New Years Day
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.
Hunting Seminar
Hunting Seminar – An Industry and Sport under Threat
at Tattersalls Ireland, Ratoath, Co. Meath on Sunday, 6th December, at 2.30 pm.
Hunt members, hunt staff and hunt officials are invited to attend.
For further information, please contact:
James Phelan 087 630 4240, or Joe Griffin 087 295 3276
or e-mail: imfhapro@gmail.com
“The Kilmoganny Foxhounds are running a Sponsored Cross Country Ride on
Friday 1st of January 2010. The Sponsored Cross Country Ride will commence
at 12:30pm in Scogh, Co. Tipperary. which is located just outside
Carrick-On-Suir. The Cross Country Ride will be over a new and exciting
course of approx 10 miles with plenty of jumping to suits all levels. Please
pass this on to anyone that you might think would be interested in a fun day
out on New Years Day. Adults 40 euro, children 30 euro. For more information
contact 0862520301 or 0868248451. If you require any sponsorship cards
please email gfrisby@roadplan.ie “
opening meet
Hunting News – Tipperary – http://fethard.com/mainpages/cnews.html
A very large crowd of well-wishers and supporters turned out for the opening meet of Tipperary Foxhounds in Fethard on the Bank Holiday Monday. Following the dispensing of the traditional ‘Stirrup Cup’ by Annette and her staff, Huntsman Derry Donegan, with whipper-in Sam Staniland, led off the field from McCarthy’s Orchard.
Ninety-four mounted followers were tallied leaving for Rocklow. Joined by a few late-comers on the Rocklow Road the field totalled just over one-hundred at the first draw. A beautiful day weather-wise provided a typical opening meet day hunting. Short, sharp runs provided a much needed early season pipe-opener for horses and riders. First fox from Rocklow ran down through McCarthy’s bog, crossed the Fethard / Moyglass road and to ground just behind Daly’s fuel depot.
Finding again in Rocklow they ran down again across the Moyglass road and to ground at Ballybough. Rathvin was blank. A small circle was had from Murdoch’s fort, Power’s wood but proved blank. Moving to Ardsallagh they found at the lodge. Hunting around the covert they ran towards the Coolmoyne ball alley .
From Knockgraffon, on Wednesday 28th October, foxes were none too plentiful and hard to find. First draw, at Mr Joe Owens, did hold a brace. First one, however, quickly got to ground, the second being lost after a short circle. Knockgraffon Moate, The sandpit and River Suir bank covert all proved blank as, most surprisingly, did Dr. McCarthy’s plantation. Moving on to Mr Michael Kelly’s hounds found here. After a short circle of the kale they marked to ground in a hedgerow. Here, unfortunately, as huntsman, Derry Donegan, having dismounted received a severe kick from his horse. Whipper-in, Sam Staniland, carried the horn for the rest of the day which finished with a fast twenty-five minutes from close to the New Inn by-pass motorway to beyond Rosemary Clifford’s.
Sam again carried the horn at the children’s meet at Grove. The huge turn-out of kids of all ages enjoyed the afternoons hunting around the estate. Another large field turned out at Lisronagh on Saturday. From Quinlan’s hounds ran to the Baptistgrange road, crossed briefly into Lakefield, re-crossed the road and crossed, what is known to generations of the travelling community as, the ‘green road to the old railway line’ at Rathcanty. They finished a very good day with two circles from Ballyhohan, and around Orchardstown marking to ground on both occasions. Derry, we are glad to report, is making good progress from the two broken ribs he suffered in the unfortunate mishap. He will be out of action for a few weeks. In the meantime Sam is doing an excellent job.
