Field meet Hares Only– Saturday 9 February 2008 

The day started by 14 club members meeting at Glynne’s for breakfast, after bacon and sausage butties they moved out to some new land near Buckingham.  When we arrived there was still a good frost on the ground but the sun was shining.  We split into 2 groups with 4 birds in each group. 

Group 1 consisted of Kevin, Martyn, Lee and Gary all with Harris Hawks, observing and beating for them was Dave and Jim. Group 2 consisted of Roland (Golden Eagle), Mike (Marshals Eagle), Glynne (F/Goshawk) and Jake (F/Redtail).  Spectators and beating was Carl, Julian, Nathan and Kelvin. 

Group 1 went off to the upper part of the land. In the morning they covered the area seeing several hares, however they were too far away for any slips. The highlight being when Martyn’s’ Rosie slipped into the woods nearby and attached herself to the back of a Canada Goose!  The goose then took flight with Rosie attached to its back, fortunately for Martyn she let go and came back.  In the afternoon they tried land across the road but it went pretty much as the morning. 

Group 2 went to the lower end of the land, first slip went to Roland, after 15 mins walk a hare got up, the eagle was off, he caught up with the hare rapidly but as the hare turned on the speed, and he lost some ground and interest.

Next slip went to Jake with his Red, Hare got up and started running some 75 metres ahead, the red was off without hesitation and gaining rapidly, at about the 200 metre point the red tagged the back end of the hare which encouraged it to move a bit faster, the red continued in the chase and after about another 150 metres hit in with the hare jinking at the last moment and the red ending up on the ground, the hare then went off through the hedge, an excellent effort and slip.

Next was Glynne’s Gos, out came all the usual Gos excuses, she may be a bit high; there are a lot of people around etc, etc.  After these she was ready to go.  A hare got up at about 100 metres away and the Gos was straight off the fist, rapidly catching up, she tagged it three times over about 400 metres in total then she hit in hard, both Gos and hare tumbling over, at this time Glynne was doing his best to catch up and was spurred on by her hitting in.  Next thing the hare was up and running again to the left with the bird left on the ground.  Glynne stopped running at this point, next moment the bird is off again in hot pursuit, Glynne’s hands went up in the air and off he went again too.  The bird chased for about 450 metres, then hit in hard taking the hare to the ground and firmly nailing it, it did not get up again, Glynne eventually got to her and sorted things out.  Overall a terrific determined slip by a very determined Gos and one in the bag.

Everyone had a couple more slips then in the afternoon when it got round to Roland, a hare was put up about 30 metres away, the eagle was off with determination, the hare jinked left and right with the eagle staying hard on its tai9l and coursing it well, after some 150 metres he hit in, they both tumbled and we thought it was in the bag but after a few seconds the hare managed to break free and was off again, the eagle got up and chased again for about 50 metres then accepted it had got away and landed on the hedge.

The rest of the day continued in the same vein with all the birds working well.

Total bag was just the one hare for the day.

Glynne Malkin

February 2008