Red Letter Days
The Day I Jumped into Space...
By Sue Simmons - who takes over as sole master at the Holcombe Harriers in May.
Sue Simmons
© emerald-fotos.co.uk
As the day of the Brindle Meet dawned mid-November last year, I realised that no-one other than Arnold Greenhalgh MH, MFH - Holcombe Master of 13 years - had field mastered this lawn meet from his home, in so many years. Equally, I was loaning the Master’s horse for the day.
The last time I had sat on this massive steed (dubbed ‘The Machine’) was when I whipped in some three years previous, and have vivid memories of hurtling down Harrock Hill and over rasping great rails at a downhill skiers pace - with probably far less control, leaning left and right for direction, and trusting in God for the rest! For the initiated, Harrock Hill is between Parbold and Mawdesley: it's some of our best country, and we only get on there after the shooting season ends.
This Red Letter Day will always remain a vivid memory: one of those that you reminisce over when you are waiting for hounds in the horizontal sleet on top of Holcombe Moor in January; wondering why on earth you are there?
The Brindle day began with a ‘delay’ while the trail layer, Brian, got to grips with his mount - another famous horse "Sam" who was ridden previously by the late Alex Sneddon, the longest serving huntsman in the UK of 50 years. Alex started hunting the Holcombe hounds in the year I was born...
The day finally got under way with a quick thing: an inviting gate, a tiger trap and hunt fences before hounds checked after the first trail. So far, so good; and then my huntsman focused on a substantial metal gate & kicked on, followed ably by his amateur whip Dan.
It was decision time. As a voice shouted: “Shall we open the gate Master?” my spurs had been galvanised and "The Machine" stood off and cleared the gate with a magnificent leap sending my spirits soaring with the type of turbo-charge adrenalin that leaves you on a high for days. We were away...
What then followed was another set of ‘reach-for-the-oxygen-mask derby rails’, another gate, and another tiger trap, as hounds hunted well across mature grassland: most definitely music to my ears. Nonetheless, the golden nugget was yet to be found.
Our huntsman Steven Ashworth, who having painstakingly walked the country the day before on a "touch & go" decision, had sought out the best ground for the run of hedges over the road crossing. We were lucky to be hunting, never mind jumping I thought, as I saw Steven and his new hunt horse 'Bill' take the hedge and ditch in front of me in good style, with hounds in full cry.
Sue airborne
© emerald-fotos.co.uk
"The Machine", never to be outdone, leaped like Pegasus [photo], showing the whole world his clean set of heels before a sharp left turn over a gaping old holly hedge, wider than it was tall: another of Steven’s ‘finds’. A few tried to follow us and joined the infamous 'Tumblers Club': even our whipper-in Dan Gallagher, 16, who is an all-round thruster. Dan is learning his job as a junior whip at Holcombe. (We have a fun party every March where all 'fallers' photos are displayed.)
How big was the fence? If you did measure fences you probably wouldn't jump them! All I can say is jumping hedges gives me a thrill, and that hedge gave me one big one that day. When you see a good stride and hit the jerk, then up-up-up you go... and there's nothing better. A very good jockey I know said to me recently how he doesn't like jumping hedges. Everyone has their own favourites: Arnold's trademark was jumping five-bar metal gates, not something I relish although I did jump one only last weekend.
Steven Ashforth is 24 is in his first full season as huntsman of the Holcombe having been apprenticed under Ron Stouph (another famous huntsman). When Steven is on fire you'd need the fire brigade to quell him. He is a lovely young man, keen and loves his hounds. Steven gave up a career as a chicken farmer to follow his vocation. He and his wife Diane take a lot of pride in the kennels, which are now open to visitors (by arrangement) and they both work very hard: don't all hunt staff?
I don't know how big 'The Machine' is: he must be 17.3hh at least, and he eats hedges for breakfast. I wouldn't like to put him at a combination as I think he'd try to clear the lot in one go - he's so supercharged.
What does it take to hunt the Holcombe country? We have riding school ponies to HOYS prize winners in our field. However, for me, it takes an over riding desire to "keep up". Once you have experienced the thrill of riding up close to hounds over open country, you will be hooked - and ‘that’ is exactly what I want people to experience. We want our meets to be good value for all, so we need ways around for non-jumpers; plenty of average hunt jumps, and a few thrills along the way. Our key people in our country have worked hard this season to 'up' the standard, and it's paying off.
The Holcombe hunt country covers central, east and west Lancashire, with the Fylde peninsular being registered to the Holcombe in the 1980s by former master Ray Longster. We have hedges, post and rails, hunt jumps; some stubble and flat country; east Lancs is moorland and stone walls. Size of fields average 15 on Wednesdays, and 30 on Saturdays; we had 50-70 out over Christmas. We have a nice core of supporters who we aim to please. Our farmers are welcoming, and we run a farmers' ball in November as a free night for them, which is always well attended.
At Holcombe, we welcome all-comers, and especially those with a mind to enjoy the day’s hunting come what may. And if it's sex that sells, then that Brindle day must be priceless. Better than Sex? YOU BETCHA!
Sue Simmons
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Sue Simmons with the Holcombe
© emerald-fotos.co.uk
Susan Simmons is married to John who is managing director of the family business Simmal Ltd. John’s sports are shooting and fishing, particularly on the Spey, Tweed and Esk.
Educated at Manchester Uni. BSc Hons in Computational Linguistics & Modern Languages, Sue qualified as a chartered accountant in London, and is now finance director of the family business based at Preston.
Sue has hunted 18 years with Holcombe (between work & kids); last season and this as deputy field-master (to help Arnold); and takes over sole mastership on May 1 2009 when Arnold retires.
Sue has competed at both the Royal International, and Horse of the Year Show Working Hunter Finals. Placed 4th at RIHS 2008 HW worker championship, and will be competing again this year. Sue is a very keen skier, and says: “Always very busy!”