THE hunting season is off to a start with the Galway Blazers currently in the middle of their autumn hunting programme with huntsman Anthony Costello and professional whipper-in Mark Ollard.

Joint-masters Michael MacDonagh and Ella Coffey and field master Kevin Dempsey led a number of followers at 6.30am near Athenry for a smashing morning’s hunt last weekend.

Among them was Karen Coffey and her daughter Chloe on her four-year-old pony that she competed in the First Ridden class at the Dublin Horse Show, and other well-known Horse Show exhibitors, sisters Maeve and Nicola Carty.

Amory McMahon was out on her legendary hunter Fred and also making an appearance was Albert Broad, well-known in Irish racing circles. Show jumper Tim MacDonagh of Hollypark Horses had some young horses out, benefitting greatly from the relaxed atmosphere of autumn hunting.