As I leave home in the early hours this morning to ‘do’ my horse & rush back home in time forwork, the temperature gauge in the car fluctuates around the -6°C to -8°C mark, yet again! Myroute to the stables takes me via the final road-crossing and a glimpse of the last fence on the HighPeak Hunt’s point-to-point course at Flagg (see photo attached). I marvel in horror at the fenceburied under a 4’ snow drift and wonder whether we will ever manage to throw off the vestigesof winter in time to hold the meeting on its’ traditional date of Easter Tuesday – this year on 10thApril – only 8 weeks away.

On arrival at the yard I become even more despondent & abandon all hope of ‘exercising’ after ascene reminiscent of Bambi whilst trying to negotiate ‘pent-up’ horses from their stables, acrossthe yard to the indoor school. Although hounds have met on foot, we have not been mounted forover a fortnight now & keeping horses ‘entertained’ and fit for that day when it all suddenly meltsis becoming increasingly difficult.

However, after a well-earned warming cup of coffee along with a quick flick throughJohn Beasley’s Big Green Annual of Point-to-Point Racing 2011 (available from PalefacePublications), my spirits are lifted. How lush & green the images of Flagg appear in 2011. The meeting was held only one week later last year, on 17th April & after the 2010/11 winter we had,we can surely do even better this time round.

I am further encouraged on my return trip home – the sun is shining, temperatures are rising andthe farmers are muck-spreading like mad whilst they can still get on the land – inadvertentlyhelping to produce that lush, near perfect going on the old grassland – such familiar territory tothe High Peak Hunt. Do our farmers know something we don’t? Can spring really be on its way?

My attention is drawn to a frenzied commotion and twittering along the headlands, along with theincessant ‘drilling’ of a woodpecker … and I remember that this week holds another major eventin the social calendar – February 14th or Valentines Day. A date, not only of major significancefor those incurable romantics amongst us, but also of importance to all birds of the featheredvariety. Apparently …. according to I know not whom, this is the ‘official’ date that birdscommence laying their eggs – something to do with warmth & lengthening daylight hours??? Sosomebody somewhere must definitely know something we don’t! Just a pity that my old girls(hens – that is!) at home aren’t yet taking the hint – despite the amorous advances of Rocky, thecockerel!

Having pondered all the above, I find myself now back at home & determine to ‘kick-on’ withmy training and entry for the High Peak Hunt Members Race at Flagg and to encourage mycompatriots to do likewise. For other interested parties, more information is available from:www.flaggraces.co.uk or www.highpeakhunt.org.

Reserved car-parking can be booked via Becki Edge : beckiwedge@aol.com and any media or PRenquiries via myself Rachel McQueen : rjmcqueen@gmail.com