Jan

Tipp Hunting Christmas

Hunting last week was still on the quiet side with weather conditions still making conditions very difficult. Tipperary Foxhounds managed just three days, Cashel on Wednesday, Kilcooley on Thursday and Fethard on Friday. Cashel proved a day of atrocious weather and if that was not bad enough, no fox, a blank day in driving, sleety rain.
On Thursday at Kilcooley, due to difficult travelling conditions there was a smaller field than usual at the Children’s meet. The junior and juvenile members did, however, enjoy a good afternoon’s fun around the estate with some of the more daring trying the ability of their mounts over the permanent cross-country course fences.
The weather on Friday 1st January was somewhat better but far from ideal. Due to heavy overnight frost, moving-off time was put back one hour to 12 noon. First draw at Rathvin provided a fox from the Fort that ran back over the Ballybough Road to Daly Fuels where he crossed the road at the Railway Bridge and the river to Monroe where they lost him. From the back of the gallops at Rathvin they hunted down to the Old Railway line. At Kelly’s stables the fox did a u-turn, ran back to a small pit near the avenue and to ground. Out of the main covert at Rocklow they hunted towards Powers Wood and to ground at Crehane’s Grove. The Fir Trees at Black’s Bridge proved blank. From Ballyvaden Fort a fox ran a small circle back to the fort and to ground. Finding in Powers Wood following good hound work in the covert at the Ballyvaden end. After a short, sharp run he got to ground in O’Connor’s.
Due to the last start it was now 3.15pm and it was decided not to draw Ardsallagh. A very wise decision, in hindsight, as the temperature was dropping sharply and the high ground by the Coolmoyne Road was even then rock hard. On the comparatively short runs the field of fifty-five riders enjoyed plenty of jumping and some good gallops throughout a busy day.

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