Mist lifts in time for a great opening meet

Nicky Vigors, Joint Master of the Zetland Hunt, gave a rousing speech. He emphasised that anyone who was not a fully paid up member of the Countryside Alliance would not be permitted to hunt with the Zetland Hunt this season. The long battle to save hunting will only be won with everybody's support and it is almost unimaginable to believe that there are still people attending hunts on a regular basis who are not a member of the Countryside Alliance, he said.

A fox was quickly found from Windmill and gave the field a quick hunt to Brettanby Covert where he went to ground. Finding again quickly at the Buckle in Windmill Strip, hounds settled nicely to give an excellent hunt of four miles in a little under an hour.

There was plenty of jumping and much excitement as hounds sped over the Brettanby Estate to Manfield Whin and thence through Manfield Village to ground again at Piercebridge.

After hunt staff had changed to second horses a fox from Herrings gave an enjoyable hunt for about 45 minutes, crossing part of the Cliffe Estate around the back of Manfield with scent petering out as the fox made his way back to Brettanby Estate.

An evening hunt was enjoyed by only a handful of followers from Micklow Hill towards Langdale.

All in all a marvellous day with a huge thank you to Cliffe and Brettanby Estates, the Anderson Family of Manfield and our excellent terrier man, Richard Wilson.

Patron's day ceremony blesses all humans and animals

November 3 marked the official memorial date for St Hubert, patron saint of hunting across the world.

Born in Maastricht, Holland in c.656, Hubert of Liege was passionately devoted to hunting. It is said that while hunting a stag, it lifted his head and Hubert saw a vision of a crucifix between its antlers.

A voice warned Hubert he would quickly fall to hell unless he turned to the Lord and led a holy life. Dropping to his knees and asking what he must do to be saved he was told to seek out Bishop Lambert of Maastricht.

To mark this important annual event, hunts across the country held blessing ceremonies. It has long been a tradition to bless the not only the hounds, but riders, horses, dogs, ferrets, falcons, game, fish, coursers, anglers, stalkers, walkers, fly fishermen and game shooters. Even the fox; in absentia.

A service of blessing the human and animal participants in all country pursuits and activities was held at St Wilfrid's Church, Kirby Knowle, near Thirsk, on October 28.

Fox hounds, Beagles, Mink and Bassett hounds, terriers, lurchers, gun dogs and handlers lined the avenue up to the church doors where the Rev Toddy Hoare of the Hillside parishes, a regular rider to hounds himself, addressed more than 200 people.

As a symbol of thanks and the respect and esteem with which those who hunt behold the fox, a painting depicting this absentia animal of the woods was offered from Joe Townsend, Huntsman for the Hurworth Hunt.

Game keepers brought forward grouse and pheasant and fishermen brought fish, all offering thanks for their own sports. Both the Hurworth and Bilsdale hunts brought hounds.

A jouster in full medieval regalia travelled from Leeds to represent horses from all disciplines.

The setting was emotionally charged, with the final words coming from Peter Dennis MFH and Mike Keeble, the renowned countryside commentator and Darlington and Stockton Times columnist . Their passion touched the hearts of all there, and many of us fought back tears for what could be last of these most precious services.

The Bilsdale then moved their hounds to hunt the hills above the church, a perfect setting and ending for this saintly day.

The Cleveland's proud tradition

The Cleveland Hunt covers an area of North Yorkshire bounded by the river Tees to the North, the Esk to the South, North Sea to the east and the western boundary follows the Northern escarpment of the North Yorksh Moors from South Broughton, until it reaches Great Summer House just North of Hetton-le-Hole.

A considerable part of the Cleveland's country is on an annual loan to the Farndale and Glaisdale hunts.

The Cleveland hunt dates back hundreds of years and as with our neighbours, the Bilsdale, we are probably the oldest pack in the world. It is perfectly reasonable to suppose that portions of the existing Cleveland country have been hunted since 1668.

