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 Capt. Brian Fanshawe ELLERSLIE CAMPERDOWN HUNT The world of foxhunting produces lasting friends and good companionship. One of the pleasures of life is the company of friends participating in mutually enjoyed activities. I count myself extremely fortunate that foxhunting has provided me with two trips to Australia to hunt in some of the most unspoiled country in the world. My fortune began when a foxhunting friend asked me to find some hunting in Leicestershire for John Crosbie Goold, Master of the Ellerslie Camperdown Hunt. Providing a week’s hunting in England in 1989 brought me three weeks hunting with the Ellerslie in 1990. I was immediately sold by the natural scope for hunting. There to behold was unlimited country and all of it grass, masses of foxes, a hunting fanatic in Master and Huntsman John Goold, backed by his partner, to very decorative and charming Deborah who turns out a stable full of quality horses. For my part I helped in some very small ways. I talked to John about handling hounds, and sent him one or two top class ones from my best bloodlines, and I suggested he hunted a more concentrated area of country rather than always going to far away stations. I returned to Ellerslie seven years later to find a pack of hounds unrecognizable in levelness, quality and happiness, to those I saw on my first trip. The fanaticism of the Master was still apparent, but it had more rationalism, and Deborah delighted with their baby son Jock, was still producing the horses. The hunt country was much more rideable with many jumping panels inserted in the wire fences. Don’t take fanaticism the wrong way, in order to provide good sport and to catch the Ellerslie foxes, there is no room for half measures. John’s qualities of determination and dedication are the essential ingredients to a successful Huntsman. To foxhunters worldwide I would recommend that they grab any opportunity that may
come their way to sample the joys and excitement of hunting with the Ellerslie Camperdown hounds. Don’t expect
a soft time, but I guarantee that any one will sleep well after a day’s hunting with John Goold and his hounds.
Brian Fanshawe COVERTSIDE Masters of Foxhounds Association Vol. 5 No. 23 * December 1999. Page 12. “Wherever I’ve gone in the hunting world, people talk reverently about him,” said MFHA Executive Director Dennis Foster. “I’m told he’s tough and demanding, but brilliant. Andrew Gray, Master and Huntsman of the Adelaide Hunt (Australia), raves about him. Everyone that’s ever seen him says he can ride anything, is a masterful huntsman, shows great sport consistently and has an awesome pack of hounds.” Foster was speaking of John Crosbie Goold, MFH of the Ellerslie Camperdown Hunt. HUNTING’S BEST KEPT SECRET IS DOWN UNDER If it wasn’t for the gum trees, uninterrupted views of rolling farm land and a mere handful of riders; you could be forgiven for imagining you were in Virginia or Leicestershire, because the standard and quality of hounds and foxes are without exception. The reality is, this is Australia- Western Victoria in fact and the Hunt is Ellerslie Camperdown. The Master is John Crosbie Goold, a man of immense capacity, ability and style. He is fanatical about hunting and devotes enormous personal resources to ensuring that his Hunt is unique in Australia and true to the tradition of the sport. The Ellerslie Camperdown Hunt is now based in the historic area of Camperdown, two hours west of Melbourne. The rich grazing land was first settled in the 1830’s and is located amidst unparrelleled geophysical formations of volcanoes, lakes, craters and productive soil types. Hunting first began in the Camperdown district 1898. The hounds met at the ‘Meningoort’ and ‘Warwarick’ estates owned by the original settler McArthur family. ‘Meningoort’ is still owned by the McArthurs, while ‘Warwarick’ is the new home of Master Goold and the Ellerslie Camperdown pack. The first pack was formed from a draft of hounds given by the Melbourne Hunt Club. The breeding lines were based on the famous Carlow blood; today made famous by Captain Brain Fanshawe’s ST line. The Camperdown pack disbanded during the First and Second World Wars and sadly failed to reform after 1945. In 1977 the Camperdown district enjoyed a visit from the Findon pack which hunted over the Meningoort Estate. Subsequent visits in 1978,79 and 80 by both the Findon and Oaklands packs rekindled the interest of hunting in the district and motivated the reformation of a local pack. The Ellerslie Camperdown hunt is situated in the most unique country, embracing 200 square miles of land, literally all grass; with wonderful covets formed by a soft 3-5 foot tussock, which forms in the lower, poorly drained countryside, and coverts along riverbanks. Foxes are in abundance. Over the last 5 seasons the pack have accounted for an average 1 brace to a leash per hunt. Foxes, due to ecological environment, grow far larger than normal in this particular district. The foxes main instinct of defending itself is by bolting or climbing trees. This frequently results in runs in excess of an hour. Points of 8 to 10 miles are not uncommon and runs of over 20 miles occur at least 6 times during a season. The Hunting season commences the first weekend in May and concludes with a closing meet on the last weekend of September. During the months of June, July, August and September, the hunt meets Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Hounds meet at some wonderful estates where second sons of England and Scotland have developed substantial residences and gardens. These early settlers often brought to Australia their own craftsmen to recreate a piece of their homeland heritage. At a typical Sunday meet at 10 am in August, the hunting log details two runs lasting approximately 2.1/4, covering thirty-odd miles. On neither