Rockley 2nd March 2008

How lucky we all are - a perfect day weather-wise and a perfect meet, courtesy of Andrew and Nicky Rickman.

 It was so wonderful to enjoy a glass of port in front of the Manor in such splendid grounds.  Lots turned up. The lines had been changed slightly.  The first line saw us galloping across the field to the top right hand corner over several brush fences, to some cross country schooling fences at the top. We all managed to jump over the  upright in the fence line.  Thank you Andrew for lowering this one!   We then galloped on over a number of smaller brush jumps circling back to the finish of the line and back to the spectators.  The lines all started in the same place.

 The second line started with  an upright and then a very quick turn left.  It did have a faller.  We then moved onto a number of cross country schooling fences, palisades, a coffin and some logs and mushroom jumps in the woods twisting and turning before coming out again to open space and some new logs which all jumped brilliantly.  Robin our brilliant huntsman had to stop and re-do his tack! We had forgotten a breast plate and his numnah first fell off and then his saddle was slipping.  Quickly remounted, he then caught up with the hounds. The final part of the line was a steep downhill which we walked down in our own time. Sensible!

 The final line saw us heading up the hill. A very sleep climb  and then down the other side to  some new jumps. The going was really fabulous and the hounds were running well.  (Thank you Ian, our kennel huntsman). We finished this line  jumping over a variety of schooling fences including a chair, more palisades and logs to finish once more in front of the Manor.

 After a wash down of horses we all then went into the Manor for a delicious lasagne. Thank you.  

 NE