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Mock Hunt at Warren Barn Farm - 25th September 2011
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So it had finally arrived, our first mock hunt of the season and what a superb start it was. Greeted on arrival with a stirrup cup, the scene was set for a great day! 
With a 60 horse strong field we set off towards Nore Hill at the top of Warren Barn farm where the view was as always outstanding, our hounds (Geminnie and Debbie Cunningham, Annette Murphy, Lionel Rummell, Grace findlater and Frankie Hacket), followed by our hunts woman Michala Blackburn flushed our fox (Louise Squire) out and the chase was on!
As we came over the second set of jumps one of our hounds (Geminnie Cunningham) took an unfortunate fall but was soon remounted safe and well.
After stopping for a sip from our hipflasks, we were off again towards our first hedge of the day, for those who chose to jump (as all jumps are optional) cleared it easily led by our field master; Jean Bywater. Then for our first gallop across the top of Warren Barn. By this time, the horses and riders were feeling the heat from the baking September sun! We cooled off down the track on the way back to Warren Barn where we checked and gathered ourselves before the steep climb up the Bowl, which sorted the men from the boys. We then went on towards one of our bigger hedges where fox, hounds, masters and few field put on a show for the spectators,which we seemed to have a lot of at our opening meet. We then proceeded down into the valley, where we jumped the barrels and tyres, which some of the field took at a fair lick and for everyone's favroite blast up Green Hill. We took advantage of our not so fizzy horses to catch our breaths and wet our whistles. Our tricky fox had slipped away by this point leaving the hounds to seek her out further along the valley. She then took advantage of Warren Barn's Cross Country course and led the field safely over the coffin and the drop hedge. 
Our sneaky fox evaded our hounds yet again for quite some time and took Michala and her hounds on a merry dance. Eventually our hounds closed in for the kill successfully concluding a highly enjoyable first meet of the hunting season. It was great to see so many faces, old and new, gaining so much pleasure and experience, from such a traditional past time in a sociable and friendly environment. A very special thank you to Claire from Attic Photographic for taking amazing photographs again on the day and for allowing us to use these two. Looking forwards to seeing you all at our next meet on 27th November at Kennel Farm. Tally Ho until then.
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Mock Hunt at Church Farm - 20th Feb 2011
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All who were planning to attend our Church Farm Mock Hunt on Sunday, 20th February, no doubt watched the lowering skies on Saturday with a sense of trepidation and worried phone calls were exchanged. But hunting is a winter sport and, having checked carefully with the farmers who very kindly allow us run our mock hunts over their land, we were given the go ahead and in the event we had a very good turnout at the meet.
Under grey skies and some fog from time to time we met at Church Farm and enjoyed a warming stirrup cup before Nick Fuller, our Field Master for the day, talked us through the day ahead. Many congratulations to Clemm Porter and Maddie Porter who both turned out in style and won the best turned out. The standard of turnout was high amongst all followers (at this point yours truly would like to thank Mike Potts for kindly showing me how to tie a stock properly). In addition to our Field Master, our Masters on the day consisted of Jean Bywater, Chris London and Mike Potts.
Our Chairman and Huntsman, Michala Blackburn, rounded up our ‘hounds’ for the day and set off in pursuit of our ‘fox’, the lightning fast Louise Squire. We set off at a trot in the direction of Marden Park and bore right over our first jump, a post and rail fence. So far so good and the whole field appeared to manage that without difficulty. Unfortunately at the second fence one lady executed an unfortunate, if impressive, flying dismount but was quickly reunited with her horse. A large and wide fallen tree also managed to trip up one further unfortunate follower and her horse but thankfully both horse and rider got to their feet with only a few scratches on them.
The day continued with some good jumping to be had and a few stops for a bracing sip of our hipflasks. The ground was naturally quite heavy after the rainfall of the previous day, added to which at many points we kept to the headland around the ploughed fields. The heavy going no doubt had a large part to play in the further falls of a few more horses and riders, including myself. For the most part we all got up, dusted ourselves off and carried on to finish the day. Unfortunately we had to say goodnight to Janet Paterson and Staro who had a crashing fall over a fence in boggy woodland around Stubbs Copse. Whilst Staro was unhurt, Janet was stunned after the fall and taken away to hospital for a check-up. We are pleased to report that Janet appears to have been unhurt and we hope to see her again very soon indeed.