The hunt attracts a large number of point to point qualifiers whose success usually elevates the Cleveland into the top ten list of winners. Mr Frisk whose Grand National winning time is likely to never be broken, is a Cleveland horse bred by Ralph Dalton a local farmer who has whipped in for the hunt some years ago, and who still supports us to this day as enthusiastically as ever.

The hounds hunted by John Macey are not of a continuous line, although some of the lines can be traced back to the wonderful carefree, canter and crafty britches hunted by Frank Morris for Colonel Wharton in the 1940's.

As the nature of the country changes due to the pressures of farming, it is soon to change again; a different type of hound is required to accommodate these changes and an element of slower but more persevering hound is emerging. However given the right conditions these hounds can provide a quality of sport to satisfy the most discerning of followers.

Cubbing this season was a trifle slow and on occasions foxes were not found in some 'hot' coverts. Nor was the situation helped by difficult scenting conditions. However, when we took our hounds as guests to the Bedale, a near perfect morning was enjoyed with our young hounds entering splendidly.

The opening meet at Skelton Castle was attended by sixty plus mounted and a great number of foot followers. Meets at the castle are always popular and Anthony Wharton continuing the long tradition of making the entire estate open to the hunt, and whose generosity of spirit ensures that the ancient sport can be conducted as in former less troubled times.

Report: John Coverdale Hunt Secretary

Good sport found back at the New Inn

The Bedale started their season from Bedale Park with several hundred people on foot and one hundred riders.

The first a fox was found in Bedale woods but ran back towards the A1 were hounds had to be stopped. Hounds soon found again in Mr Hall's roots and ran up across the farm towards Cowling where he had to be turned to avoid shooting interests.

Charlie headed towards Sparrow wood out to Oscar Hill across the Masham road before passing below the Thorton Watlass road were the hounds were stopped again. Later in the day hounds killed an easy fox outside Crackhall ending a very good first day.

At the breakfast meet at Tennants in Leyburn, after a rather slow start with little scent to help the hounds, a very good day was had by all. We found in Givindale after the field had been duly entertained over former Master David Ford's farm, the hounds ran well for a while but the hunted fox refused to leave, when he did he made a small circuit out and back round into the duck ponds.

With plentiful foxes in Barden Gill and hounds running well in the Gill, the hunted fox left and headed north to the moor. Hounds went away with great drive and pushed this fox hard for 20mins. He dwelt on the edge of the moor before returning to the top end of the Gill, where nothing more could be made of him.

Hauxwell provided us with our next fox. Hounds found in Black Wood and went away across Mr Laws hunting south around the Hall, befor e heading north again where cattle foil ended this hunt.

The meet at The New Inn, Thrintoft was gratefully received after a year away from the pub. The site of a fox running across Andrew Pybus's farm is unrivalled in Yorkshire, and exactly what happened. The fox was found in roots behind Morton-on-Swale and headed towards Thrintoft Whin then to equestrian cover where he was left.

Later in the day a fox was found in the whithybed below Thrintoft Parks, he ran to Langton Hall and on to the Quarry were hounds killed. The New Inn meet was an excellent day for the hounds and riders; many thanks to all those that made it such a memorable day.

Report: Charles Frampton MF

Scenting conditions steadily improved

October 30 saw a large gathering of both mounted and foot followers gathering at the Duke of Wellington Inn, Welbury for the Hurworth Hunt opening meet.

Plentiful hospitality was dispensed by the new landlords and with the thick fog surrounding us this was more than welcome. Finally the fog cleared and an entertaining day was had to start the season with hounds catching two brace.

Since then there has been a steady improvement in scenting conditions and the sport shown, starting with a busy day from M. and Mrs Gibbons farm at Eryholme. Hounds worked hard all day on what can only be described as a patchy scent, keeping the field on the move and showing some excellent hound work. For the second time this season a fox crossed the Tees with a single hound in pursuit, Liberty03, but this time too far behind to cause him any concern. A wet brush but one still in tact!

