As pretty much every other report has commented on the weather it would be odd if this one did not! Some set off for the meet in or through thick fog with a hint of the sun to come. Any fears that we might be "fogged off" were dispelled at the meet where the sun shone on the righteous. It probably shone on some other folk as well but that's just the way these things go.
Once again a huge thank you to our host who provided a super meet and a venue of which many are particular fond. It is a meet which draws old friends and at which one absence in particular is lamented. David was a true sporting man and many of us quietly toasted his memory and felt that if he was looking down on us he was been delighted to see such a gathering of old friends and new.
There was a certain amount of drama before horses had even been unboxed but no harm was done and a large mounted field set off in good heart after the Master of the day had made a rousing address which included thanks to all those who, in many different ways, had supported the East Kent Hunt with West Street through the season.
The country around this meet is well-populated with deer which despite all care means that trails can all too easily give hounds the chance to riot and give rise to shouts of "'Ware haunch." Particularly pleasing, and it is a credit to those who have put in the hours, was the way in which hounds were steady and responsive to the huntsman's command.
Hunt jumps provided opportunities for the mounted field to provide a display of elegant jumping - some took those opportunities and some did not! It will be left to the reader's imagination to interpret that ambiguity. Photographs may be shared privately with one or two to remove all doubt.
All in all a terrific day so a big thank you to all who made it possible.
The Stern
A bumper crop today!
- Who might have regretted the phrase "Just gun it and you'll get in"?
- Who was a bit of a "stick in the mud"?
- Who hypothesised that the sheep hurdles around the drinks were not so much to keep hounds away as one supporter in particular?
- Who joined the Tumblers' Club . . . from a quad bike?
- Which sisters only appeared together in the viewfinder when one had just lit up?
- Who modelled the latest in lycra hunting kit?
- Who "photo-bombed" a family portrait?
- Which hound seemed very interested in the latest model of the convertible Mini?
- Who nearly tested the efficacy of anti-tank blocks with their trailer?
And finally, an eavesdropping:
"These are yours, I think," said the kind lady returning the gloves, hat and baccy that had been left at Wednesday's meet
"Oh brilliant, thank you. I've looked everywhere for those, couldn't find 'em and couldn't for the life of me remember what I had done with them. I wasn't sure whether it was incipient senility or the drink," responded the grateful recipient.
"Oh don't worry - in your case we can be sure that it was the drink," added an elder statesman of the hunt reassuringly.
Photographs
The Gather was under strength today as the talented half was lambing but they were joined by a guest photographer, Matilda, whose work we hope will appear here soon.
As ever these and many more may be found at The Gather's galleries - click
HERE to see the day's images.
The excellent Combat Moose Photography was also in attendance - so a visit to her website is also in order -
HERE