run was the master able to be near the lead hounds at any stage, the hounds went continuously without checking. The practice in Australia is not to have second horses, mainly due to the size and scale of the country and as on the occasion just described, like many others, horses are totally exhausted and the hunt returned to the landowners homestead to enjoy a hunt breakfast at around 1.30pm. Some of the special and distinctive attributes for the Ellerslie Camperdown field is the visual aspect of viewing hounds and the hunted foxes thus having the opportunity to embrace the understanding of ‘venery’. As a huntsman, John Goold says, he places himself and field under some considerable pressure by having them ride within 40 yards of the pack, while drawing covers and running. However, he says the benefit for the field far out way the discipline to honor hounds that is required. The background of the breeding of the Ellerslie Camperdown pack is based on Cotsmor\Beaufort\Exmoor bloodlines but dominated by Captain Brain Fanshawe’s famous ST line. There are 35 to 40 couple kenneled and a draft of 18 ½ to 22 couples drafted on each hunt day. The hounds due to opportunity have developed wonderful nose, voice and drive. Horses generally used in the Ellerslie Camperdown hunt are thoroughbreds and ¾ thoroughbred crosses. This type of horse is obviously essential due to the nature of the going and the distance and pace of the hunting. The common obstacles jumped throughout the country are hunt panels, approximately 3’3” to 3’6” high, dry stone walls, approximately up to 4’ high and wire, varying in height from between 3’10” to 5’. The field generally is not expected to jump wire, however the huntsmen and whips at all times are expected to stay with the hounds. Over approximately 200 square miles of country, 2000 wooden panels have been built to allow the field to enjoy a safe, exciting day’s sport. Weather conditions are unusually pleasant, compared with northern-hemisphere winters. Frosts rarely occur and one never experiences frozen conditions. Temperatures during the season range from 8-18 degrees Celsius usually overcast but often with sunny days. Occasionally high winds occur during the winter months. In contrast to the Northern Hemisphere, grass grows during the winter and Master Goold says ‘we suffer the penalty of having to cut our lawns in the winter months!’ The membership make-up of the Ellerslie Camperdown Hunt includes local graziers and their offspring, interstate enthusiast and Melbourne professional people who travel 120 miles or so to enjoy a days hunting. Even though Ellerslie has a loyal and enthusiastic membership of 60 odd riders, midweek fields vary from 5-15 people with weekend hunts accommodating 10-30 enthusiasts. The hunt meets at 10.00am with the traditional Stirrup Cup and the hunt duration varies between 3-6 hours depending on hunting conditions. As Ellerslie is a private pack, membership is by invitation with the prerequisite being a genuine enthusiasm for hunting. John Goold, the Master has been an amateur huntsman for 20 years and is the trusted owner of the hounds, with a lifetime involvement in hunting. He has been riding since he could walk and has represented Australia in the National Polo Team and reached a handicap in Australia and USA of 6 goals. He has hunted on numerous occasions in England with the Beaufort, Cottesmoor, Quorn and Cotswold Hunts. John has been a breeder of performance thoroughbred horses for 30 years and supervises the breaking, schooling and educating of all his own horses for polo and hunting. He currently has 14 hunters in the yard to service himself, his family and the occasional international visitor. For the last 17 years Deborah Foster, John’s companion and the mother of their 3-year-old son Jock, manages the equestrian aspect of the hunt. Deborah is a highly skilled horsewoman from New Zealand and is renowned for her horse training skills. She also acts as Whip at the hunt and skillfully jumps wire on numerous occasions. International and interstate hunting enthusiasts who are fortunate enough to have the opportunity of hunting
with Ellerslie Camperdown all leave, egar to return to experience traditional fox hunting like nowhere else in
the world and are keen to retain the world’s best kept secret.
The Master/ Huntsman By James Weatherly MFH On a run with the Ellerslie pack and its Master, With his head down an earth Only thinking of foxes when waking or sleeping,
Trout Fishing Jim AllenPresident Australia Trout Foundation John Crosbie Goold “Warwarick” 315 Darlington Rd Camperdown Vic AUSTRALIA Dear John, Fly fishing the western region of Victoria with Murray, “Muzz” Wilson is an exciting addition to any visit. Muzz might take guests to a volcanic lake, where giant rainbows cruise the weedbeds or a small stream in the magnificent rain forests of the Otway ranges. Muzz is a folksy, likeable and very Australian trout guide with a wealth of knowledge of Western Victoria. He is known as one of Australia’s most innovative fly tyers and a day spent with him will be an experience not to be forgotten. Jim Allen PROFESSIONAL GUIDE & FLY TYERS Murray “Muzz” Wilson May to Mid June Mid June to August Sept There is also salt water fly-fishing for Australian salmon from beaches and rocky headlands. Comprehensive Guiding Services: Fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout. Scenic rivers and trout lakes. For experienced or novice anglers alike Casting tuition and instruction in fly dressing All quality tackle and wet weather gear supplied Complimentary lunches with full day fishing Rates by the day Pick up- Drop off ............................................................................................................................................................................................. |
© Ellerslie Camperdown Hunt Updated 15-January-2000..