Moving off to Opening Meet in the village are Chris Ryan, MFH (at left) and huntsman Raymond O’Halloran, leading staff, hounds, and a select few. Joanna Turvey (center) wears the colors of the South Notts Foxhounds (UK). / Catherine Power photo
Recorded Scarteen history only goes back to the early seventeen hundreds, so we don’t know exactly how long the opening meet has been held in Knocklong, Ireland. But through those centuries that have been recorded, the venue has remained an unbroken tradition.
Part and parcel of that tradition is to have hounds and followers (both foot and mounted) blessed for the coming season. This ecclesiastical duty falls to the local padre who came to the kennels with bell, book and candle to invoke Divine support. No doubt our young huntsman welcomed this as any huntsman would. However, a huntsman in his first season particularly needs a bit luck and a tail wind to see him through.
The young huntsman in question is Raymond O’Halloran, born within earshot of the kennels, but who has learned his trade with the South Nott’s Hunt in the UK. He went over as a raw apprentice to learn the secrets and finer points of venery, but he was fortunate in that his tutor was Dick Chapman, then huntsman. He has spent six seasons in Nottinghamshire—three of them as huntsman—but it has always been his ambition to hunt the pack he grew up with. So when the call came from Master Chris Ryan, he jumped at the challenge.
As in most things in life it was something of a joint decision, as his partner, Joanna Turvey, a mad keen hunting girl who was secretary of South Nott’s supporters club is very much part of the team. They both looked the part this day, he on a warmblood brought with him from UK but who has taken to Irish conditions like a native, Joanna (sporting a South Nott’s blue collar) on a very smart grey that had come out of the O’Halloran yard, so guaranteed to be a jumper.
The Scarteen Black and Tans had been hunted for the previous three seasons by Mark Ollard who had previously hunted the Island Foxhounds (IR). He gave sterling service to Scarteen and showed great sport during his tenure. As I write, news has just come to hand that Mark has taken over as huntsman to the Westmeath Foxhounds (IR). This can only be good news as the world of hunting can ill-afford the loss of a talent such as his.
A small but select band hacked on from the Kennels’ towards the small but historic village of Knocklong, where a large and enthusiastic following eagerly awaited their arrival. Opening meets are great gathering points, and it was wonderful to see many retired foxhunters now out as keen foot followers. The crowd included former chairman John Harold-Barry and his wife Dinky, both formidable cross-country riders in their day. Also on hand was Arthur Finnan who was Tony Ryan’s stud manager for many years. Hunt staff looked a picture beside the Hill bar as refreshments were dispensed and a few words of welcome from Chris Ryan on his spectacular grey “Sprite.” Whippers-in this day were Frisk Jones and Jason Furlong, both amateur but more than professional in performance.
Amateur whipper-in Jason Furlong flies off the double bank. / Catherine Power photo
Formalities were kept to a minimum and hounds moved off to the first draw at Rory and Brid McCarthy’s near the Old Creamery farm, now a semi-mature plantation. While hounds briefly opened it turned out to an outburst of early morning exuberance, so they moved on to draw John Moloney’s farm at the hill of Knocklong. John, who only recently stepped down as manager of Galway Racecourse, has returned home to Knocklong as his son Michael has replaced him in management of the iconic track. The Moloney’s have been farming, hunting, and breeding bloodstock in Knocklong almost as long as the Scarteen’s have been hunting.
The hill did not disappoint. It held a brace, and hounds quickly settled on the more outgoing of the pair who took them on a quick circle of the hill before making for Mitchelstowndown and the creamery plantation. Our pilot was headed as he approached the plantation, however, and swung right, finding a welcoming shore near the Gaelic Athletic Association’s playing field.
The day was still young and the best of the country had yet to be been touched. Huntsman O’Halloran took hounds on towards Grange which is next to Scarteen itself. Michael Coffee’s semi-mature plantation is always looked on as a sure find, and it did not disappoint. Hounds didn’t open immediately, but when they did the Scarteen orchestra was at its best. Our pilot quickly realised that remaining in the plantation carried a huge health risk, and young Jay Riordan, on point, spotted him slipping away towards Scarteen proper. Young Jay, a fresher at the University of Limerick this year, follows Mark Twain’s principle of not letting college interfere with his education. (UL arranges lectures to accommodate the Scarteen fixture card, Tuesday’s being a study day!)
Swinging left-handed the fox looked as if it was heading for the railway, but fortunately turned due south just short of the line and took hounds and the field on a guided tour of Scarteen. This country always took a bit of jumping, but last season a fleet of JCB excavators were unleashed to rebuild the country, resulting in banks of Olympic proportions.
Almost dead centre in the farm is the titanic double onto the farm passage. A good group of foot followers had gathered to see what might ensue and they were not to be disappointed.
Chris Ryan, MFH jumps a big double bank. / Catherine Power photo
While hunt staff stayed with hounds to the left, the field, or at least the thrusters amongst them, came bank-wards. Chris, on the grey Sprite, came at a gallop that would not have been found wanting in a members race and, never breaking his stride, made it look easy. Chris was followed, though not at the same speed, by Field Master Hughie Ryan. Val O’Connell, the senior course inspector and stipendiary steward on his good grey got there nicely. However, from then on things started to go downhill. John Gleeson appeared to lose momentum on his approach, and perhaps because he had missed the hound blessing earlier decided to genuflect reverently, not once but three times, on attaining the upper reaches of the bank. It looked as if an in-voluntary dismount was imminent, but the jockey managed to stay in the plate and continue. A lesser jockey would have succumbed, but John learned his trade as the late PP Hogan’s last apprentice, and it shows.
Farrier Tim O’Connell ended up in the ditch, but he was on a young horse. His better half, Adrienne, gallantly had a go but got separated from her horse (but not her new Patey) on the summit. Young Rory O’Donnell on his cracking grey pony showed up the adults as he shot up the bank as if it was a bridle path! Ken Purcell had numerous adventures before getting there, as had a German visitor who later compared it to the retreat from Leningrad!
Young Rory O’Donnell skims across the big double as if it were just a bridle path. / Catherine Power photo
All the while, hounds were running towards Lackelly before swinging back over the county boundary towards Scarteen. Just shy of Scarteen our pilot decided enough was enough and found a welcoming shore under the road and was given best.
Hounds came to draw the Spinney at the top of Scarteen near the kennels. For a while it looked as if it might be blank but Journal 2015 (by Jostle) was not to be denied. He concentrated on a particularly forbidding thicket and sure enough out popped a fine dog fox who ran for the Knockcarron road through Sonya Purcell’s farm with some smashing jumping. Sonya was unavoidably absent on Irish Masters of Foxhounds duty where she serves as general secretary.
Hounds crossed into Pat Casey’s before running on into Pat Halpin’s, who runs a huge dairy operation. It was not to last, however, with scent petering out. Hounds drew on through Ballykisteen, but with shadows lengthening and a much diminished field, huntsman blew for home. If this is a portent of things to come, horses will need to be fit!
Posted November 27, 2017
This article recently appeared in The Irish Field and is republished with permission.