ASHBURTON COUNTY HUNT CLUB.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1645, 25 August 1887, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY HUNT CLUB.

CLOSE OF THE SEASON. ; - The two most important featarea of the season were the visits of Me. J# Ratborford'a Tlmarn Harriers, on August 1 y. and Mr W, S, ArmiUge^s Waiinatt ; Barriers yesterday. Both met at Tlnwald by kind permission of Mr Donald McLean, this country being choien as it is remarkably good and also rery convenient for catching the evening train South. . On. August 9, Mr Rutherford, with some' doz n of hit frlonds from Tlmarn, joined' the local sportsmen > at T»nwald, and after partak ng of some refreshment,. made a move for the usual spot selected for the throw-off, near the railway crossing on the Maronan road. The bounds foaod almost immediately, and went at a rattling pace orer two paddockß ; a bare barbed wire feuce brought moat of the 70 horsemen to a ttand still. The Timaru contingent, as well as a few - of the local horsemen, managed to safely negotiate it twice, and as hares were running m all directions the hounds were whipped off and taken to pleaaanter hunting oountry with less barbed wire. The aoent did not hold very well all day, bat several smart runs were obtained, the space being remarkably fast and some Tary good fenolng was enjoyed by most of the persons present The longest ran was about two miles, but the hare waa lost owing to several others crossing the soent. Just before the hounds were ordered home they ran into a hare after a short run which brought the afternoon* bunting to a close. The Timara iaorti> men are to be congratulated upon the way they tamed oat ; their horses were alone a sight well worth seeing. In the evening they were entertained at the Annual Hunt Club Dinner, whloh brought a moßt enjoyable day to a olose. The season of 1687 was brought to a close yesterday by the visit of Mr Armltßge'a Waimate Harriers, and • really grand finish it was. The day broke splendidly fine, but very frosty, so it was nearly 12 o'clock before the spat for thiowing off was reached, and It was tome time before a straight, going hare waa found. A catt near the swamp, however, had the desired effect when a strong hare was viewed away taking a aptended line, the hounds were at once laid on ; the soent holding remarkably well the pace was deoidedly hot. This proved to be the run of the season, after going about three miles a Blight check occurred, but Mr Jefferaon with admtrated skill soon hit off the right scent, which led across the Plantation Reserve, over the railway line, and through the adjoining plantation, when the pack finally ran into her on the road dividing the Ohatmoss Estate from Mr Oarbett's. 'lhe ran lasted 30 minutes from find to kill, with only one oheck, the distance covered being quite sis miles, the fences throughout being both big and towards the end full of wire, which thinued the field of about 50 at the commencement to tei when they killed. After a halt the hounds were taken back to the Laghmor properiy, and were Boon set going again. Hares were, however, too auaierotn. At lait a fairly straight goer was found and gave a very nioe run of some three miles, taking a line towards Maronan, and as time was getting short they had to be whipped off, mocb to the sorrow of every one, anil were taken back to Tlnwald" 5 In time to c»toh the South tt-»ln The Asfcbartori Club are certainly very deeply Indebted to Messrs Rutherford and A'rmjtage'for their visits, ao(* the splendid sport shown by their respective paoks. and let ns hope that this interchange of meets m.ay »t least lead to Improve £he local paolfj whloh uadly reqiipoa It, and we] arq sure, that thQse who h&d ihe good fortune to take part In the buot of yeiterday will not begrudge their paltry guinea for the fature, In trying to raise the looal piok to something like those of our neighbor! and we sincerely hops to see both paoks m the district onoa at least la each season for the fature. ■"*