Cheshire Tally Ho Hare and Hounds Club

Venue: Frodsham        Date: - 12th September 2009

Written by J M Shipley

Trail Layers were Joe Park and Richard Ridings

Saturday the 12th September 2009 as a bright and sunny day and the temperature being very pleasant for a run through the Cheshire countryside.

The first of the hounds (in loose terms) away in close pursuit of the hares were David Bell, George Dobson and Mike Shipley, with the remainder of the hounds following some considerable time later.

The trail headed south to enter the woods which skirt the ridge over looking Frodsham.  After 1.2 miles the route forked left to join a grassy track which  descended to join the Sandstone Trail for approximately .6 miles.  Leaving the Sandstone Trail, we headed southeast towards The Paddocks, Riley Bank and Birch Hill.  Birch Hill being the highest point of the run at 492ft.  At the 3.7 miles mark, the trail headed northeast to pass Castlehill Hotel, then onto the outskirts of Kingsley.  Having covered 6 miles, we headed northwest  to Five Crosses, and back to Forest Hills.

As usual, Joe Park ran the course completing the laying of the trail. 

The trail set by Joe Park and Richard Ridings and was 9 miles in length. It was fairly easy going, passing through very pleasant countryside (mainly farm land), without involving any really tough climbs and virtually no mud.  Some members  expressed the opinion that it was not tough enough.  However, the general consensus of opinion was that the trail set was a very good start to the season.

The start at Forest hills is 443ft above sea level, with the lowest part of the run being at Kingsley, 187ft above sea level and the highest point reached was at Birch Hill (as mentioned earlier) 492ft above sea level.   

As usual the facilities, food and hospitality received at Forest Hills were  excellent.

The hounds comprised:-

David Bell, Steve Blackshaw, George Dobson, Mike Eastwood, Rob McHarry, Steve Murray, Tim Norman, Joe Park, John Potter, Les Ruddock, Steve Ruddock, Mike Shipley, Graham Stanton, Mark Taylor, Tony Taylor and John Wilson.

We were joined by three guests, Steve Jackson, Stephen Markolokz and Colin Goulder who ran the course.  John Mercer walked to Alvanley and back.