ASHBURTON COUNTY HUNT CLUB

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2189, 2 August 1889, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY HUNT CLUB

The hounds met at Mr John o'Grady'fl on | Wednesday, 24ihjuly ; about 20 equestrians were present. The weather was most favorable, and scent held remarkably well. The first run lasted about 35 minutes and puss was killed after a good hunting run of about four and a half miles over rough wire country. Several bare wire fences, some of them doubles, were encountered, causing several spills, but ; fortunately no one was hurt. The second run was certainly one of the best this year. Finding on Messrs Capon Bros, property puss took a circular course, and a check occurred after about two miles had been covered, Here she was apparently lost, but another hare was seen making away to where the last one was found and a strong one she proved, for 55 minutes elapsed before she was k ; lied, and the distance . covered rriust have been fully., seven miles of splendid country with the exception qf a •ew' bare wire fences. Th's brought a really splendid afternoon's sport to a close. The hounds met at Tiiwald Hotel on Wednesday, 31st July, to wind up the season," but it was evident by the number of equestrians present numbering, fully 60 to 70, besides a number of vehicles well filled that the interest m the sport is still alive. The hounds threw rff on Mr George Grice's property, a short distance up the Laghmor road. Puss : was immediately found but was lost m the next paddock m some plough, owing to the crowd being m too great a hurry. The next hare was scut away on Mr McLean's property, and took the field at a merry pace over two large paddocks; when the hounds had to be whipped off near the railway line, this part of < the property being alive with hares. The next j paddock beaten was also full of hares, and the pack changed more than once, but at last managed to single one oat which they k'lled a'ter a run of some 30 ' nvniites on the road leading to Winslow, much to the delight of the numerous equestrians handy at the., time. Whilst going along the road to another part of the property a hare jumped np and ran towards the hounds, but m trying to get through a thick gorse fence fell back and was .hopped before she could get tip, Another couple of runs were obtained with some splendid fenc'ng, but hares, however, were by for too numerous for good sport. This concluded the season of 1889, which m point of kills far exceeds any previous season, averag* i ing exactly one kill for each meet. Jn the early part of the season some very bad scenting days fell to the lot of the club.