MIDLAND
20 November
catherine.austen@futurenet.com
@cfaustenl23
CAN hunting get any more hospitable than this? This question struck me as I walked into the grounds of the Witte Kasteel, Loon op Zand, a village in the centre of the Netherlands, just to the north of Tilburg. The Midland Hunt, one of six packs in the country, was soon to meet here. It looked like a party was about to begin; tables were laid, drinks were being poured and food was cooking. A group of sonneurs (French horn players), dressed in smart blue uniforms, was warming up. Members and supporters were drifting in, dressed in tweed jackets.
In the Netherlands, every subscriber has to organise at least one meet, and everyone wants to put on a good spread when it comes to their turn. Today was going to be a particular treat because the organisers were Dutch master chef Riny van den Oord, his wife Annette and their daughter Valerie. All are members of the Midland, and as well as being
