The Field – August 2019

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2019 MACNAB

CHALLENGE

Forrules,howtoenterandmoreinformationonTheField’s MacnabChallenge in

association with Blaser, go to: http://www.thefi eld.co.uk/macnab-challenge

THEMACNABMUSTBECOMPLETED

WITHINONEDAYLIGHTDAY

• THECLASSICMACNABAsalmonon the
  fly, a staganda braceofgrouse.


• THEREALMACNABA salmononthefly
  anda stag,asthetriodidinJohnBuchan’s
  JohnMacnab. Theymustbe‘poached’in
  a legalsportingmannerfromanpre
  warnedownerwhoacceptsthechallenge.


• THESOUTHERNMACNABA couple of
  snipe,a seatroutanda roebuck.


• THEMACMARSHA foreshore goose, a
  pikeanda fallowbuck.


• THEMACVERMINAnimpressiverat,a
  pikeonthefl y and a brace of magpies (to
  be shot).
  
  
  • THEMACSCANDIA moose, capercaillie
    anda troutonthefly.
  
  
  • THEMACARGENTINIANA golden
    dorado, 100 braceofdovesanda
    wildpig.This is the northern Argentinian
    Macnab.
  
  
  • THEMACAFRICANAbraceof sandgrouse,
    animpalaanda tigerfish.
  
  
  • THEMACCHARLIERidingto foxhounds,
    harriersandstaghounds.
  
  
  • THECORINTHIANMACNABRidingto
    houndsinthemorning,shootinga brace
    ofpartridgesintheafternoon, and then
    catchinga troutonthefly.
  
  
  • THEMACNORFOLKA braceofwildgreys,
    a fallow buck and a bass on the fl y.
  
  
  
  

MACRULES

stagandgrouse missingfrom theirgame-
book. Alongside the requisite skill, these
successfulMacnabbersmustbetherecipi-
entofa gooddollopofluckanda helpful
gillie.If it happenstobea daywhena cast
peaksSalmosalar’s fancy,thenyourluckis
in.HavingoneunsuccessfulMacnabattempt
(as an observer) under the belt, watch-
ingsalmonleapbutnevertake,it issafeto
admitthatmuchdependsontheluckofthe
day.A groupofstagsina swirlingwind,and
theyscatter astheyscent the overzealous
stalker.A poorseasonforgrouseanda brace
becomesyouronechance, not the bounty
that a covey holds.

RISETOTHECHALLENGE
TheMacnab holds a unique place in our
sporting firmament. It is an adventure, a
journey,a campaign; itcombinesphysical
endeavorwithsolitudeandcamaraderie.It
alsoholdsa prizedplaceinmanysporting
imaginations. Itisthe ultimate Corinthian
Challengeandmoneycannotbuyit.Jointhis
year’sField Mancab Challenge, in associa-
tion with Blaser.

Spying the hill at first light – a Macnab must be completed between dawn and dusk