Joe provides £3,300 boost for cancer charity

Thirteen-year-old Joe Hamilton had decided that this was to be the day he was going to spend the whole hunt riding bareback in order to raise money for The Friends of the Cancer Centre, based at Belfast City Hospital.

He could not have picked a worse day weather-wise but he was determined to complete his fund-raising effort which was launched at the Hunt Ball.

In spite of unremitting rain and sleet, he managed the whole day without mishap which was no surprise to the members who were well aware of his exceptional riding abilities.

Those hunt members who were not deterred by the atrocious weather, and whose heads were not too sore after the night before, were very impressed by the fact Joe whipped in all day and even opened gates, in spite of riding what must have been a very wet and slippery pony. He spent four hours hunting his 7 year old bay mare Polly, also known as Caramel Kisses.

Due to Joe’s efforts an amazing sum of £3300 was raised for The Friends of the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital and this was presented to Kelly Graham, the Events and Community Fundraiser for the charity, at the McLaughlins Corner hunt on March 10.

Joe had come up with the idea himself and it is a very impressive amount for such a young lad to have raised. It will be put to very good use in the care, treatment and support of cancer patients and their families throughout Northern Ireland.

He is very grateful to the farmers over whose lands he hunts for their support in allowing the Mid-Antrims to go out when the ground was so wet but this enabled him to be so successful in his fund-raising effort.

Joe has been a junior whip with the Mid-Antrim Hunt for several years and was presented with his official green whip’s coat last season. He is an active member of the Mid Antrim Pony Club and is on one of the senior mounted games teams.

His father Andy, who is a joint Master of the Mid-Antrims, is very well known in horse circles and has supplied many reliable cobs and horses to the hunting fraternity as well as to showing and working hunter enthusiasts.

His mother Judith is an extremely successful producer of show cobs that are seen on the showing circuit including Dublin Horse Show. Young Joe would not be a huge fan of showing but can on occasion be persuaded to compete in Working Hunter classes as there is jumping involved. His preferred idea of “flatwork” would be flat out across country!

Joe assists the huntsman, Hugh Cochrane, in stewarding at the point-to-point at Moneyglass, Toomebridge, and it is pretty clear that when he is old enough he will one of the jockeys out there on the track.

He will no doubt be seen in his green coat on the course at the next Mid-Antrim point-to-point on April 28.

Joe’s family also consists of a younger brother Bob who is snapping at his heels and, when his big brother was away on a school skiing trip, seized the chance to act as stand-in junior whip and worked hard all day in spite of being only eight.

The Mid-Antrim Hunt raises money for charity each year and they are very grateful to the farmers and landowners who make this possible and also the helpers who provide their support.

The farmers have been very generous in allowing the hunt over their land in spite of such a wet season and this is very much appreciated.

The season is now over and ended on a glorious spring-like St Patrick’s Day, with a hunt from Ahoghill and a very well supported Quiz Night that evening in the Diamond Bar, Ahoghill.

In spite of the weather there was an impressive total of 39 hunts which included a day at Loughanmore with the County Down Hounds and a joint meet with the East Antrims.

If the previous seasons were notable for snow and ice, this one must be remembered for the mud! It is hoped that the weather will have taken a turn for the better in time for the Point-to-Point on April 28.