Route Equestrian Charity Ball success

On Saturday 22nd February 2014 over 200 Route hunt members and friends gathered at the Lodge Hotel Coleraine for the annual hunt charity ball this year supporting Diabetes UK.
Denise Brewster and Denise Shaw. INCR10-103MJDenise Brewster and Denise Shaw. INCR10-103MJ
Denise Brewster and Denise Shaw. INCR10-103MJ

On arrival all enjoyed a drinks reception and many posed for photos taken by the local papers and Artemis photography.

All were then called to the function room and were upstanding for the arrival of the hunt officials who were lead into the room by the piper. Huntsman Jonny Butler raised the first toast of the evening to hounds and hunting, Hunt Master Philip White raised a toast to the ladies and the style, Joint Hunt Master Ian Holmes raised a toast to Horses and Sport with Whipper in Gerard McCloskey raising the final toast to friendship and friendly rivalry.

With tummies full it was time for dancing and it wasn’t long before the dance floor was full and both young and not so young were grooving to the beat of Memory Lane followed by a disco. Raffle tickets were sold to raise money for diabetes UK and before midnight the raffle was drawn. Each table received at least one prize from the raffle as event organiser Norma Wilkinson had arranged for a ticket to be placed under a seat at each table.

Denise Brewster and Denise Shaw. INCR10-103MJDenise Brewster and Denise Shaw. INCR10-103MJ
Denise Brewster and Denise Shaw. INCR10-103MJ

There was a great variety of prizes to suit those with horses and those without. As well as the raffle prizes there was a mirror with a horse and hounds, a painting of a horse and a water colour by Sam McLarnon of Ballycastle which were auctioned.

Thanks goes to Norma Wilkinson for organising yet another successful equestrian ball, to the Lodge Hotel for the wonderful meal, the hunt members, friends and sponsors for their generous donations to the raffle and auction, the band and DJ for great music and once again the farmers and landowners without whom there would be no hunt.

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