The Wheatsheaf at Borrowby was the next meet and a fox away from the gill below Carrodell had hounds running hard right through to Chester House and on to Sigston Church, before turning back to cross into Cotcliffe wood where he was accounted for to finish a good run.

The second half of the day was very busy round Crosby , where three foxes were put to ground, and abiding by the Landowners wishes left where they were. The day finished with a fox being caught in the stell by Cocked Hat.

The Meet at the home of Ken Fox, saw hounds running well all day with a good show of foxes. The best run of the day being on a fox from by the Station House, Potto, that took us to Sexhow before turning back and running back through where he was found to cross to Toft Hill Farm and on over the Hutton Rudby Road and then the Crathorne road by the cricket pitch, to finally loose him in the coverts on the banks of the Leven.

Report: Joe Townsend

Will the country stand for this?

By the time you read this anything could have occurred with the ban on hunting, so bizarre have been the workings of our democracy. But in all likelihood our liberty will rest in the hands of the lawyers.

It surely cannot be right to use the Parliament Act or to take away such a fundamental human right, but the law is a lottery when it comes to such matters and I am deeply mistrustful of the judiciary's willingness to overturn the decision of elected politicians, whatever the merits of the case. I am also concerned that the legalistic sophistries mask a simple truth that is that the British constitution is now deeply flawed. There are seemingly no checks and balances on the power of the executive and a complete inability to preserve the rights of a minority, the hallmark of any civilised democracy. I think we have reached the chapter in Animal Farm when the pigs take over.

The only consolation that I can find is that Tony Blair must now be praying as much as we are that the judges rule the Bill unlawful. The Prime Minister has enjoyed playing chicken with the rural juggernaut and realised too late that he is unable to avoid a collision. The attempt to delay the ban by two to three years was an act of pure funk, but the politically equivalent to turning back from a large fence and looking for a gate.

Governments can posture as much as they like but ultimately they rule by our consent, not just by the mandate renewed every five years through the ballot box but day in day out; by our compliance with their laws and paying their taxes. Every so often the politicians lose contact with reality and push people too far. Remember the Poll Tax?

The trouble is that the Poll Tax was easily reversible. This time it is different. If the legal challenges fail there isn't the remotest chance in the foreseeable future that the composition of the House of Commons will change to the point where a vote to bring back hunting would succeed. If it all goes pear-shaped there could be no Government U-turn to diffuse the situation. And for hunting folk there will be a stark choice. We either have to give in to prejudice or fight it, there is no longer a democratic option on offer.

After years of delegating these issues to others to debate it is now down to us. We can leave the hunt servants to their fate and drift away to spend our money on skiing holidays instead, or we can defy the ban accepting that we will be outlaws.

The irony will be that if we let hunting go it will not be through lack of resources or through fear or because the police are able to stop us. It would take a battalion of infantry supported by helicopters for each Hunting country to be absolutely sure of enforcing the ban. It will be because at heart we are all just too decent and law-abiding. If Margaret Thatcher had passed a law banning football, the streets of our cities would have been ungovernable. Will the rural population stand for this? We shall see.

Jamie Blackett

Still going strong after 400 years

Bilsdale hunt, founded in the early 1600s by the Duke of Buckingham, is still going strong today, with some 40 subscribers enjoying two days hunting each week over wild country made up of moor, forestry and lowland with some legendary bogs. The country contains no towns, no railways, only one 'A' road and lies east of the A19 between Thirsk and Stokesley.

Allan Caine the master for 17 seasons was replaced in May 2003 by Harry Stephenson who whipped with the York (South) Hunt for five seasons. Following a successful season's hunting, 2003/04, the hounds were moved to their new home in a separate hound lodge with the Hurworth pack at West Rounton, Northallerton.

