The wind. After a couple of warm weather days, the steady out-of-the-west wind with a biting chill seemed to taunt us on Winter’s behalf, as if saying “I’m not quite through yet!” Fortunately an old red and blue J.Press scarf was in the Hound Mobile, and with that firmly neck-wrapped, we began to greet our visitors.
“Across the midlands of England, from the Cotswolds to Cambridgeshire…”
It’s always a good start to a hunt when Peter and Marie Boisvert and the Sealyham Send-Off Crew are present. Were the Sealyham puppies in the backseat just so excited to see everyone, or did they want to join the Skycastle hounds on the hunt?
Among our guests in the Field were Margaret and Geoff Rhodes and son Marshall who have been raising a Skycastle puppy. It’s always a delight to have them out with us! They were with us cheering on the pack at a recent Aldie.
Back in 1962, when Skycastle was still a private pack, Elizabeth Street invited the entire cast and crew of The Savoy Company (Philadelphia oldest and arguably most social theater company, and the oldest theater company in the world dedicated to performing the classic comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan) to a hunt, and lo, there started a tradition. I’ve tried to figure out who in Savoy might have known Elizabeth, but as one veteran Savoy member of that era explained to me, “Everyone just sort of knew Elizabeth, and Savoy was a bit of a horsey social set back then…” Whatever the connection, it’s now become a traditional one and we’re always happy to have some of the Savoy members out with us. (Shameless plug: Savoy will be performing Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic “The Pirates of Penzance” at Longwood Gardens under the stars in the open air theater on June 2 and June 3. If it’s been a while since you’ve heard the always-popular patter song “I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” performed with full orchestral accompaniment… well here’s your chance. And I would be remiss not to mention that the opera diva playing the lead role of Mabel has an ability to hit those incredibly high high notes… and just hold them forever (much like Linda Rondstadt did on Broadway). Here voice + Sullivan’s music = comic opera magic!)
We also were hosting several “students” from the Chester County School Night Program (thank you, Phyllis, for arranging this!)
The guests, of course, were joining our Field regulars, Dolores, Diane, and Jim, led by Field Master Valerie, all of whom were very welcoming and all we very kind and patient with the guests and no one corrected the Savoy folks when they said “dogs” instead of “hounds.”
With phone video cameras at the ready, young Marshall gave the word “Release the hounds!!” and the trainer door went down and out bounded the very excited hounds. We were five couple, 10 hounds. Youngsters Exton and Jameson were staying back, and Margot and Boutonne were a bit in the penalty box after their unnecessary rioting last week at Marsh Creek.
This hunt we decided to reverse our usual course. Rather than end with the famed woodpile, we would start with it. But that after heading up (usually we head down) the tree-lined driveway and hanging a left at the low stone wall, in hopes of helping the hounds to settle and burn off some of the pent up energy from the trailer ride.
Sadly, the thin hedgerow with the historic Dark Cherry Tree was, well, no more! The clearing crews had clearly been through recently and bits of undergrowth around some of the fallen logs where we’d found rabbits before had been dispersed. After enough of a settling walk, we packed everyone in and took a diagonal walk across the old sunflower field toward the still sort of extant hedgerow leading to the woodpile. That wind, that chilling, steady wind! Any scent that might be able was going to be blown away rather quickly.
We hunted the hedgerow and final made it to the woodpile. Iroise and Irmine dove right in, closely followed by young Ellie who remembered that she is small enough to squeeze in just about anywhere. Neptune was our mountain goat, bounding from branch to branch nimbly, without a slip. Meanwhile Countess and Colette and Duchess were also discovering the tunnels within the woodpile and began their exploration. Our wily Zelda was prowling the base of the woodpile, expecting that sooner or later her colleagues were going flush out a rabbit and she would be well positioned for the chase.
But despite some diligent searching and hunting, and at least two turns around the woodpile, we just weren’t finding anything… although I’m with Irmine (whose tail was in that constant wagging mode, signaling that something was present) that there was a rabbit there, but that it was snuggled warmly deep inside and wasn’t about to budge.
We crossed over to the grass mounds, hunted that wooded area leading to the pond, with two hounds insisting on hunting around the edges of the pond amid the inspissating mud. Such a mess!
We re-grouped for another field-crossing walk, with the idea of hunting the hedgerow at the crest of the hill overlooking the amphitheater area. But upon reaching the crest of the hill, with the wind still rather howling, we decided to descend into the valley and hunt the areas behind the amphitheater. We were mindful that the Field was feeling that wind and having drawn a blank so far we were hoping that these usually rabbit-active precincts would provide some action.
And to their credit, all of the hounds did work hard trying to get up a rabbit. Even Duval was inside (rather than running his loops outside) but no avail. Again, any quarry present must have been huddled deep inside their holes or burrows.
Another re-group and we hunted the undergrowth along the upper edge of the walking path, with the idea of one last look at the tree-lined driveway before calling it a day. We thought that there might have been some quarry about midway up the driveway, amid the thick undergrowth beneath the tall trees, but despite some speaking and lots of running about, no “Tally Ho!”s rang forth.
“Gone Away” blew on the horn, and after packing in with the Field for the traditional group photo, it was Tea Time!!
And what a spread it was! One of the guests asked “do have such extravagant spreads at every tea” and with a smile the response was “yes, and sometimes there’s even more!” Plenty of delicious desserts and hors d’oeuvres, served on enough silver and fine china to give it a bit of a Brideshead Revisited feel if not outright Downton Abbey. (Side note, Castle Howard is the featured home in Brideshead and its kennels were said to once have PBGV hounds as residents; where as Highclere Castle of Downton-fame is more the home turf of the Exmoor Foxhounds.) Thanks to everyone who brought such delicious food for all of our guests and to Gillian, Jonathan, and Kate for all the set up, tableclothes and all!
Although the rabbits were uncooperative, that did not hinder our guests from enjoying a very delightful afternoon roaming some beautiful countryside on the Brandywine Red Clay grounds capped by a lively delightful tea. The hounds entertained everyone and we had to do a few extra counts before heading out to make sure that no one snuck off with a hound or two.
The Rhodes family accompanied us back to kennels and helped unload and feed the hounds. Young Marshall has that innate rapport with the hounds that you only see every so often. All the hounds were vying for his attentions. Good byes and “see you soons” said, the Rhodes departed and we got down to the combing, when went rather smoothly. The only thing missing from a lovely day were a few rabbits!
Many thanks to the Staff, Gillian, Phyllis, Debbie, John, Jonathan, and Kate, all working hard to keep everyone packed in with no wide roamers, well done. Again thanks and kudos to Field Master Valerie, Diane, Dolores, and Jim for welcoming all of our Field guests! To a person, the guests all had kind words about their afternoon with the Skycastle hounds.
See you at Church Farm as we wrap up the 74th Skycastle season!
