UPDATED – Melton Hunt Club Ride 2022 – Course Walk

Posted on 6th November 2022 in Horse Event Photography. So far there are 0 comments.
Bungalow hedge - Melton Hunt Club Ride 2022

The Melton Hunt Club Ride 2022 is back in the Cottesmore country, and will be held in Withcote on Sunday 20th November. More details can be found on the Melton Hunt Club Ride website and Facebook page.

melton course map 2022
The Melton Hunt Club Ride Course Map 2022 (click for PDF)

I’m pleased to say I can also give you a Foxhunters Course Map too. Please note that the images below are of the anticipated obstacles on the main race course, and only some of these may be on the Foxhunters course as well!

foxhunters course map 2022
The Cottesmore Foxhunters Course Map 2022 (click for PDF)

Please remember you are on private land and don’t assume you can go where you like.

Please look out for details of when the course can be walked and only walk when permitted. Several landowners have been very generous with their land for this year’s ride and we do not want to jeopardise future runnings of the event by going against their wishes.

At the time of writing the ground on the course was excellent, soft in a few places. There was stock on the course throughout so most of these images show wire of some sort which will obviously not be there for the races.

Fence 1
Fence approach
Fence 1 Landing Side
Fence landing
Fence 2
Next fence approach
Fence 2
Next fence
Fence 2 Landing Side
Next fence landing
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 007
Fence approach
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 008
Fence landing

After this fence the course goes steeply down hill and then turns right in the middle of the field.

Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 009
Fence approach – there will be a right-hand marker at this fence
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 010
approach
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 011
landing

The course now loops back on itself.

Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 012
The hedge line which is now crossed to get to…
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 013
approach

After this fence the course turns left and downhill, through a line of trees (no obstacles) towards the ruins of Sauvey Castle.

The straightforward route is to the left of the Castle mound but this is a long way round.

The direct route is shown below! The branches to the left of this photograph will be trimmed.

Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 014
approach
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 015
Rails
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 016
Landing
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 017
Steep slope after landing

After this steep slope the ground levels out and the course continues towards the next turning marker allowing a choice of routes.

Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 018
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 019
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 020
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 021
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 022
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 023

After the next turning marker the course opens out.

In the image below the course continues over the foreground hedge then proceeds into the distance with the next turning marker on the hedge line in the distance where the metal gates can be seen.

Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 024
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 025
More of that foreground hedge
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 026
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 027
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 028
Bungalow hedge approach
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 029
Alternative route
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 030
Bungalow Hedge
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 031
Bungalow Hedge
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 032
Bungalow Hedge landing (no fence)
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 033
Alternative route gates – there will be a marker in this vicinity

After crossing this hedge line the course goes uphill across grass and at the crest of the hill we see the course ahead of us.

Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 034
Course continues over the rails, tiger trap in line with gate then slightly left through an open gate in the trees.
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 035
Tiger trap.
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 036
This is the view backwards through the gateway which will be open
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 037
The course continues across the grass at the back of Withcote Hall through the trees
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 038
Withcote Wall landing side
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 039
Hunt jump into farm field
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 040
Course then turns right over the rails in the distance
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 041
Beyond this hunt jump is a hedge line and the course goes right-handed here
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 042
Less direct route
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 043
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 044 1
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 045
More direct route
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 046
Hedge after direct route
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 047
The end of the course is an anticlockwise loop across the fields at the beginning of the course last time it was here.
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 048
Scoop behind one hedge
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 049
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 050
Gate will be shut but lots of options
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 051
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 052
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 053
Landing side of same hedge in various places
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 054 1
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 055
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 056
Next hedge line close to excellent spectator viewing area. There will be a marker on Harriet’s Tree in the distance at 11 o’clock’
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 058
Marker on this line will keep competitors uphill
Fence 2 Landing Side

After this hedge line the course turns down hill towards the finish

Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 060
Final hedge
Melton Hunt Ride Course Walk Nov22 061
Final hedge
Melton Hunt Club Ride Course Walk 2022
Final hedge

More information will be added to this post when the course map is finalised with marker positions and details of both courses.

Thank you for your patience.

Leave the first comment