Kingsclere 16th Dec 2007

      You might have been forgiven for not coming out in the frost but experience has proved that this old turf in racehorse land rides almost perfectly what ever the conditions. A pleasingly large and eclectic field turned out (including two ponies masquerading as Christmas trees) on what turned into a gloriously sunny day, to experience the Kingsclere speciality of fences with frosted tops!

It was wonderful to see Ian Balding in the saddle again, field mastering for the first two lines and leading the lesser jumpers for the last two. It exemplifies his courage that, less than a year after breaking his neck, he was jumping the same horse over the same fence. Typical of Ian, Robin and I were strictly instructed not to jump the hedge on the “hack” between lines three and four only to hold up on the other side and watch Ian lead the field over it! Happy days!! Another connection with the recent past was the presence of Libby Barker, now dispensing sausages at the meet.

There were plenty of empty saddles throughout the day, starting before we had even reached the first line! Hounds were keener than ever to be off and broke immediately we were through the first gateway. But order was restored and it was copybook stuff putting them on the line. Up old turf, through the woods and up the Phoenix Reach all weather - with a crispy topping! The second line was circular and ended at the same place as the first, so a few elected to stand and watch proceedings. Across the road for the best jumping, starting up the scurry course. This became something of a cavalry charge, with some strong-pulling pointers passing John (now field mastering), me, Robin and the back-marker hounds! “Hold hard! Circle to the right.”- Well, I wouldn’t have wanted to try it on the left to right downward slope, but somehow the pointers fell back! This was great viewing for the many foot followers – there seemed to be almost more cars than horses! The fourth line came down the Down, which rode surprisingly well, and around an optional loop which had the effect of Ian, leading those not jumping big straw bales, ending the line way before John, leading those who did! On instruction from The Governor, we started hacking hounds back to the lorry park before most of the field had finished the line.  Yes, it was cold! But what better way to spend a winter’s afternoon than galloping with tears in your eyes, dew drops on your nose and the view of our black and tans between a pair of sharply pricked ears?