‘If Carlsberg did gentlemen’s days…’
Gareth Watchman’s fear of “gimmicks” are put to one side to raise funds
IT’S always worth looking for new fundraising initiatives to keep the wolf from the door, and with someone backing out of an auction prize to the tune of £10,000 at our hunt ball, this was certainly a good incentive.
We have previously hosted a ladies’ day, but this is the first time we have ever added a gents’ day to the meet card. As a huntsman who goes hunting generally between the hours of 11am and dusk to hunt as much as possible without wasting even 10 minutes to change second horses, I have to say my heart sinks a little at the idea of these “fundraising” days that involve hunting.
My fear, of course, is that the whole day becomes something of a charade and little attention is paid to the hounds or the hunting. Fortunately, I believe we managed to find a happy balance on both occasions.
Gents’ day came first, and although we were slightly worried on how to structure it, the feedback suggests we weren’t too far away from being spot on – one response being: “If Carlsberg did gentlemen’s days”.
We started with a breakfast bun and coffee (along with something a little stronger) on our feet in the meet host’s bothy, followed by a 12 noon meet. The idea of an easy one-horse day soon went out the window as hounds didn’t stop all afternoon, finishing on a four-mile point with only a handful of riders staying the course.
Those gents who were lucky enough to have their grooms take their horses away joined a small group of us in the pub for a spell afterwards. We then headed over to the kennels for a black-tie dinner, hosted by some very glamorous lady subscribers, donning classy, matching scarlet tails outfits, calling themselves the Zetland Fillies.
The atmosphere all day and night was electric, and it would have been hard for even the traditional hunting man to knock.
As ladies’ day arrived, I had given little thought to the idea that the Zetland Fillies would expect us gents to return the favour.
As the ladies started to arrive at the meet for their champagne breakfast, there I stood with my joint-master, both in our tails, drinks tray in hand, looking nowhere near as glamorous as the Zetland Fillies just a couple of weeks prior.
We humbly served our guests breakfast as well as keeping their glasses topped throughout the morning.
I got the blame, rather undeservedly I thought, for being too generous with the refills as most of the falls came within the first hour of leaving the meet!
A pleasant, yet busy hunting day ensued – and somehow we managed the time for halfway drinks. The day ended at the kennels with a traditional hunt tea laid on by our wonderful and tireless hunt supporters’ club, who also provided the cooked breakfast and the meet earlier that day.
It was fulfilling to see so many people pulling together to make the day such a fundraising success.
Gareth Watchman joined the Zetland as joint-master and huntsman on 1 May 2022, having spent three years in the same position at the Berwickshire. Prior to that, he hunted the South Durham.