Kingsclere 9th March 2008

Weren't we lucky with the weather? You could see where the rain had started and stopped on the road to Kingsclere but it held off for the entire time we were there. John was the member of staff absent today but Ian Balding field mastered around his own "patch" with great aplomb. Somehow the full team has not been assembled since the opening meet! A goodly field came out and enjoyed mulled wine and sausage rolls, dispensed by the unmounted Balding family, before the day's sport began. As always, Kingsclere provides great galloping and jumping of a variety of alternative and non-compulsory fences.
The first line went around the farm, including a loop used on the fun ride, where Ian held the field to watch hounds working (and the grace of the hunt staff riding!) and then climbed up the Down to the foot followers vantage spot. There were also several spectators watching the jumping at various points along the way. A line of large tyre jumps was one focus - "Only jump them if you are absolutely sure" said Ian, "they are bigger than they look and usually claim a victim!" But on a good horse, they jump really well. I'm the lucky one! Those less well mounted had a choice of another two different heights here.
The second line went up the first half of the team chase course - a great treat, particularly since the team chase and hunter trial are here in only 5 weeks time. We haven't hunted this line for a couple of seasons. Great hedges and timber (again at three different heights), the latter finding out one combination and the horse came winging past me at the end of the line. Caught after quite a chase, aided by a speeding 4x4, it had had what I call a "proper fall", with turf embedded in its saddle and bridle! Two more 4x4s followed soon after, one driven by the owner, who knew that the horse was heading for home, and the other delivering the rider! Reunited, they finished the day in fine style.
A few elected to miss the third line and hacked back along the public right of way with a good view of proceedings. This is another great line with big hedges and timber fences of the scurry course (smaller alternatives also available). We had hunted it in the reverse direction earlier in the season, but this way you get the spectacular view towards Aldermaston as well as the thrill of jumping big fences at speed.
A short, steep hack downhill brought us to the start of the last line. "Keep to my track" said Ian, "the ground has been harrowed and is cleared of rabbit holes but the holes are bad elsewhere." We are really privileged to have ground prepared to racehorse standard. On tiring horses, staff omitted the far loop and had the rare pleasure of watching our black and tans as they circled back to us. What a grand job they did over ground they had already hunted a couple of hours previously.
Al fresco tea was served in the sun in the lorry park, using a ramp as the serving table. An assortment of make-it-yourself hot drinks, fanta, wine, donuts, brownies and biscuits were happily consumed before the journey home. Why was it that only the staff vehicles got stuck? Penny Bunter had started the rot on arrival and Bryan, Ian's senior gallopman and doer of everything (except running! see IOM report, 2007), had pulled her out of trouble before most of the field appeared. When everyone else had left and Bryan had returned to lambing, yes, all three staff vehicles refused to move! Bryan to the rescue, quickly had us out and returned to his ewes! What would we do without him?