On Saturday 7th November 2015 we joined forces with our friends from Somerset Hunt Saboteurs to sab the opening meet of the East Devon Hunt at The Grange, Broadhembury, the private residence of none other than TV’s Kirstie Allsopp! Her husband, Ben Anderson, rides with the hunt and she is a long-term supporter.
The hunt met in the grounds of the house and after drinks, nibbles and speeches they set off into a neighbouring field full of terrified sheep. Hounds ran around chasing sheep while the large group of riders jumped hurdles. One rider fell of their horse and an ambulance had to be called. All of this within the first five minutes! The rest carried on as if nothing had happened and began hunting in the area between Northill Farm and Lane End Farm, where hounds went into cry under the watchful eye of foot sabs, who were already in position ahead of the meet. Eventually, they headed up through the woods to the Devon and Somerset Gliding Club where another foot team was waiting to intercept them.
The hounds spent the next hour rioting on deer east and west of the Gliding Club and the pack was split in half. Hunt staff and riders had to help new huntsman Darren Beeney gather the hounds in Black Down woods. Meanwhile, foot sabs made their way back to the vehicles but were blocked on the road by hunt follower cars and temporarily lost sight of the hunt. Sabs headed off in different directions to try and locate the hunt but it became apparent that Beeney had done a runner to try and get away! We had a hunch that they may have headed towards the kennels and sure enough we found them a while later several miles west, almost near the M5.
Here the hunt spent the last hour in the area between Shutelake Farm, Chaldon Farm and Mutterton, where hounds went into cry on a few occasions. Poor access for foot sabs meant that it took a while to catch up with them, but eventually three teams got into a good position from where they watched until the huntsman gathered hounds one last time and headed back out to the road. One of the vehicles followed the hunt back to the meet, while foot sabs trawled the wooded area where hounds had gone into cry to ensure that no dig-out was taking place.
Thanks to Somerset Hunt Sabs for joining us and bringing their car!
