark said start it up and the water pump had worn out on it and it showered everybody within five yards of each side of it and they soon lost interest and walked away.
I said to the Boss buy it the engine sounds good and it only needs a water pump kit, he winked at his old mate Billy and it was knocked down to him for £28. A walk down Frodsham St to Chas. Jones yard and about £3 for a water pump kit we had another galloper in the stud. These tractors didn’t like standing ticking over for long and used to oil up a plug and you were everlasting cleaning and changing plugs, one day soon after I left school we were mucking out loose boxes with two muck spreaders and gallopers and being the lad of the outfit they let me spread the muck. I got into the field at the end of the lane when the tractor developed chronic indigestion and started to rattle so I stopped the engine, found out it wasn’t short of oil or water and decided to start it up again. It revved up slightly gave a bit of a shudder and one piston shot through the bottom of the sump and into the ground. I picked up the piston and walked back up to the farm to be asked where was the tractor and spreader? I replied the tractor was only going on three cylinders, to be greeted with the so and so is always going on three cylinders why didn’t you drive it back?. So I handed them the piston and said I think this had some thing to do with it.
Do you often wonder why we silly old B,s go miles to see these old machines and unlike me the new owners love their old Gallopers. The ones with a P6 Diesel engine were good on threshing machines but that was due to the engine not the heap it was in. They really were the most useless thing on four wheels.
The baler was years before its time I am sure it had a built in computer programme to prevent it wearing itself out every other day it would bale the needles or refuse to tie knots. On one such occasion we were baling the top of the front field right in front of the front door and had just gone past with the baler dropping loose wads of hay everywhere with dad watching from the front hall. He decided to ring Burgess Wrexham who we had bought it from and told the man it has just gone past the front door like an old cow S......g and now there are three of them praying round it - we were kneeling down trying to fix the knotters.
After one needle baling session I had gone to the factory at Prees for spares and across the road a man was baling hay with a new little New Holland baler. We watched it for a time then the man in the stores said go home and buy one like that, the thing you have got will never work it was designed by a so and so mad man, a glowing recommendation I never knew the inventor but he was right about the baler. When it tied a bale a block of steel about an inch thick and six inches long went into the bale chamber behind the ram and the connecting rod was spring loaded so the feed to the baler stopped for one complete revolution while the baler tied then came out again and continued.
We replaced it with a little Massey Baler the sort that was advertised to bale all day with two squirts of a grease gun. We had it new and wore it out, it was first driven by a Fordson Major Diesel one of the best tractors Fords ever made and we had three of them when we said farewell to the F model.
QUIZ ANSWERS ROUND 1 1. One One won one too 2. Richard Brunstrom 3. Jehu 4. 32 5. Pastoral 6. It signifies the hour - 2 p.m. when Charles I was executed. 7. Because if a lead ball was made with a diameter the same as that of the barrel, twelve of these balls would weigh one pound. 8. Boiled dried and smoked flesh of sea slugs (also known as sea cucumbers) - considered a great delicacy in China 9. Matthias 10. Anthony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, Troilus and Cressida, Titus Andronicus ROUND 2 1. 3 2. Hyde Park 3. Because of the speedy flight of the French cavalry 4. Competing in the Tours de France, having won the previous day's section 5. 3.21 miles - 5,655 yards 6. 104. 7. A giant wave for surfers that occurs on Fistral Beach in Newquay once or twice a year. 8. Four for the Gospel makers. Three Three the Rivals, two,Two the Lily white boys, clothed all in Greeno, One and One is all alone and evermore shall be so. 9. Bull's testicles. 10. Made of all the leftover parts of the pig except the oink. It's sort of a gelatinous mass made up of the aforementioned strange pig parts (lips, snout, organs, etc.) plus a bit of cornmeal and ???. This grayish mash is apparently cooked for a while before being poured into brick-sized moulds to solidify! Sliced and fried, it's part of a healthy Pennsylvania breakfast. ROUND 3 1. Donnington Park, Derbyshire 2. By seeping in lemon / lime or other citric acid juice. 3. Isle of Wight 4. Scafell- 978m, Ben Nevis - 1344m Snowdon - 1085m 5. Scylla 6."The Maxim Gun and they have not" 7. A type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. 8. St Jude 9. The world's most poisonous plant. Castor beans contain a poison, called ricin, which works by preventing cells from making proteins. 10. Officially the dullest Geographical square in the UK. This is the most featureless square in the UK with no contours or other map symbols apart from a leg of an electricity pylon. ROUND 4 1. A Skulk 2. Shark Fishing / Deep Sea Fishing 3. Beau Brummel, having been 'cut' by the Prince Regent. 4. Biggles 5. A measure of how hot chillies are 6. The Serpent in the Garden of Eden and Balaam's Ass. 7. Henry Morton Stanley. 8. Pears 9. In order to hang three criminals at once 10. The race was run in a blizzard and his owner and trainer Bernard Bletsoe packed his hooves with butter to prevent the snow balling up in his hooves. ROUND 5 1. Young salmon about to leave for sea 2. Teddy boy's shoes 3. London to Edinburgh 4. Chester 5. The food of the Ancient Greek Gods 6. Beer and Gin 7. Naked, as the competitors performed starkers 8.Queen Elizabeth II bridge 9.Roses 10.The seige of Hafleour (not Agincourt where there was no breach to go into) ROUND 6 1. Mexico 2. Beetroot 3. A Herring 4. Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot 5. Sussex 6. Places Banderillas in the bull's neck during a bullfight 7. A Directory of Church of England clergy 8. A large globular glass bottle 9. Dick Whittington 10. Two: French and History ROUND 7 1. Tarzan 2. Centaur 3.Swan 4. 4 5. The Turkey who lived on the Hill. 6. The Whale 7. Curling 8. Algy (Hon Algernon Lacey) Ginger (Hebblethwaite) and Bertie (Lord Bertie Lissie) 9. Cyclops 10. Calcutta ROUND 8 1. Frans Hals 2. Beechers & Valentines. 3. 'Let the Buyer beware' 4. St Bernard 5. Tom Jones 6. Charles Goodyear 7. A Cruise Missile 8. A sword 9. Grace 10. Mates Condoms Bonus: Like Hitler – he would only have one testicle
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