THE first authenticated record of the Hurworth Hunt was in 1803, originally founded by the three Wilkinson Brothers of Neasham Abbey. The hounds at that time were kennelled at Hurworth hence the name of the current day hunt.

Like all hunts it has had its ups and downs and nearly folded in 1927 due to lack of finances and not being able to find anyone to take on the Mastership.

Fortunately in time both problems were solved, and the hunt grew in strength, getting back to its former glory under the Mastership of Mary Furness of Otterington Hall, who held that post from 1936 - 1971.

The present Masters are Peter Dennis and Keith Balbach, and the chairman is John Furness who farms an estate at Kirby Knowle. The secretary is Sarah Horner-Harker, and the Huntsman is Joe Townsend.

The hunt compromises of 33 couple of Old English Hounds in kennel, with 2-3 litters bred each year. These hounds are hunted twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays and hunt on average 65 days a season, catching last season 441/2 brace of foxes.

The kennels were built back in 1927-28 for the grand cost of £6,000 at West Rounton, near Northallerton. The minesweeper HMS Hurworth was named after the hunt and there is regular contact between the crew and the hunt members, although the sailors take more readily to a day's hunting than the hunt members do to a day at sea.

There are many committees connected with the hunt; the hunt committee is the main hub that holds everything together. The Point to Point committee is just that; organising and producing the very popular day's racing annually. The hunt supporters' committee does a fantastic job of organising the fundraising events held throughout the year, and finally the Hurworth Hunt Farmers' committee, whose job it is to organize the annual hunt farmers ball.

This committee is made up of people who support the hunt in a variety of ways, not just riding to hounds. The chairman is Don Lowther, whose wife Gillian is also a member, the secretary is Ken Fox and the treasurer is Pat Grieves. It is the combination of all the members that have make the ball the huge success that it is today.

Ken Fox took over the post as secretary in 2000 from the great Shelia Dennis who held the position for 40 years.

For many years the hunt ball was held at Hambleton Community Centre in Northallerton with a seating capacity of 330 guests. The demand for tickets became so high, the only way to expand was through hiring a marquee.

In 2003 once the committee had made the decision to hold the 2004 ball in a marquee, they were left with two major questions; where to get the marquee from and where to put it? After many hours searching for answers they hired Ray Smith's company Classic Marquees to provide the said marquee, and since they wanted to stay in or around Northallerton the Rugby Club was approached. John Winspear the chairman of the rugby club committee came to the rescue by allowing the hunt to use the club facilities and grounds. Since there was a change of venue for the 2005 ball, it was decided that a change in music and catering was called for too. Trevor Lansdall of Country Caterers was chosen to provide a four-course meal. Guests sat down to smoked salmon and spinach roulade, cream of mushroom and bacon soup, fillet of beef on potato rosti with a Madeira sauce finally followed by a dessert of individual lemon tarts with a fruit compote and double cream, mints and coffee. Lousy for the Atkins diet that I am on, but incredibly tasty.

The band who entertained all of us that evening was the great Paul James Band from Northumberland. They had a huge variety of music to suit everyone.

An additional feature this year was the hiring of an events photographer Rebecca Cook. She greeted us as we came in offering a photograph with our friends or partners before entering the ball; very sensible taking them before and not after.

Kathryn Clark arranged the table decorations which were superb, especially impressive as there were tables all around the dance floor with 10-12 guests on each one for a grand total of 475 people. Kathryn also decorated the dancing area which, with the aid of lights, she had managed to create an "under the stars"! effect beautifully.

Guests came from all over the country including some from overseas. Ken Fox had friends from the Czech Republic whose annual England pilgrimage is the ball. The evening ended at around 2am. Although many continued to party until the wee hours at home.

All the committee's hard and dedicated work paid off. It is one of the best in the North. Long may it continue.

* A special thanks to Joe Townsend and Ken Fox for invaluable information and identification.

Published: 28/01/2005