Horse Play at the National Stud

We don’t know much about horses and we know even less about racing, but when an opportunity arose to look round the National Stud, we jumped at the chance to get an insight into a world that we know so little about. Created in 1916 when Lord Wavertree presented his stud and bloodstock to the… Continue reading Horse Play at the National Stud

A Day with a Norfolk Thatcher

We’ve just spent the morning with Dameon Layt, a reed thatcher from Norfolk. Things didn’t go entirely to plan when the job he was supposed to be working on was put back a few weeks because they’d found bats in the roof, but he still kindly agreed to meet us at the barn (thatched, of… Continue reading A Day with a Norfolk Thatcher

Hunting with Harris Hawks

“If you think you might fall, save the bird” This morning we were at the Bird of Prey Centre in Bedfordshire; home to the English School of Falconry and nearly 300 birds. The centre is run by Phil Gooden and his daughter Emma and is nestled into a patch of woodland in the magnificent grounds… Continue reading Hunting with Harris Hawks

Muddy Pub Quiz at the St John Arms

The Muddy Marathon got off to a great start with our first ever ‘Muddy Pub Quiz’ at the St John Arms in Melchbourne, Bedfordshire. There was a great mix of people including locals from the surrounding villages and Muddy Matches members that had travelled from a bit further afield.  Some of our fishing week competition… Continue reading Muddy Pub Quiz at the St John Arms