From Master Jane Milan:

A Review of the 2006-7 Season
after the last two meets have been cancelled and a Thank You!

Due to the exceptional weather conditions it is with regret that the Masters have decided  to cancel the last two meets of the season being the Jolly Farmers and Lowbridge Farm.  The amount of rain that has fallen recently has made conditions impossible to continue and we feel that we would all rather quit while we are ahead.  Most of us have sound, fit horses and it could quite possibly not be the case should we continue, not to mention our consideration to our very generous farmers and landowners.

We have had a great season and really lost very few days to the weather.  Hounds have been very ably hunted by Camilla who has done a fantastic job and this season really seems to have got everything together,  for hounds to really stream away and hunt well. She has worked very hard in exercising and keeping the hounds and horses fit,  ready to see the season through.  She has even been known to sacrifice the occasional hunt ball in preparation for a days hunting. Jennie has been huge in implementing that the yard runs like clockwork even if Camillas watch sometimes stops!  Buster has been brilliant and I am sure Bill will have a fight on his hands to get him back.

Behind the scenes Bill and Les have worked tirelessly in fence building – both before and after, country walking, hedge trimming, farmer seeing, tea drinking and pub lunches!  Bill has even been known to run or rather walk the odd line when Adrian was cutting it a bit fine after one of his big nights out.  Les even bought himself a new quad for the job and thought he would be safer driving,  rather than hanging on behind Bill, although I am not so sure judging by some of the pictures.  Talking of pictures, a big thank you to Julian who I think has just as much fun as the rest of us whizzing around the countryside.  He has taken some fab pictures and spent hours editing and sending them to Jo to be posted on the website. 

Where would we be without our Quarry?  Adrian who has walked country every Saturday and run every Sunday has not seemed to get too lost this season.  He has been joined by Michael, Jason and Allie on most Sundays but has occasionally had the odd visitor running too.  I think this has been Michael's 25^th season in running for Bloodhounds and very much hope that we see him for some time to come. They say you are only as old as you feel and I know Mike doesn’t feel that old when po-going at a gig.

This brings us to Tony,  who apart from putting on his days is our very able Field Master giving everyone a good lead and keeping all in order.  Thank you Sandy for keeping Charlie fit and we hope that the stable management lessons continue so that Tony may one day tack up his own horse.  Kieran and Sue have been great this season in helping exercise the hounds, walking country, whipping in and field mastering –thank you.

Grace, despite not being in the best of health this season, has always been on hand with the teapot and to organise tea at the end of the day. We hope that her leg continues to recover and that she is in better health next season – thank you.

We can only have our fun on a Sunday with a combination of all of the hard work of the above people.  We are also deeply indebted to all our fabulous farmers and landowners who let us week after week hunt and cross their country.  Sometimes they come out to see us, sometimes they are holding a gate open while we pass, sometimes they provide us with tea at the end of the day, sometime they even hunt with us, but always they are welcoming and supporting of our sport for which we all say THANK YOU.

As we close  our 2006/07 hunt season I would like to say if you are going knacker your knee skiing, this is the one to have done it on.  I have had a great season jumping wonderful hedges and well built fences following Camilla and the hounds.  Although I have been out of action on horseback for the last few weeks it has still been great to get out and see everybody.  Our foot followers are a cheery bunch and I think have their own party from the ground, although everyone makes the mistake of thinking that someone else knows the way round when if fact the only one who knows for sure is Bill, but he has usually shot off before you get in your car.  I can only describe foot following as very similar to being on a treasure hunt!!

Congratulations this season to Sarah Moorhouse and Les and Audrey Watson who have all been awarded their hunt buttons in recognition of their hard work in contributing their services to the hunt over the years. 

That said – THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED IN WHAT EVER WAY – we hope that you have all had an enjoyable season and look forward to seeing you all fit and ready in September for the 2007/8 season - hopefully it will have stopped raining by then!  

Don’t forget the Hunter Trials (see website for details) and if anyone is up for jump judging or is able to help in any way, please contact me and I will pass your details on to Emma Perrin who will be the Secretary for these events.  We do have a loyal band of supporters organising and running the Hunter Trials but more help is always needed.  So please, feel free to be involved.