Oct 2005

Thank you to all who took part in the North Cotswold Hunt Supporters’ Fun Ride on Sunday 25 September. It proved to be a most successful and enjoyable day and raised almost £4,000 for Hunt and charity funds.

Particular thanks to the landowners for allowing us to ride over their land – to Tim Harrison for providing the start and finish venue and to Christopher Bourne, Paul Marland, Stuart Butler and Chris Byrd for enabling us to plan such an enjoyable route.

Huge thanks to the muscle men for their help leading up to the day – Will Haines junior, Paul Shaw, Paul Durrell, Martin Harrell, Pete Slatter and Roger Bennett and to Malcolm Mills (particularly for the use of his chain-saw after Polly had put pay to ours!) and to Kate Mather who worked valiantly in mud and wet after another minor incident involving a landrover in the woods!

For those of you who enquired after photographs, the photographers (Val & Holly) can be contacted on equisnaps@aol.com or on mobile 07714-100867.

Julian Soltau

Aug 2005

FARMER HUNTS DOWN SICK FOX WITH DOGS

By Gerry Barnett, COTSWOLD JOURNAL

Farmer Jamie Smith used his three dogs to hunt down a fox with mange at his Shaw Green Farm, Ashton-under-Hill. Because it is now against the law to hunt foxes with dogs, Mr Smith admitted to the police what he had done, but now police have told him they do not intend to take further action.

Mr Smith said: “This illustrates how the Government has dumped the police in an impossible position. It would not have made any difference if I had hunted the mangy fox with two, three or 30 hounds. It was the right action to kill this animal as quickly as possible.”

He explained that the fox had been around the buildings for a couple of months resulting in the three dogs needing veterinary treatment for mange.

“When our Labrador found the fox in the barn” he said, “I quickly collected the sheepdog and terrier and was able to flush it out of the barn, hunting it around the farm yard and eventually the three dogs held the fox under a gate beside the bridleway up onto Bredon Hill. I was able to get hold of the animal, remove the dogs and despatch the fox quickly and humanely with a short steel bar.”

Mr Smith added: “We live in a lovely part of Worcestershire and cherish the variety of wildlife. We are rarely troubled by foxes at lambing as we maintain a healthy fox population. Mange is a horrible disease that is very contagious between animals. The animal deteriorates and ultimately the fox dies from winter exposure.”

Mr Smith said he was pleased to have caught and killed the fox and he asked police what action he should take if a similar situation occurred.

Inspector Daryn Elton said: “I am not in a position to comment on any future events and each incident will be dealt with on its individual circumstances.”

Feb 14 2000

Feb 17 2005

Feb 19 2005

The emotions overflowed after a fabulous week of hunting leading up to and including “Black Thursday”, Feb 18th. Hunt Horse Day from Cotswold Farm Park on the Monday Feb 14th produced probably one of the best scenting days of the season with hounds hunting all day, including a six-mile point.

Many hardened men and women were distressed as they hacked home in the dark from the last “legal” meet from the Lygon Arms, Broadway on Feb 17th. The sadness of it all was quite overwhelming for some. “It feels like a bereavement” was the general comment but it quickly included absolute fury at the bigotry, hypocrisy and vindictiveness of this Government and its MP’s.

At least 150 riders appeared in Broadway again on Saturday 19th, the first day after the “so called” hunting ban that came into force at midnight on the 17th. Many horses had seemingly come straight out of a field, so that the many who do or cannot hunt regularly could be there to show their defiance and support. Hounds met at the usual time in Kennel Field, greeted by a huge crowd both in the field and spilling all the way down Broadway High Street, more in fact than on Boxing Day. It was heartening and very moving to witness such great support for hunting and the North Cotswold Foxhounds.

A magnificent speech from our Master, Nigel Peel very much reflected the anger, defiance and frustration at this unjust and illiberal ban. He was followed by the local MP, Peter Luff, who stated that the Conservative Party Leader has promised that a Conservative Government would have the ban reversed when re-elected. Then Weston Subedge Farmer, John Robbins, whose family have farmed and hunted with the North Cotswold Foxhounds since they were formed in 1986, also spoke emotionally about how the whole North Cotswold rural culture was bound up in the hounds, the country, the people and community and how it is so moulded by our local hunt, whose Kennels had been built and kept in Broadway since the Hunt was formed.

