THERE are many special days on the sporting calendar, be it Aga Khan day at the RDS or Munster final day in Thurles, but last Saturday’s meet of the Tipperary Foxhounds at the foot of the Rock of Cashel promised to be all of the above and more besides.

In addition, it was going to be their hunt ball night, the first ever to be held in newly refurbished five-star Cashel Palace. The ball was a sell-out with all 220 tickets sold and several on the reserves hoping they might get balloted in before they went to post.

According to local legends, the Rock of Cashel originated from the Devil’s Bit when St Patrick banished Satan from a cave, resulting in the Rock’s landing in Cashel. Not since 1647 during the confederate wars when the Rock was besieged by troops under Murrough O’Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin, was there so much mounted activity at the foot of the famed Rock of Cashel as last Saturday.

Horses and hounds had un-boxed in the Rock carpark among buses and some amazed Japanese tourists who had never seen the likes before. The drill was to make the short hack to Ryan’s yard just at the foot of the Rock where Cashel Palace staff were on hand to distribute restorative drinks and other good things to sustain the riders for what lay ahead. Believe me they needed it all!

Old friends

Due to the day that was in it, huntsman Gavin Shorten gave our photographer just a little time beyond the set time of 11am which gave us a chance to catch up on old friends, both mounted and on foot. He was hunting 14 and a half couple of Modern hounds and assisting him was amateur whipper-in James O’Donnell.

James first started his hunting career turning hounds to Pat O’Brien as far back as 1997 when Pat was huntsman. In the meantime, he has taken up a career with Coolmore but can juggle his working time to be available in the hunting field on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

There to greet us were hunt secretary Roseanne De Vere Hunt and her partner Aidan Fogarty who was field-master for the day and all season. Not only that, he was meet manager and had drank countless cups of tea in the previous week ensuring that all would go smoothly on the day and, as he later explained, he was turned down nowhere.

They had young Chloe Tobin out on her first day mounted, with parents Joe and Joanne in close support. Roseanne, who was riding a really good grey owned by former master Marie Marron, has acquired a profile far outside the realms of hunting as the star of the TV programme selling Ireland’s Most Expensive Homes.

Almost the first people we met were Lt Col Tom Freyne and his better half Jacqui, as always well mounted and beautifully turned out. Tom is Officer Commanding of the Irish Army Equitation School based at McKee Barracks in Dublin. Another former master out was Paul Ronan and his cousin Jack whose families are steeped in all things connected with the hunt.

Veteran

It was great to see the veteran John Breen, who lives nearby, mounted on a smashing grey that had been produced for him by his son, international show jumper Shane who sadly couldn’t be there as he was jumping in the UAE.

He introduced me to three girls visiting from the Ledbury who are fellow students with young Jack Kennedy, son of solicitor and hunt stalwart Patrick from Killenaule, who was out on foot. The Hydes are synonymous with hunting in Cashel and far beyond and representing the family was Trish Hyde who hunted for many years with the Tipp’s and the neighbouring Scarteen and further afield.

The two Tim’s were gone point-to-pointing on the day as young Daniel had a ride at the Ward Union meeting. He had a winner the following day on the home-trained Focus Point at Ballycrystal. Other veterans on foot were Clare Ryan and Sue Perry, two cracking girls across country in their day. James Coonan (brother of solicitor Andrew) was out with his daughter Katie.

Coffee housing couldn’t last too long and Gavin, with a short note on the horn, went to the first draw just off the main Dundrum Road in land belonging to Philip Maher who was hunting on the day. Philip runs an auctioneering business in Cashel and is a keen hunting man to boot.

It wasn’t all plain sailing however. Getting into Philip’s field involved jumping a real good stiff wall off the Dundrum road. Our photographer (under pressure) jumped first with a really decent drop on landing. This was a masonry wall and was very unforgiving but jumped surprisingly well.

Field-master Aidan Fogarty gave a smashing lead complete with crimson arm-band, closely followed by hunt chairman Sean Brett on his good chesnut.

The two Freynes gave a really stylish display but on landing, the gallant Lt Col’s saddle gave away, leaving him riding on one pedal. He saw out the day as non-riding captain while Jacqui went on to have a stormer. Paul Ronan caught my eye, the old master has lost none of his style. While everyone didn’t jump it, the great majority did.

The two veterans - Nick Seale, former field-master of the Heythrop Hunt, and his partner Celia Mills – on two proper hunters, made nothing of it. Likewise, Thomond O’Mara of Fethard and Ber Bourke of Leinster Farm took it in their stride.

Galloping country

Hounds found and crossed the Ardmayle road into the old racecourse complete with grand stand remaining as a sentinel of past glories. This is galloping country with big open spaces where a blood horse would shine. For all that, after a few fields, Reynard found a welcoming home and was left.

They went on to draw a plantation just off the Dundrum road and hounds opened almost straight away. Not only were the Tipperary orchestra on song but to hear Gavin joining in as soloist was nothing short of joy. Reynard broke for the country running towards Cashel before crossing the road into Brittas House Stud, part of the Coolmore empire.

This is a very smart property and it was a sight to see hounds and those in the field streaming across the parkland with the ancient lime trees as observers. Again, Reynard found respite in a welcoming shore and hound drew on to what is known as the long plantation. Here, with little delay, they were off for what was going to be the hunt of the day.

They crossed the link road into O’Keeffe’s of Hore Abbey where there was some serious jumping. They ran right for the town where the field, under pressure, jumped a good stiff wall onto the road just down from the mart. With hounds running hard there was no time for second thoughts, recalling the lines:

Hard and tall stood the rasping wall

that lay beyond us yonder.

It had to be taken at speed or not at all

better to fall than to ponder

Young Louise O’Brien from Duhallow, who rode so well in the Golden Button, sat into her horse and never broke her stride. The apple falls near the tree, as she is a daughter of Rory, a legend in his own life time across country.

But then it was that kind of day and hounds ran right around the town on the Golden side before again going back into Hore Abbey. Like all good things, it had to come to an end and hounds marked under the ruins of Hore Abbey. A remarkable day by any standard.

To complete a perfect day, the sell-out hunt ball, with Jerome Casey representing Coolmore, had a very special auction under the gavel of John Fitzgerald and Philip Maher who alternated lots. The standout lot of that, or any other hunt ball sale, was a nomination to the great Camelot generously presented to the hunt by Coolmore and the Magnier family.

It made the full asking price of €60,000 which will allow the hard working hunt committee to look to the future with confidence. A perfect finish to a perfect day.

Factfile

Chairman - Sean Brett

Hon Sec - Roseanne De Vere Hunt

Point-to-point secretary - Caroline Ryan

Huntsman - Gavin Shorten

Whippers-in - James O’Donnell

Field master - Aidan Fogarty

History

Founded around 1820, they were originally known as the “The Grove Foxhounds” from where they were hunted by William Barton of wine fame. They were then taken on by Henry Marquess of Waterford who hunted them for several seasons. They really entered their golden era under the mastership of Evan Williams who won the last peacetime Grand National on Royal Mail, to be followed by Michael Higgins who showed such marvellous sport for over 20 seasons.

Some former Masters

Henry, Marquess of Waterford 1840-43; A committee 1906-08; Sir Thomas Ainsworth 1928-32; Mrs Masters 1935-53; The Earl of Donoughmore 1947-53; Capt. Evan Williams 1953-71; Michael Higgins 1973-91; Tom Ronan 1991-96 and Tim Hyde 1991-2002.