Having dropped back down the Downs from Horse Shaw to the private bridlepath road which leads to Woldingham School, we stopped for a breather and then headed up the other side of the Downs over towards Ockley Wood. After making our way through the fog over a number of good jumping lines behind Carr’s Croft, we began to descend the Downs once again. Coming through the trees at the bottom of Park Shaw, our ‘hounds’ made some impressive music and gave chase to our ‘fox’, Louise, who flew over a fence at the bottom of the woods known as Rookery before turning and galloping back over a fence into a field where she was finally caught by our equally swift ‘hounds’. Having enjoyed this impressive display, I was kindly waved on by one of our Masters, Chris London, who was taking care of the rear of the Field. Having jumped the last jump, I looked over my shoulder to find Chris standing on his feet beside his horse, having apparent involuntarily dismounted when his horse, Hobbs, took exception to being the last in the Field. Swiftly remounting, Chris and Hobbs went on to fly over the last fence to rousing cheers, whereupon our Huntsman blew for home and we headed back to Church Farm.
A fantastic day out and fantastic company was had by all. We would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincerest thanks for the farmers and landowners who very kindly permitted us to use their land on the day, particularly after the rainfall the day before. I’m sure I will also be joined by everyone in the Field in thanking our fox, hounds, Huntsman and Masters for a glorious chase over challenging fences and some of the best land we have the privilege of riding over. Truly, our Church Farm meet lived up to its reputation as arguably our best mock hunt of the season.
We look forward to seeing many of you for our last hurrah of the season, the Beginners Mock Hunt at Warren Barn on 27th March 2011. In the words of one of our dashing Masters, Mike Potts, kick on our team!
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Mock Hunt at Kennel Farm - 13th Feb 2011
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After a brilliant Saturday, the weather didn’t look too good for Sunday and so it dawned. Wet and looking to get wetter! But the thirty or so riders who turned up at our rescheduled Mock Hunt at Kennel Farm were the lucky ones, well rewarded for their fortitude.
It was pretty wet getting into Kennel Farm Field at the start, and Kelly Fry’s horse Charm wasn’t helping matters by dancing about like a spring lamb. By the end of the meet, Kelly was voted the most muddied rider, after coming off three times – but more of that later! Yaz Bajwa on her horse Dylan and Frankie Hackett on Robin, won the Best Turned Out. Dylan looked picture as he always does; Robin was all skin and bone when he arrived from Ireland last year, but now he’s fleshed out and looked very smart, with a thick mane and tail all beautifully plaited.
We had the usual two goes round the field to get warmed up before a first flush from the flask, and I didn’t see any fallers. I’d heard from someone who phoned me for directions that they were a bit put off by the pictures in the newsletter from our previous hunt at Warren Barn. But I reassured her (I hope) that none of the fallers were hurt and that it happens to all of us at some time.
To some of us more than others. At the post and rail jump as we crossed onto the council land next to Three Fields, Kelly had her first fall, but she was back on in a flash. Not so at her second when we were crossing the fields just east of Hesiers Hill. We dropped down a steep incline with a post and rail at the top, and Charm did a flying leap and Kelly ended up on the ground. No sweat, except the horse took off to the right with Nick Fuller in hot pursuit and the two of them ended up at Fairchilds. There was a short break in the proceedings as the rest of us circled round that valley and back to the gate and then, in the far distance we saw Kelly and Nick riding towards us over the hill.
We were off again up Washpond Lane and into the fields on the left. We are really lucky we have such spectacular country to ride across. Here there’s a wide valley that we can sweep through, and if you’re Kelly, come flying off at another small post and rail at the bottom! I rode back with her through Warren Barn at the end of the meet and Kelly told me that Charm is still a baby. She doesn’t like standing still for long and she’s much better at the big hedges the Drag Hunt do, and Kelly loves her dearly.
But there was still more fun and games. A newcomer with us, Annabelle Gallaher from Kent, was riding her horse Willow. We’d crossed into Lumberdene and riding towards Cheverills before cutting back to the B 269 and onto Warren Barn. There’s a big hedge on the way which turned both Louise our fox and Michela our Huntsman at the first attempt. Nick Fuller our Field Master pressed through on one of his big team chasers not long followed by Annabelle on her small but sparky horse Willow, who can’t be an inch over 15 hands. Willow took the hedge big, so big that Annabelle was still sky-bound when the horse was well on his way towards the next jump. Chris London, our new Master, made a spectacular catch at the gallop and brought the two back together with no harm done to either.
