All Your Gossip

Once again he's leading the field, this time at the Olympics in Beijing !

A couple of fun pictures of Senior Master Mr R T Blake, taken on the hound exercise cycle ride Saturday 2nd August.

Taken by Ken Atkinson with a little help from Norman Atkinson.

Please click here to see the pictures.

Having endured horrendous weather for virtually the whole week leading up to the Fun Ride, it was left until the last minute to decide if the ground would be suitably safe enough for the event to take place as scheduled.

A scouting party comprising of Reg hopkins, Ken Atkinson and Chris Maiden set out bravely into the storms on Thursday evening to take a look at the route the Fun Ride would be taking, and after surviving Reg grounding the Range Rover, then breaking the mirror off after hitting a fence, and a close encounter with the whisky bottle in Terry Davis's kitchen, it was agreed that as long as the dry forecast for Friday and Saturday materialized, then the course should be OK, with the going declared as good to soft and soft to soggy in places.

Saturday morning saw a work party of Reg and Ken joined by Kevin Farmer and Dan Pearce make a start on marking the course out and getting everything signposted for hopefully all the entrants to find Woodlands farm with ease. The weather stayed fair and everything was ready for the Sunday where all that was left to do was open all the necessary gates and mark the route through the deer park.

Sunday started badly, when Reg took some pretty poor advice and drove the Range Rover into Hills Woods, only to sink completely after about 50 yards, a rescue took place with the aid of a borrowed tractor from John Troughton.

As the course was opened to the riders, much to the chairman's relief, all went well. For at least 20 minutes anyway !.

The Range Rover once again sprang into action and the problem was soon identified, another (as yet unknown) group also marked a route out, and their signs which had appeared after our course had opened, crossed the end of Longpools Lane and sent our riders the wrong way. Luckily, those who had been diverted soon realised they had gone wrong, backtracked and went in the right direction.

Over 100 horses and riders went round the course, all enjoying glorious sunshine and magnificent views along the way.

When they returned and got themselves booked back in with Laura Harding and Hilary Wooldridge, they were very complimentary on how they had enjoyed the ride, and thanked the BHSC for making the event take place after what had been a terrible week of rain leading up to the weekend.

The final task was for the land to be returned back to nature, with all fences restored, gates secured and signs removed, it is vitally important to put it back as we find it. If we don't we will not be allowed back again !.

Although it was a lot of hard work, it was well worth it as nearly £1500 was taken from the event, which will be added to the already impressive total the BHSC committee and its supporters have raised directly and indirectly for the hunt so far this year.

Given that the event was still in doubt as late as Saturday evening, and fingers were crossed for the good weather, we were very pleased with the turnout we had, and look forward to seeing them again for the next Fun Ride later in the year.

It only remains for us to thank all those who helped on the day, without the volunteers who marshal these events we could not run them safely.

We also wish to thank the farmers and landowners whose ground we crossed on the day, and thank them for their continued support for all the things we try to achieve as the BHSC.

Special thanks go to Terry Davis for the use of his ground as a lorry park and starting area, and to the Berkeley Estate for opening up the deer park for our use.

Sunday 6th July bought the Berkeley Hunt community together during the quiet summer months, for a civilised hunt lunch, held at the beautiful Moore Farm courtesy of the ever generous Watts family.

Guests were greeted by a flute of bucks fizz on arrival, and were given time to mingle and catch up with friends who are sparsely seen during the closed season.

We eventually took our seats amongst our friends, and had opportunity to admire the decor of Chinese lanterns hanging delicately from the rafters, complimented by beautifully crafted table decorations.

Lunch was in the manner of a buffet, of which was prepared by the gastronomical expertise of Gerry Worcester and her team of willing ladies. Selections of cuts of quality cold meats were complimented by a Greek salad and couscous... How sophisticated the Berkeley Hunt of the millennium really are!

Following the summer delight of strawberries and cream, proceeded by coffee, we were given the opportunity to thank all involved with the event, in the usual Berkeley manner of presentation of gifts, and the obligatory round of applause. Paul Malpass took opportunity to specially mention the ongoing generosity of Rollo Clifford MFH and his wife Janie, in the past 18 months over £27,000 has been raised at functions in the Berkeley North Country.

Bob Blake MFH took to the floor to introduce the new team of Hunt Staff, Michael Little, Huntsman, of whom we have got to know the past 2 seasons, in his capacity as Whipper-In and Duncan Hume, First Whipper-In, who we welcome with his wife to the Berkeley country from a career in the household cavalry and time spent in amateur hunt service.

Mr Blake used the floor to present a gift to our new Huntsman from all of his friends in the Berkeley community, an engraved 'Keats' hunting horn was dually presented, calls for Michael to give us all a tune were humorously refused by Michael who quipped "if you want to hear it, you'd better pay your subscriptions!" The laughter roared.

The afternoon ended when we had all finished our wine and caught up with all our friends. Farmer, Subscriber and Supporter alike attended and enjoyed this very pleasant afternoon. Our thanks to all helpers but especially Pip Birch and Paul Malpass.

Two of the Wednesday Hedge hoppers the two girls whom are friends have unluckily both had accidents resulting in both of them breaking there arm in the exact same place and resulting in an operation Jamie Maguire was the first injured riding in the hunt members race at our point to point And I think Melissa Smith done hers Eventing we hope both girls are fit and back to normal in time for the season starting. By Chris Bates