Coakham Bloodhounds News

Important Announcement

The Masters of the Coakham Bloodhounds are sad to announce that we will be ending our hunting season with immediate effect. This is due to the escalating Coronavirus crisis and the Government's instructions to avoid non-essential travel and mass gatherings. We also have to consider that any accidents occurring at our meets could put strain on an already fragile health service. With all horse-racing, British Eventing, Pony Club and Riding Club activities cancelled, and other equestrian organisations likely to follow suit very soon, we feel it would be inappropriate for us to continue.

I know it is extremely disappointing to everyone after such a wet winter with many meets cancelled. Can we just say a huge thank you to everyone who has been involved with the Coakham Bloodhounds this year and hope we can look forward to a much better season in 2020/2021!

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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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