We’re at Church Farm next week, which promises to be just as exciting. See you there.
David Wickham
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Beginners Mock Hunt at Warren Barn Farm - 30th Jan 2011
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What a Day!
After what seemed an eternity, we could finally meet for a day’s hunting, and what a day it turned out to be. Between 70 to 80 riders turned up at Warren Barn for our January Beginners Mock Hunt, and at times it seemed there were almost as many foot followers.
Gemini Cunningham was beautifully turned out as usual on her pony Smokey Joe, and she (again) took one of our Best Turned Out Prizes. Naomi Earthrawl on Rustic Charm, who was hunting with us for the first time, took the other. But the whole field looked a picture.
The ground was firm, the day was cold but sunny, and for Mock Hunting you don’t have to worry about scent. Louise Squires, on Oscar jumping brilliantly, was our fox and led the field off at a steady pace, closely followed by half a dozen hounds in our bright yellow builders’ tabards – we couldn’t find the normal ones – and Michala Blackburn our Huntsman. Then came the Field, led by Nick Fuller, with Mike Potts, resplendent in tailcoat and top hat, yours truly and our new Field Master, Chris London, bringing up the rear. Chris is a great addition to the Mastership and we all hope he’s around for a long time to come.
We kicked on to the tyres at the bottom of Green Hill, and had our first faller, but she was up again shortly and, after a welcoming drink at the first stop at the top of the hill, enjoyed the rest of the day without a hitch. At one point we apparently had five people on the ground at the same time, but our (new) paramedic and a first aider had nothing serious to do but dust off the riders and see them mounted again.
The winter sun is glorious at Warren Barn, touching our heads as we climbed the hills and warming our backs as we swept down the valleys. All in all, a brilliant day!
We’ve slotted in another Mock Hunt on 13th February, at Kennel Farm – the Meet there was cancelled in November because of the weather – and the following week we’re at Church Farm. We’ve another Mock Hunt Clinic on the 13th March before our final Beginners Mock Hunt at Warren Barn on 27th March. Hopefully the weather at the end of the season will be kinder to us than the beginning and we can all enjoy a thumping climax to the season. Kick On!
David Wickham
(photos courtesy of Attic Photographic)
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Mock Hunt at Church Farm - 21st Feb 2010
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From the Fox's viewpoint
The rain did not seem to want to stop on the morning of the 21st Febuary, but when the meet began the skies cleared for a time. It seemed only the brave few appeared that day. The Field Master being Nick Fuller, Huntswoman being Michaela Blackburn, and other masters including David Wickham and Mike Potts.
The jumps were not optional but with good horses and a swift stirrup cup we were on our way trotting up the lanes looking to our first jump, a double set of telegraph poles through a clearing in the woods. We drove forward and on through Church Farm's land full of jumps from one field to the next. Being Woldingham the ground was pretty good going due to the chalky high grounds, not that much unlike Warren Barn Farm even though it had rained heavily that morning. The first line seemed to go on forever but eventually we stopped in a clearing for a rest bringing a smile to the all the riders' faces as we slowed. After the horses had regained their breath and we had shared a hip flask or two we left heading for fresh pastures through some of the most stunning English countryside over which the local farmers had so kindly let us ride through that day.
Later in the day we came across a rustic pole with a sharp turn to the left. Unfortunately, a couple of Masters took a tumble showing how challenging this hunt can be, one of whom was David Wickham who bravely soldiered on mounting his horse again to carry on despite an injury to his chest. We then managed to plough back through the terrain towards Church Farm and headed home after a fantastic day before the rain set in again. Can't wait for the next Hunt!!.....
Yours
The Fox
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Mock Hunt at Kennel Farm - 29th Nov 2009
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The weather leading up to the hunt had been terrible, bearing in mind that we had the worst November since records began for rain. It wasn’t looking too promising when the storm clouds came over and it started to rain again as we were tacking up.
Luckily enough the farmers were kind enough to give us permission to go across their land which is a blessing and very good of them considering how wet it had been!
Although the weather did not put the die-hards off and although the field was a little smaller the braver riders took up the challenge!
