THE South Tyrone Foxhounds meet at Brockagh on the shores of Lough Neagh in County Tyrone could be described as, ‘A Splashing Good Day’, due to the many water-filled trappy drains and rivers in the low-lying areas near the lake in the morning. Indeed, I saw a sign for Washing Bay Wetlands Park early in the day and how appropriate it was.

The South Tyrone is some of the most challenging hunt country, with strong hedges - many imbedded with wire, ditches, drains, gates or rivers, that are all taken as a matter of course in a day’s hunting. But the followers are good riders, some have hunted hounds, others are former jockeys, graduates of the Golden Button and the Ward Antler Challenge and also those that fancy their chances! It is not a hunt country for children, nervous riders or those not mounted on a top hunter. But it’s the way they ride it that makes the difference.