HUNTING SEASON OPENED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21465, 6 May 1935, Page 17

HUNTING SEASON OPENED

CHRISTCHURCH CLUB AT AYLESBURY

A GOOD FIELD BUT POOR SPORT

A dictum of Mr Jcrrocks, the Cockney master of fox hounds who blunders ludicrously through the pages of "Handley Cross," was, "Take not out your 'ounds. on a werry windy day." Apparently Mr Jorrocks knew what lie was talking about, for the disappointing day's sport on the opening day of the Christchurch Hunt Club on Saturday, was attributed by members in great part to the rising of a nor'-wester in the afternoon, making it difficult for hounds to own what little scent there was. Warm weather made it a strenuous hunt" both for riders and horses, and the dry ground was held partly responsible for the poor scent by some of the more experienced—with the reservation that it is impossible to say just what makes a bad scent or a good scent. The meet was at the club's kennels at Aylesbury, at 11 a.m. A field of 'about 20 riders assembled, and great satisfaction was expressed by older members with the number of young riders present; the younger people made up very nearly half of the field. The weather was perfect for the meet. There was scarcely a cloud overhead and the miles of plain with their failpromise of good hunting stretched westward to the mountains and castward into, a blue distance. Horses stood about in the stable yard and the riders chatted, waiting for hounds to appear. Not quite enough of autumn in the warm air. perhaps, to suggest the hunt at its best, on winter days when the frosty tang makes everyone keen to be up and away; but the day was fine, which was thought sufficient j good -fortune for th/> nnening meet.

Setting Out Hounds came in from the kennels, crowding round the huntsman's horse, jostling each other, some of them scattering to find a friend in the small gathering in the yard. But the order, "pack up," was given, emphasised with the flick of the huntsman's whip and soon the pack was moving in an orderly manner to the road, sterns waving and noses snuffing the scents or turf and hedge with the satisfaction that only dogs know. Moving down the road the field had the old grace of a sport which has not changed Us manners and customs in centuries —though Mr Jorrocks would no doubt have been scornful of those who "rode to 'ounds" in motor-cars. From the road tire field turned into an open paddock where hounds scattered, noses to the ground, searching for the scent of the last hare to pass that way. Hares were scarce. For more than an hour hounds explored this paddock, and that while the field walked here anc" there anxiously waiting for the first yelp which might mean a good scent and a steady run over plough anil grass, hedges and ditches. It was poor sport, but there was still the expectation of hunting before the day war, out. A Run and a Cheek Towards 1 o'clock hounds found a hare; but after a short run the hare got 'away into Stewart's plantation, stopping the run, and spoiling the first chance of v, kill. Hounds were brought back to Fechney's farm. Near the farm another hare was found, but hounds had difficulty in owning the scent, as the nor'-wester was rising, making the scent much harder. By this time it was getting late. Several more hares were found, and still the scent was ■very poor over the dry country, and after a number of short runs nounds were packed up to come home. Back at, the kennels the reluctant hounds were shut up again while the riders watered their mounts. Then there was nothing left but afternoon tea and conversation about the day's sport—and the sport of other days. Even a poor hunt is worth a good deal of conversation, for hunting, to those who know it, has infinite variety and interest. " 'Untin,' my dearly beloved 'carers," said Mr Jorrocks, "is the sport of kings, the himage of war without, its guilt and less than 25 per cent, of its danger."