The best turned out was won by Julie Bass on Bibi and Karen Fisher on Rodney, who won a bottle of wine each for the effort they made on their turnout. Well Done!
As usual horses are unpredictable, so as well as having the weather to contend with we also had a reduced number of Masters that were not mounted due to horses being unsound or injured.
We also had two new foxes up front; Louise Squires and Chris London who were eager to get away together and sometimes did completely, with a lack of brakes being one of the problems!
This hunt required fit horses, as although the ground was pretty good not having being poached by others, the day was a long one with plenty of jumping and galloping to test the mettle of horse and rider.
At one point Nick Fuller joined us on the hunt after taking up the ride from one poor lady whose horse was a bit of a tank, and she was a bit tired due to having had her ankle pinned! Nick also found that this horse was a challenge, although smaller in stature than his normal horses he was ‘*loody strong, it locked its head on its chest and went!’
We had some fantastic runs around Kennel Farm’s hedges, over to three fields behind Knights Garden Centre, across to Birchen Shaw opposite Warren Barn, over Wash Pond Lane to the back of Ledgers Farm then back over the fields to cross Beech Farm Road going past the model plane airfield and down into the valley. We then came back over the rails up to the top of Lumberdine Wood, taking the track to Warren Barn over the big hedge next to Uplands Byway and then the last gallop along the top of Limpsfield Road to take the privet hedge before the kill and calling for home.
We were really lucky in the end with the weather as the rain stopped as we got on board and although cold it didn’t start raining again until we were riding back home.
Certainly a long day but plenty of jumping for those wanting their monies worth!
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Beginners Mock Hunt - 29th Sept 2009
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What a glorious day the 27th turned out to be – too hot really for heavy old hunt coats and the like. But it was the Opening Beginners Mock Hunt, and gather we did at Warren Barn for a day’s fun. Was the weather or the hard ground – not too hard really, given that there was a good covering of grass over everything – but we didn’t attract as large a crowd as some Opening Meets. We had about fifty riders in all.
A very small boy on a tiny pony, who was coming to his first mock hunt, took one of the Best Turned Out Prizes, generously donated by Ted at the Woldingham Saddlers. Jules Winn-Jones on Fudge came up to collect his prize, and then turned away under the head of Kim Deakin, our fox! He’d come to the Meet with Louise Squire, on Oscar, who regularly joins us - and she took the other prize for the first time. So well done to both of them.
This might be a good time to say a word about dress – for everyone. We should all try to be as smartly turned out as possible, with horses and ponies properly groomed, and, where appropriate, plaited. It’s a splendid sight to see massed riders spread out in the glorious sun, but it would be better if everyone kept their jackets on!.
We set off toward Green Hill at a steady pace, with Kim leading the way over the first jump – the tyres. Every jump is optional at Beginners hunts, and quite a few people didn’t want to jump it. But quite a few did, and we cantered off up the hill for a first break at the top. Our route then took us down into the valley, over the log and on down to the path at the bottom. Those people at the back were still coming down, when the front of the field set off again, and at least one young lade was struggling to control her horse here. A good thing to remember is if you are nervous, and even if you don’t want to jump, you are much better off at the front.
We are going to stage Beginners Mock Hunt Clinics next year, which Bob Kirk is set to arrange. One will be organized before our January Mock Hunt at Warren Barn, and the other before the March Meet, hopefully to tempt some of the more nervous riders to ‘kick on and go’. Everyone will have a timed place and there’ll be an experienced rider with you to show the way over jumps as well as fill in any of the protocol details which you may not quite understand. Keep watching this space, or our website.
One lady came off at the top of the hill, on the other side of Uplands Road, when we crossed via a hedge which now has a much improved line. She landed on her chin, but seemed none the worse for wear. Paul, our paramedic, didn’t have much to do until Sam Underdown, on her first hunt, was kicked by my horse, and broke her leg. It was an unfortunate end of the hunt for Sam, who’ll almost certainly miss her skiing this year – but hopefully she’ll be up and about soon. She is certainly looking forward to hunting again.
We invited to join the Mid Surrey Farmers Drag who’ll be hunting – with hounds – from Church Farm on Saturday 17th October. And after that, we have another Mock Hunt on the 29th November, at Kennel Farm. Hope to see you all at both.
David Wickham
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