An ancient tradition, with links to Alfred The Great, is kept alive twice-weekly from March to July when members of the Waikato Hunt Club ride through the countryside.

Waikato Hunt Club members are grateful to landowners who let them ride through their land.

Every Wednesday morning about 50 riders, horses and hounds meet for a hunt – and on Saturdays or Sundays up to 100 riders take part, says master of the hunt Grant McGregor.

Grant says it is thanks to local landowners the hunt is able to continue.

'Hunting is very popular in the Waikato with riders from nine-10, to in their 80s taking part – and we're very grateful to landowners who enjoy seeing the hunt in action and who let us ride across their land.”

The hunt has access to properties throughout the Waikato, from Raglan in the west to Mamakau in the east, Tauhei in the north, to Otorohanga in the south.

The hounds, which are kennelled in Cambridge, are trained by a huntsman to follow a scent.

Waikato Hunt Club hounds are trained by a huntsman to follow a scent.

Not all riders and horses need to be able to jump, as most hunts have gated courses too. So riders less confident, or on horses not able to jump, can still take part.

'The hunt is a very popular, family affair. We usually ride for up to three hours from midday, returning to thank the landowners and enjoy a hunt breakfast in the afternoon,” says Grant.

Hunting as a sport is thought to have been introduced by Alfred The Great – but it's no longer a sport for just the aristocracy. In New Zealand, the hunting is regarded as a family sport for people from all walks of life, irrespective of race, creed, gender and profession.

Established in 1891, the Waikato Hunt Club has a membership of 180, with new members welcome.

The annual hunting season is end-of-March to mid-July.

The Waikato Hunt Club is an incorporated society with a structure of rules and code of conduct, with emphasis on etiquette, fun and enjoyment.

For more information about the Waikato Hunt Club, email secretary Margaret Fife at [email protected]