IT is always a pleasure to visit a hunt that still honours the tradition of the blessing of the hounds, and the Rev William Bennett performs the brief ceremony at the Bray Harriers opening meet each year.

The Reverend is no stranger to hunting as, in the past in his various ministries, he has hunted with the Bray Harriers, the Fermanagh Harriers and the Laois Foxhounds. The new chairperson, Marie Moynihan, welcomed all the followers and supporters in her speech at the opening meet at the wonderful venue of Bel Air, owned by the Freeman family, in the shadows of the Wicklow hills.