TRADITIONALLY the end of hunting at Scarteen is marked by a cross-country race over the cream of the Scarteen banks, reserved for regular Scarteen followers. This year saw a turnout of 14 stalwart Scarteen riders all set to jump the biggest and boldest Scarteen had to offer.

The course had been organised and flagged by Joe Kearns who runs the Abbey Bar in Galbally and by general agreement, it was one of the best courses ever. They started in Sonya Purcell’s. Sonya, of course, is the hard working secretary of the Irish masters of Foxhounds Association, and she took part on her good chesnut.

Once they had jumped the first into Scarteen proper, they were lost from view though as they crossed the four miles or so. Natural country intelligence reports were received of falls and other mishaps. However, it was not until they came back into sight of the finish located in former hunt secretary James Purcell’s farm that young Ned Fox (17), one of the youngest jockeys in the race, came home the winner, closely followed by Joe Kearns, with Sonya Purcell a close up third while Lua McCarthy (17) from Elton was fourth.

Solicitor Oliver-Ryan Purcell, a man of uncertain years, was well up on the pace to claim the veteran’s prize.

Husband and wife team Ken and Mel Purcell came home smiling but in view of matrimonial harmony, results don’t relate which came in first!

All that remained was prize-giving in the Foxe’s Den Pub by hunt chairman Charlie Moore, in the absence of Scarteen’s Chris Ryan who was on eventing duty in Florida.