Dr Hugh Miles, chairman of the hunt and usual field master said: "Since the hounds moved to the Hurworth kennels they have been able to be fed on fallen stock as opposed to baker's waste. One of the most important roles of hunts is clearing fallen stock".

"The long-term ambition of the Bilsdale is for them to have their own kennels, and even in this uncertain climate, we are taking a long-term view. Regardless of whether hunting is banned or continues in a licensed form, the Bilsdale intend to keep their 400 year old history going in some form or another".

Since Harry took over as Master, Dr Miles is convinced that there has been a great improvement that shows in a pack of hounds who are trained, schooled, obedient and do their job properly. "The net result being that we are killing foxes on a regular basis and like it or lump it our role in life is to kill foxes," he said.

Improvements have been made in the pack by drafting in older hounds from as far a way as Devon to teach the existing hounds, following two or three years of not getting a hold of much. The pack has increased from 16 couple to 25 with 9 couple being walked. Harry feels that with there not being a square mile of the country that is not shot, coupled with the large covering of forests, discipline in the hounds is essential.

"We must make sure that they all come home with us of a night" he said. To this end he has worked tirelessly with the hounds over the summer and invites local gamekeepers to come out with the hunt t o see the positive results.

Subscribers at £250 per year are up this year to 40, and the opening meet saw a mounted field of 53 with a further 90 plus following on foot, six foxes were found on the day.

On November 10 the hunt met at High Paradise Farm, Boltby, the home of Mr and Mrs Skilbeck. The field was fifteen strong and led by Field Master Alison Westwood, the whipper-ins were Mrs Judith Skilbeck and Mr Stuart Allen.

The nature of the day's hunting through the forests was really not conducive to following on foot, but a number of four-wheel drives set out along the forest tracks including Guy Wood, gamekeeper of the Morton Estate, Maurice Thompson who has been hunting with the Bilsdale for 52 years and terrier man Colin Richarson with his assistant Rob Stockdale.

The days hunting continued on till dusk, ending around 4.30pm, with the hounds finding foxes deep in the forest leaving plenty for another fine day.

Report and pictures: Alistair Flood - words and pictures

From ship to shore: HMS Hurworth crew go hunting

Lt Cdr David Hunkin brought his crew ashore for a day's hunting with the Hurworth in November. The ship is named after the hunt, one of a fleet of eight representing of various hunts throughout the country.

Lt Cdr Hunkin said: "I wanted to bring the crew out hunting to show them what it is all about. I am from a sporting family who hunt and fish, and we took this opportunity to present our namesake with a life belt from the ship for their clubroom." In return, the hunt bestowed a gift of a fox's mask and brush for the ship ward room.

The crew were shown true Hurworth hospitality from all the hunt members and the hosts for the day were Mr and Mrs Sanderson of Hallikeld Farm near Brompton. They witnessed some fine hunting, including an 8-mile chase, the best so far this season.

The fox ran from White House Farm setting sail for Northfield. It took three fields for hounds to settle on the line, but once the scent was strong they were off. They hunted a large circle of 8 miles with some great jumping for the field.

At Kirks Gill the hounds started to struggle, but a view of our fox at High House had them in contact again. Running hard up to the main road by Beech Hill, and turning right handed to pass Winton covert and to Hallikeld, they came up to their fox and received their reward.

For the last of a mile of this hunt, including crossing two stells (ditches), the Huntsman Joe Townsend had to perform a difficult balancing act as his girth had split when he jumped a large and tricky fence below Nick Wards farm, much to the disbelief of hunt staff when he radioed for second horse or new girth!

With him safely on board a fresh horse, they found a fox only 40 yards away from the first kill and the hounds set off again, catching Charlie after 15 minutes of fast action.

The day finished with the final fox from Winton providing a good hound hunt round West Harlsey before going to ground in the bales at Low Moor, where he was left for another day. The smiles on the faces of those who managed to stay until the end was evidence of a day well enjoyed by all, including the sailors.

Published: 26/11/2004