UPDATED – Melton Hunt Club Ride 2022 – Course Walk

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 Hunt Club Ride 2022 Map
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 2023
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
Fence approach
Fence landing

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

Fence approach – there will be a right-hand marker at this fence
approach
landing

The course now loops back on itself.

The hedge line which is now crossed to get to…
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.

approach
Rails
Landing
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.

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.

More of that foreground hedge
Bungalow hedge approach
Alternative route
Bungalow hedge - Melton Hunt Club Ride 2022
Bungalow Hedge
Bungalow Hedge
Bungalow Hedge landing (no fence)
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.

Course continues over the rails, tiger trap in line with gate then slightly left through an open gate in the trees.
Tiger trap.
This is the view backwards through the gateway which will be open
The course continues across the grass at the back of Withcote Hall through the trees
Withcote Wall landing side
Hunt jump into farm field
Course then turns right over the rails in the distance
Beyond this hunt jump is a hedge line and the course goes right-handed here
Less direct route
More direct route
Hedge after direct route
The end of the course is an anticlockwise loop across the fields at the beginning of the course last time it was here.
Scoop behind one hedge
Gate will be shut but lots of options
Landing side of same hedge in various places
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’
Marker on this line will keep competitors uphill
Fence 2 Landing Side

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

Final hedge
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.

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