The Hellspoort Valley game and nature farm hosted its first annual ‘Orion Macnab’ hunt last weekend.The ‘Macnab hunt’ has Scottish origins dating back to 1925. It involves shooting a free-ranging buck, catching a game fish, and shooting a game bird all in a day.
The Hellspoort Valley game and nature farm hosted its first annual ‘Orion Macnab’ hunt last weekend.The ‘Macnab hunt’ has Scottish origins dating back to 1925. It involves shooting a free-ranging buck, catching a game fish, and shooting a game bird all in a day.
The local spin on the event includes bagging an impala, catching a fish in the Great Fish River, and shooting rock pigeons.
Jacques du Toit, managing director of Vox Orion Managed Telecoms invited eight long-standing clients to Hellspoort Valley for a Scottish-themed hunt.
Thinus Jurgens the owner of Hellspoort Valley game farm successfully attempted the Macnab hunt himself before inviting Vox Orion and its clients for a weekend to set their own tradition around the challenge.
Each of the eight clients was paired up with their own personal hunter when they arrived at the Grahamstown aerodrome, where they changed into their kilts for the opening of the Orion Macnab getaway weekend.
Roy Hayes of the Hellspoort team was the master of ceremonies for the weekend, and he introduced the clients to their personal hunters while sharing a joke and a whiskey on a specially-placed red carpet next to the airstrip.
According to Jurgens, Hayes “acted as our clan Sergeant Major for the weekend, to keep an eye on the laddies’ hunting skills and manners.”
The hunt commenced early Saturday morning till sunset. Any unethical hunting methods are strictly prohibited, and the teams planned their strategy before they moved off to different designated areas of the farm.
Four of the eight clients successfully completed the Macnab challenge and Clint Wepener was the Orion Macnab winner, having shot an impala ram, six rock pigeons and catching six fish. He received a floating trophy for his efforts.
The day ended with a dinner function and prize giving on the banks of the Great Fish River, with bonfires and a lights display.
Following the highly successful weekend, Jurgen hopes to create a tradition at Hellspoort Valley and ensure that the Orion Macnab hunt becomes an annual event.
Jurgens also states that Hellspoort Valley would be keen to host other companies interested in similar weekend getaways, although this will be limited to three events per year.
