HOUNDS MEET AT ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20907, 14 July 1933, Page 14

HOUNDS MEET AT ASHBURTON.

CHRISTCHURCH HUNT CLUB.

A FINE DAY'S SPORT

The final meet of the 1933 hunting season drew a large following of enthusiasts yesterday, when the Christchurch hounds met at Stringfellow's Corner, Ashburton. Always a popular meet with the followers, the county lived up to its reputation of producing an excellent.hunt. . , The wind was cold from the south, but later in the day the sun came out and as tfie ground warmed the scent improved wonderfully, and hounds gave a large field an excellent run over a wide circuit of cbuntry, A start was made in Mr T. Lemon's cohier paddock, and three got. up in front of the pack almost immediately. Luckily they split and, taking a cast to the left, the huntsman swung his pack into the line oi, a very active hare. Skirting Mr Lemon's fence, the field was piloted in a circle back past Mr Withell's outbuildings and covered the ground in a great gallop right to the Mitcham road. Across they went into Mr Boag's property without a check, and down to the side of the pine plantation at a rattling pace. Honnds at Fault. Hounds were at fault for a moment on reaching the large water-race, but three or four of the old brigade soon found the line to the right and led the young entry back to the Winchmore road. The pace was fast and the number of young followers going straight was a fine sight. Spills were numerous, but nobody minded, and when the horse was caught and mud brushed off, away they went, straining every, muscle to catch the flying pack. Crossing on to the farm of Mr H. Nicholas, the hare turned towards the Winchmore school and hounds were running to view across a paddock of plough. Down the road they went and then back into Nicholas's, across some green oats, and along the edge of a paddock of turnips. Two unjumpable wire fences with ditches on either side made a short detour necessary, and thus valuable minutes were lost. By the time the field caught up again the hounds had lost the quarry in a large patch of gorse and scrub, and one of the fastest and best runs of the season was brought to a close. The day had been extremely strenuous for both horses and riders. Straight Riding: Followers. The most pleasing feature of the day's sport was the exceptionally large number of followers who jumped everything they came to and gave a clear indication that if more hunting could be held in the county it would not be long before Ashburton had earned a name for its large number of straight goers.

The deputy-master, Mr A. J. Nicoll, was in charge of the, field. Messrs J. H. Grigg and A. N. Grigg were the whips. The hunting season will conclude with a point-to-point meeting at Wakanui to-morrow.