Route Hunt has a bracing start to the year

The 22 Route Hunt riders who assembled at 12noon were a little anxious about the day’s prospect however any doubts were soon dispelled when the huntsman Lee Johnston took the pack into the first stubble field.

The scramblers, who were also having their first outing of the year in the same field, stopped their bikes till the horses all passed through safely.

Once into the next field the horses and riders went in single file around the almost frozen reservoir, no one wishing to have the first swim of the year.

A handsome ditch had to be crossed to follow the hounds and all successfully traversed it as the alternative was very icy water. Hedges, walls and a few more ditches in fields of stubble and of old pasture were crossed and the hardy followers were soon on top of Corbally Hill with its splendid views of Portrush and even Islay was visible in the distance.

The trip down the hill was a little tricky and some dismounted to lead their horses over a few icy patches, and then remounted to hunt the fields towards Ballywillan Church.

The hounds did not manage to raise any quarry as it was not a good day for scent but there was an abundance of wildlife of the feathered variety; snipe, woodcock, curlew and swans which made for a very pleasant and picturesque way to see in the New Year.