HUNTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18538, 8 April 1930, Page 3

HUNTING

FIRST MEET OF SEASON. A swelteringly hot day. going made brick hard by a long succession of rainless weeks, and a shortage of grass to carry scent, were anything but ideal conditions that prevailed for the opening meet of the South Canterbury Hunt at “The Kennels” on Saturday. But, as though to confound all pessimists, the hunting was surprisingly good, in fact if made to order it could not have been more suitable for green horses on hard going. Short sharp bursts over good easy fences alternated with spells of interesting hound work and put everyone in a good humour, and many followers are looking forward keenly to the time when conditions will allow of real hunting. The condition of che hounds was a credit to the huntsman as they stood up to their gruelling work in the blazing sunshine in fine style. Hounds moved off to draw a paddock of Mr Cartwright’s shortly after eleven but for some little time were unable to put up a hare and not until a ploughed field was tried was . their persistance rewarded. With only a short break on an eager pack, puss put on full steam and bore left-handed towards the road. Here she nearly ran Into trouble, when she doubled back on her tracks, but she gained on her pursuers in a straight run through some turnips and stubble, and then lay up close in a rushy hollow. Hounds overran here, and had to be cast back to push her out and over the road in a big left-handed circle, round Mr

O’Brien’s homestead and back to the 1 self-same hollow. It was snug lying here, and hounds were almost on top of her before she moved. This time she made to the right and on the bare flat scent failed and puss made her escape. Hounds were being trotted back to ! more likely-looking country when a hare obligingly got up in front of them, and employing every dodge known to a wily old hare she kept hounds busy for the rest of the morning, running in short circles, lying ' up suddenly when hounds were in fall , cry, doubling back along gorse fences, and finally, when almost done, lying ■ close in a straw stack while hounds went after a fresh hare, she tested ! hounds and huntsmen to the utmost, and really deserved a better fate than to get up right in front of the tired returning pack. Hounds, however, thoroughly deserved their kill. The afternoon was uneventful, scent failing completely. The country usee* v as that of Messrs Cartwright, James, Burke, Breen, Hartr.ess, Cadwallader and O’Brien. Those out included—The Master (Mr C. L. Orbell) on Tycho and Camoflage, the Huntsman (J. Shaw) on Peter; Whip (W. Hicks) on Cupid; Mrs Ford on Kitty Lane, Misses B. Harper on Capt. Murphy, J. Jones on Kerry, E. Smart on Kama, R. Tripp on Waikama, M. Christie on Khyber, R. Elworthy on Waihao, M. Smith on Midget, M. Rolleston on Mustang, Jackson on Blue Ray, M. Murphy on Sure foot, E. Jones on M. Taylor on Ma Rosa, Lord Waleron on Nelly. ?.lessrs A. Elworthy on Grafton, B. Thomas on Picador, B. O’Rorke on Abdul, A. Trilford on Te Heanue, E. J. Burns on Rangatahi, D. McLeod on Opuha, H. Elworthy on Royalty, J. Mahoney on Camoflage, R. T. Morris on Davey, H.

Elworthy on Bobette, R. Eassett on Wild Deer, R. Murphy on Time Will Tell, R. Burdon on Royalty; S. Talbot on Peterette, S. Shaw on Moscow, G. Adams on Red Sol, W. Day on Ivey, and L. Hunt on Gondola.