Ottawa Valley Hunt Club | newsletter0505.html

Ottawa Valley Hunt Newsletter

August 2005

Well, it’s all downhill from here! The frenzy of the Golf Tournament is behind us. The over-indulgence of Steak Night is past. Now it’s time to get horses and bodies in shape for the excitement of Fall Hunt Season. The Almanac says it will be a warm, dry Fall so we could be hunting until Christmas!

But first … some thanks for great memories from the past couple of months.

July 1 saw another blazing hot day for the Pool Party at the Leach’s. Our thanks to Kay and Peter for doing all that grass cutting and preparation work, and to Kimm MacKenzie and Mike Chartrand of Lone Star Ranch for the wonderful feast and the roping horses. (I hope that doesn’t start a trend for people in the Hunt field to start carrying lassoos.)

The Hunter Pace held July 10 in collaboration with the Heart and Stroke Foundation saw a great turnout. This event not only raises money for the club and a good cause, it brings in lots of riders to see our land and share in the joy of viewing our country from horseback. It’s a fun way to introduce them to our sport, and to gain their support for the Hunt.

Our thanks to Bob and Betty Sulpher and Peter Leach for laying the ‘trail’; to Leigh Ann Weynerowski for the half-way house; and to all the other people who helped make the day a success.

August 6 was the very popular Golf Tournament, held this year at the Canadian. 64 golfers (and we use the term loosely) turned out for a lively day’s sport. Our thanks to Gary Hobin and Bob Sulpher for all their hard work in putting together the tournament, and collecting the prizes. Top winners on the day were the Jennifer Campbell fivesome – and the most popular prizes on the table were golf balls to replace those ‘misplaced’ during the day.

That same evening, Bob Sulpher was back in action at the barbeque, alongside Dennis Beaudoin as they cooked up steaks for almost a hundred people. (Great steaks from Don’s Butcher shop in Almonte.) Thanks also to Betty and her helpers for preparing the corn, potatoes and salad that made it a feast fit for hungry golfers.

During the Summer, there have been renovations going on around the clubhouse and kennels, and we are deeply grateful to Janet and Norm Major who paid for the painting of the kennels and roof. The work has certainly smartened up the place.

Repairs are always needed to some piece of equipment, and we owe thanks to Sara Stretton and Darrin Munson for ‘taking care’ of repairs to the hound collars and repatriating them from the U.S.

Announcements

Several years ago (we’re not saying just how many), when Ted Leggett and Bill Irving were Joint Masters and Cuth Scott was President of the OVH, a young Anne McKibbin was awarded her colours. Anne’s life led her away from the Hunt for several years, but we are delighted now to reinstate those colours – and hope to see her wearing them proudly this fall.

Hounds

Sue Hobin and Jill Bryant have been working the hounds all Summer, getting the youngsters used to following a scent and keeping the older hounds in shape. They spent a couple of days with Steve Clifton at the Eglington and Caledon Hunt, comparing notes and swapping hounds. Sue tells us that what she learned confirmed she’s on the right track, but that Steve gave her lots of tips for coping with special situations.

Dates to Remember
August 28th - Treasure Pace at Sunset Farms 11am
August 31st – Hunting starts
September 17th – Opening Hunt
September 18th – Fall Hunter Pace

Hunts at Jasper – September 24th & October 1st

Montreal Festival of Hunting: Thursday October 6 at Mirabel; Saturday October 8 at Bromont; Monday October 10 at LTMH (all hunts at 11am.) Note that OVH will be hunting October 8 and 10, with our Thanksgiving Hunt October 10.

Good Hunting,

Kay Leach and Bob Allum
Joint Masters