West Ilsley 6th January 2008

Overnight frost and strong sunshine at the meet in the compact driveway and yard of Rowles Farm. With mulled wine (seriously hot!) and Christmas cake, what better way to start the second half of the season? There were a lot of people on foot, enjoying the spectacle and meeting our friendly hounds. One small group of unmounted followers seemed to cover as much ground as we did, appearing part way round most of the lines, as well as at most ends! We moved off through the village and in no time there were cries of "loose horse"! It shot through the field and slowed down once it reached the hounds and my horse, strategically placed broadside across the road! Robin duly caught it and I returned it to a rather sore looking rider. Order restored, we continued to the start of the first line. This gently introduced the field to an increasing height of optional fences with only two compulsory ones. A good collection of children were having a whale of a time! Our faller didn't appear at the end of the line, so after a long wait, Nicky begged a lift back down to the village to persuade her and her companion to come on the second line. Predictably, Nicky hadn't been gone long before the two found their way to join us! The wonders of mobile phones brought Nicky back quickly. The second line was long, forming both line two and three in the first running of this meet two years ago, with some unusual looking fences. Again, we waited a long time at the check for stragglers to catch up. "How can they get so far behind?" asked Robin.

Line three sounded like it was going to be fun when Phoebe's mobile phone rang to deliver the information that Derek, our runner, had got lost! Hounds hunted the line true and so, needless to say, Robin and I got lost too! Strangely, we ended with the major half of the pack at what must have been where Derek finished, but not a sign of the smaller half or the field! We retreated and tried another track but remained two staff and 4 couple of hounds in our own quiet world! Small wonder Derek had got lost! The magic of mobile phones didn't really help now - "Where are you?" "In the woods" "Where in the woods?" When you don't know them, that is not so easy! But Phoebe came to find us and all were reunited! Meantime, the children continued having great fun - what was Miranda doing?

The last line was another long one with hurdles or a smaller rail alternative scattered along its length. At one point there was an embryo hedge, looking rather like an unending dog agility weave line. I don't know how many others jumped it but I aimed at a stick rather than a gap and proved the ultimate skinny training! The day concluded with tea in the village pub.