Coakham Bloodhounds News

Opening Meet

Sunday 20th October

Cherry Croft

Herstmonceux BN27 1QJ
By kind invitation of Miss C Richardson

Meet at 12 noon

As this is our Opening Meet please be correctly turned out and horses/ponies should be plaited.  There will NOT be a non-jumping master so you and your mount need to be capable of jumping full up 3' boundary fences.

PARKING: Trailers only at Cherry Croft. Lorries to park at Church Farm (continue pass Cherry Croft go up to the Church) - please don't block the barn doors.

The going isn't good due to the wet weather and we are lucky to be allowed over by some very kind land owners. A couple of hedges to be jumped, you may have ONE attempt and only if you are sure you can jump them. Please bring goodies for tea but leave your dogs behind as we have kindly been invited into the house.

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Children's Meet

Wednesday 23rd October
Mountfield Park Farm
Mountfield TN32 5LE

Meet at 12 noon

Details to follow.

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Single Day Cap - Adult £50.00

Single Day Cap – 18 yrs & under £30.00

Please fill out a disclaimer for the year if you have not already done so and bring it with you.    

A Tribute to the Late James Ramus
by Katrina Arnold

As the new Honorary President of the Coakham Bloodhounds, it is privilege for me to write a tribute to James who served as our President for more years than I can remember.

My history with the Bloodhounds dates back to 1988 and James joined us in the early 1990s, at which time the Ramus hunting contingent comprised octogenarian “Pop” Ramus who followed on foot and was hugely knowledgeable, James and Joy, his wife, and a very youthful Alex, who grew up to be our current Master Alex Wheeler.  Today James’s lovely grand daughters hunt regularly in our field and thus the dynasty continues.

James was a quiet, almost shy, man.  At first he seemed reserved and distant but that masked an incredible all seeing eye, quick and astute judgement, and a warm and friendly disposition both on and off the hunting field.

James let us make free with his farm.  Many a time we have enjoyed the orchards in bloom on our Spring rides and quietly cursed the sharp turns required at the end of the apple tree rows on wet winter days.  James viewed the country with the eye of the farmer and had a deep affinity with it and the hounds as they worked over it.

Even in his later years James liked to hunt at the front.  He was blessed with some excellent hunters and appeared fearless.  Never arrogant, he would encourage those having a wobble and probably saved many a day with his have a go attitude.  Indeed the newly established “James Ramus Give It Some Welly Memorial Award” sums him up perfectly and was awarded for the first time this year to Mrs Jane Baker for regaining her nerve on the hunting field after a nasty fall. 

I don’t think I ever saw James as anything other than even tempered in the field, even if ridden off or crowded. In that respect, and in so many other ways, he was a perfect hunting gentleman.

His will be large wellies to fill and I hope I will do his legacy justice.  I am sure he is already upfront in heaven, hands resting on his hunter’s neck, saying to St Hubert “they are all on, and they are right”.  We will miss him.

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