South Devon Hunt

Aberdeen Angus Beef Burger at 90p each.( these are some of the best burgers I have tasted,Web Editor.)

Rindless Back Bacon 30 rashers in a pack at £10 per pack.

Contact Hilary Harvey 01626 832783.

New Events now on the Events Page !!! Please make sure you keep a look out on this page as there are other events in the pipeline.

Once again we met at the Ring of Bells in North Bovey who provided us with a very warm welcome with mulled wine and plenty of food for all to enjoy (thanks to the new owners for their generosity)

Unfortunately our senior master Mr Ian Pearse M.F.H. was taken ill, so our kennel huntsman Simon French hunted hounds for the day under the direction of Mr Stephen Froy M.F.H. (joint master)

The day went very well and Simon went home very happy with his first day hunting hounds.

At the lorry Simon was given the news that Mr Pearse would not be fit enough to hunt hounds on Boxing Day and he would be hunting under the direction of Mr Froy.

Read on to see how he rose to the challenge!!

This years Boxing Day was going to be a little different and a big day for some!

Due to the senior master, Mr Ian Pearse M.F.H. being taken ill on Christmas Eve, our new whip Simon French had to step into the breach and hunt hounds on this very traditional day (he told me he did not get much sleep the night before!) but cometh the day cometh the man. He made a great job of everything and I hope Ian will be very proud of his kennel huntsman for doing his best on what can only be described as an appalling day as the rain came down nearly all day, although at least it was dry for most of the meet.

As 11.30 approached the hounds became a little restless then with a blow of his horn they were off followed by some 50 plus riders they turned out of the Moorland Hotel and onto the main road to be greeted by almost a 1000 people clapping and cheering, what a sight for a young kennel huntsman. I am sure he grew an inch or two with pride as he saw the support.

Although the weather was against us we had a good day and I am pleased to report that we counted them all out and we counted them all in (hounds that is not jets) and we were safely back at kennels by 6.00pm and then yet more work as the staff did all the jobs that have to be done before the day can said to be over.

The Hunt Ball was once again a great success, thanks to all that worked so hard to make it happen.

The meal was once again provided by our excellent catering department, and was well appreciated by all who attended. We also had a great band to dance the night away too, so I am sure all who attended cannot wait for the next Hunt Ball to come around!

Only joking! Friends of the hunt you can have rest,  only the two point to points to go and then you all need time to recharge you batteries until the next time! Well done all of you.

The opening meet this year coincided with the school half term so it was so good to see so many children riding as well as a good turn out of adults. Some 70 plus riders in all,and I could not count the number of foot and car followers only to say the the roads were pretty full.

The day was dry and after a very long day the hounds were finally put into the lorry at 5.30.

Some said it was one of the best opening meets for a long time !

I hope all those who stayed to the bitter end had a good day.

I and the joint masters must also say a big thank you to all who provided food and drink for our opening meet.

Then on the Saturday night we held our opening meet supper at Neadon barn (by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Hunt) where once again the ladies of the hunt put a fabulous spread to feed 70 or so hungry revellers, well done and thank you to all those involved.

The one person some might have missed was Ian Pearce, our senior master who had been called away by Michael Scott to whip in at the old Berks opening meet as Michaels whip had broken his leg.

New page for this seasons photos on photo gallery.

Available for exercising/yard duties/clipping ect,ca Denbury. 12 years experiance riding/competing horses, show jumping. References availble on request.

Contact Lydia.

tel 07827 316063

Home 01803 813206

email, lydia_ ruewell12@hotmail.com

Good crowd at Puppy show

Friday the 13th was at least lucky for our puppy show as it did not rain, although wet under foot!

This years judges were Andrew Phillis esq.,MH and Miss Sally Cunningham who we would like to thank very much for judging our hounds.

Our new Kennel Huntsman Simon French showed the hounds, having watched him at the practice on Tuesday evening we knew that all his hard work with the puppies would pay off on the day.

First to show were the dog hounds (6 couple) they showed reasonably well and after some deliberation the judges came to a decision 1st was Wilfred walked by Miss K. Fleming, 2nd Wizard walked by Mr. & Mrs. S. Froy, 3rd Duchy walked by Mr. & Mrs. K.Ansell.

Next were the Bitches (9,1/2 couple) they showed very well and the judges had quite a job to choose but after some more deliberation they reached a decision: 1st was Gimble walked by Mr. & Mrs G. Walker, 2nd Duty walked by Mr. & Mrs. K.Ansell, 3rd Willow walked by the Retallick family.

Finally the judges had to choose the champion hound and they chose Gimbal walked by Mr. & Mrs. G.Walker.

Next came the best working doghound which was Limestone walked by Mr. C.Upham.

The best working bitch was Gilded walked by Mr. & Mrs. G.Walker.

I would like to thank all those who walked the puppies for the hunt last year and hope that you all enjoyed it so much that you would do it again!!

After all this hard work by the judges they, and the rest of us needed some refreshments so once again our hard working team put on a wonderful tea with food provided by our loyal supporters of the hunt (thanks to

all of you.)

After tea came the prize giving where Mr. Graham Walker seemed to have made a clean sweep as you can see from the above results.

The senior master Mr Ian Pearse invited every one to stay to supper which was a spit roast lamb (kindly donated by the Widdicombe family from Weston Tree farm.) and so the drinks flowed and supper was consumed by all that had stayed for what was a chilly but very enjoyable evening. I and I am sure every one who attended this years puppy show would like to thank Mr. & Mrs. Pearse for their hospitality, as well as complementing all the staff on their hard work to make our Kennels somewhere to be proud of.