Finally, at 11.30 am, the Master and Hounds were able to extract themselves from the crowds and proceeded amid cheers and clapping and to everyone’s delight, paraded down the High Street, before proceeding on “Hound Exercise” up the Snowshill Road to Pye Corner. The large mounted Field of near 200 followed Hounds through David James’s Farm up on to the escarpment above Buckland, Laverton and then to Stanway. On this strangest of hunting days, the sun shone brilliantly out of an azure sky giving the most incredibly beautiful views across the Vale of Evesham and Bredon Hill and beyond to the Malvern Hills and the Welsh Mountains, before we dropped back down into the Vale again via Stanway Grounds to the Viaduct.

Crossing the road through the hunting gate onto the Sharpley Family’s all grass Farm, farmed by Robin Wilson, the Field lined up a bit like the start for the Grand National, ready to take on the wonderful hedges, while hounds were taken on down the brook towards Wormington. The Field, led as ever by Harry Wheeler, were soon away and were able, at least for those who wanted to, enjoy a great ride across this hunting haven. For those still owning a saddle and horse after more than a circuit of the challenging hedges, we were to be welcomed by the Sharpley family in the field in front of their Home. A poignant moment for them too, remembering the their parents, who were such passionate lovers of foxhunting. While we all knew that similar fun can be had from fun rides, hunter trials, team events and other equestrian activities, everyone had at least enjoyed that part the ride. Hunting provides for all levels of riding skills and just going for a “jolly” across a farm is not sustainable for the farmers , the hounds or the subscribers. They will want to go foxhunting or if absolutely necessary as near as possible to the experience through simulation. It was definitely different, if not somewhat surreal.

Hounds were then taken through Wormington Grange where they spoke briefly by the Lake and then on over the Wormington Lane to the brook, then to Rushbrook, Moco and finally back to the Kennels, where a wonderful tea had been laid on for everyone.

A strange day. Many mixed feelings but great fellowship and community, and above all, gratitude to see hounds, Masters, staff and so many supporters in such defiant and positive mood, that the North Cotswold Hunt, with such great support from all quarters, especially from the farmers, will continue to meet and hunt within the law until such time as the outrageous illiberal ban is lifted.

Feb 14 2005

Gina Jones, Tony and Jan Sellar and Rex Bovill in his ‘pinny’ cooked an excellent breakfast to start the day from the Cotswold Farm Park on 14th February. Hounds were taken to Barton Larches and immediately found. The fox ran down into Barton Bushes and crossed the valley into Lark Wood. Turning down hill hounds ran on up the Windrush to Kineton.

The next fox was seen on Swell Wold. It ran the full length on Long Covert swinging around Adam Fleming’s house and onto the old Heythrop Point to Point course. Back into North Cotswold country at the cross roads opposite Hinchwick lane, and on down Rooks Pool. Fresh finding this or another fox as soon as hounds entered Pig Trough. They were quickly away past the Hinchwick Hill barn over into Happy Valley. Hunting on through the Nut Bushes into the quarry. Hounds stuck to their fox up past Smallthorns touching Bourne’s before dropping down into Springhill through the windmill field, on through the Globe and out onto the Point to Point course. Hounds checked and corrected themselves to cross the road by Meadows Lodge into Middle Hill. Over to Broadway Wood running all the way down to the Snowshill road above Kite’s Nest. A short delay followed before we realised that the pack had swung sharply up to Middle Hill house and on to the Sally Beds.

Back in touch across Peter’s Farm to the A44 Broadway to Moreton road. Hounds were cast on to the Campden House side without success.

This was a 5 mile point from Pig Trough Hollow, 7 miles from Swell Wold.

The field had enjoyed one of the best hunts over the finest piece of the Cotswolds jumping walls and timber and a challenging gate off Tim Holland Martin’s drive.

Feb 12 2005

A nicer or more hospitable venue could not have been planned for our last legal Saturday Hunting. Keith Wyatt, Denny Beetson and Mr Mrs David Williams gave us a good send off from Cutsdean farmyard.

A fox was found on Trafalagar Estate and this ran to ground in the Quarry. From Trafalgar we ran to Hinchwick via Grange Barns. A short run above Hinchwick followed before we crossed the Hinchwick road and travelled on to Seizencote where hounds ran back into Hinchwick and a fox was accounted for. From here we drew and found in Kildanes. It was wonderful to watch the Heythrop Hounds hunting on the other side of the bank from where our field was gathered on Bourton Far Hill. This fox ran onto Spring Hill - venue of so many of our Saturday Meets. Hounds were soon back to Bourton Far Hill and running onto Hinchwick again.

A very busy and pleasant day was enjoyed and several additions to the 'Tumblers Club Dinner' were made.