THIS was one of the best meets at Ardbraccan House that I can remember, with the huntsman and his pack in top form. The huntsman, Kenny Henry, was mounted on a horse that he has on loan for the season from joint master Niall O’Regan, which he describes as ‘a machine’. And, when a huntsman is making country for the followers, that is a decided advantage.

The meet at Ardbraccan House was hosted by US businessman and bloodstock breeder, Charlie Noell who, with his business partner John J Moores, are directors of Brown Advisory, who sponsor racing in Ireland, UK and the USA.

Their Merriebelle Stables operate a breeding operation, both in Ireland and the US, through Ardbraccan Stud in Ireland and Chanteclair Farm in Kentucky. They have Flat and National Hunt horses in training, and first came to prominence in Ireland, when they purchased all the breeding stock in Kilfrush Stud.

Afterwards, they sold one of the mares, named Immortal Verse (by Pivotal out of a Sadlers Wells mare) in foal to Dansili at Tattersalls December Sales for 4.7 million guineas, which was a European record for a broodmare at the time.

Ardbraccan, a Palladian style house, was designed by Richard Cassells and was the residence of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath from 1770 to 1885. Charlie Noell and Serina Williams Ellis were on hand to welcome the followers, with a fine display of refreshments.

Paul Tobin manages the stud and Mickey Allen looks after the grounds. Sarah Meehan, a superb horsewoman both riding astride or side-saddle, does the hunters for Charlie Noell that are used mainly by him and his guests. There was a big turnout, both on horseback and an even larger following of cars and jeeps.

Up to a couple of seasons ago, Huntsman Kenny Henry shared hunting duties with his brother John, but now hunts both the dog hound and the bitch pack, and his brother is very active working behind the scenes supporting the hunt staff, which is a decided advantage in the hunt country, as he knows every farm and landowner. Whipping-in are Barry Finnegan and Brian Black.

Overseas visitors

Joint master Dr Cathal Cassidy has worked and hunted in New Zealand and a hunting friend, Bill Fleming from the Rotorua Hunt, was over for his first experience of hunting in Ireland. Fellow joint master Niall O’Regan was joined by his daughters, Emily and Maisie, on horseback.

Field master Norman Williamson and his wife Janet’s Oaktree Farm is a real success story in consigning horses for sale. Their daughter Carla is a fine event rider and their son Josh has little time for hunting now, as he is attached to the Gordon Elliot stable and is riding plenty of winners.

Hunt chairman Pat Dillon, wife Mikaela and daughter Harriet, who rides side-saddle, were hunting. Pat told me that they have a joint meet with the Wards, followed by a joint Hunt Ball in the New Year at Tattersalls. They also plan to visit the Limerick Foxhounds for a return joint meet, following up on the Limericks visiting Moyglare for a cracking day last season.

Former master Richard Trimble, very popular in the hunting field, was on foot and tells me that he is enjoying retirement and playing a lot of golf. The youngest person hunting was three-year-old Francesca Fox on her pony Tiny - and he is indeed tiny - accompanied by her mother Amy.

David Geraghty and his wife Georgie had two tall Dutch hunt follower customers out, Wilco Huizing and Al Fabius from the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Jachtvereeniging (The Royal Dutch Hunt) in Holland, of which Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands was president. He competed at the Dublin Horse Show some years ago and tied a competition with Phyllis McDowell, a former master of the Fingal Harriers, in an international class in the Main Arena.

Olivia Duff, the owner of the very popular Headford Arms Hotel in Kells, a favourite venue for a hunt ball, was hunting with her daughter Anna, who is an experienced competitor in tetrathlon and dressage, having competed in Pony Club events both at home and in the UK.

Cossie McGivern, who rides work in Gordon Elliot’s, is an interesting rider to observe riding a horse across country, as he has such good balance and sympathetic hands. Charlotte Harding and Emily MacMahon were riding two well turned-out grey hunters, and Holly Harding’s daughter Zoe was hunting.

Fond memories

I was delighted to meet Mary Sue Duggan, who had a riding school in Kilbride, which was owned by Valerie Wellesely and associated with Gerald ‘Ginger’, who was the first Irish-based trainer for the Aga Khan. When I was whipping-in to the Fingal Harriers, Mary Sue would very kindly treat us all to breakfast after autumn hunting.

Paul Larkin’s daughter Linnea was hunting and recalled taking US show jumper Will Simpson, who rode Paul’s international mare Ado Annie, out to sharpen him up hunting with the Wards before he went on and won an Olympic team gold in Beijing in 2008.

Also following was former field master Tony Cameron, John Flood and Rita Dunne, whose daughter Marita was also out and her granddaughter Rosida was competing in Barnadown recently. Other followers were Kay Casserly, Oliver Callaghan and Mary Redmond, with her niece Analie. Mary is well-known as a steward at the Dublin Horse Show and for her committee work in the RDS.

The visitors from the South Tyrone were huntsman Ryan Carvill, Jason McKeown and Mark McIlroy. Fionn Campbell, who hunts with the Wards and Fingals, was just back from hunting with the Berkeley in Gloucestershire the previous week with Grace O’Connor.

Following also were Greg Tallon, Anthony Fox, Fidelma McGivern and Ethill Galligan, a daughter of former Meath amateur whipper-in Aidan Galligan, as well as former North Galway Foxhounds and Tara Harriers master Lar Sheeran and his grandson Daniel Dignan. In contact also were Mick Cromwell, horse dealer Dermot Ryan, Jim Nicholson and Dr Ken Livingstone, a member of the Newry Harriers, whose wife Lucy is joint master of the Armagh and Richill Beagles. Their daughter Ellie was hunting and they were just back from a hunting holiday in France.

Fast run

The followers made their way down the beautiful avenue of Ardbraccan as the huntsman drew the Laurels, but there was nobody at home. Moving on quickly to George Roger’s, he had a customer away and Billy Blyth got ahead, as he always does, as he knows the hunt country so well. His daughter Sarah has just got a new hunter and he assures me she will be out in the hunting field very soon.

Hounds took the followers on a nice crisp run through Betty Curry’s and on over Cathal Smith’s into Joe Roger’s, where hounds marked him to ground. There was a huge following on the roads of families, as many children were on their mid-term break. It was like the countryside coming together for a big event, as hunting is a great spectator sport and the followers are very knowledgeable.

The Plantation in Boyerstown held also and hounds enjoyed hunting in the covert in great voice, as this fellow was determined not to leave.

The day was just getting better and better, as the huntsman drew Matt Coffey’s, where they found almost immediately and he left through Peadar Callaghan’s in a large circle over good hunting country, but wisely the hunt staff stopped the pack as they were nearing an area where cattle were out.

Ollie Callaghan’s cross-country fences gave the followers a bit of diversion before they moved on. Crossing the deep and wide ditches in Boles, the pack combed the area; it was blank, but the followers were tested.

There is an old derelict cottage covered in ivy on The New Line and it never fails to hold a fox and, sure enough, there was one at home. After much excitement in getting him away, he eventually broke cover and gave the followers a sharp 20 minute fast run, but he had a shore in the distance in sight and found it disappeared into it to be there for another day.

Huntsman Kenny Henry and his pack were on form and he sent the mounted and car followers home happy after another very enjoyable day, which looks good for the season ahead.