On Boxing Day we ruined huntsman Jason Marles’ Christmas wishes by sabotaging the Eggesford Hunt’s traditional Boxing Day meet at Oaklands, on the outskirts of Okehampton.
The hunt set off west for Broadmoor Lane, and sabs were already in position to intercept the first draw. Hunt support vehicles were smeared all along the roads north and south of the valley, and hounds went into cry almost instantly. Sabs rated the hounds successfully, disrupting the show for the hunt staff and the audience of paying supporters. Eggesford try their best to pretend we don’t affect them, but frustrations were already showing. Hunt lackey dairylea Duncan Tucker rode over screaming and flailing his arms at sabs, in true festive spirit, while Lloyd Heard threatened to “do” one of our sabs for ruining the bloodsport on his land.
Jason then took the hounds north and around Pudson Farm, trying to lure us away before attempting to put the hounds back onto the same line in the valley at Broadmoor Lane. But we know all of Jason’s tricks, and we were there to stop the hounds and prevent them from picking up on that scent line again.
The hunt moved off onto Hatherleigh Road and into the fields to the north, planning their next move. Jason took his already diminishing field riders west to Ellmead Farm, owned by everyone’s least favourite granddad, Hugh Trerise. Sabs were quick to get there and the hounds were cast into the long woodland. Hounds were scattered and speaking, and eventually went into full cry, covering some distance. Sabs caught up to them just as they were marking a badger sett, meaning a fox had gone to ground. After calling away the hounds, one team remained to protect the sett while others caught up with Jason.
He was found drawing another copse nearby. There was silence initially but as sabs approached, hounds went into full cry. Sabs scrambled over to intervene and could see hounds coursing a fox that was only a few metres ahead. The fox ran north and then looped around to the south, crossing the river several times to disguise their scent. Hounds stayed in cry and again covered a huge distance in pursuit of this poor fox. They ended up several miles from where the chase began, entering the popular dog-walking spot and haven for wildlife at Abbeyford Woods. The wood is also managed by Forestry England. The hunt are not allowed in this wood, but they continue to trespass here.
Foot teams were deployed either side of the wood, as huntsman Jason Marles encouraged hounds through it using horn and voice calls. Hunt supporters were parked all along the road going through Abbeyford Woods, all looking into the forest and hoping to catch a glimpse of a terrified fox being chased. Inevitably hounds went into full cry here, as they charged through the woods disrupting all of the resident wildlife. Runners managed to stay not far from the hounds, as they moved on a line going west out of Abbeyford Woods and into the hedgelines south of Downhouse Farm.
It was getting darker by this point and hounds briefly lost the line as two of our foot teams arrived. Jason carried on searching all the way up to Folly Gate. As we followed, one of our foot teams spotted a very exhausted looking fox running along a hedgeline, straight towards sabs. The fox carried on past the team and bottles of citronella were emptied to mask the scent. Jason appeared with hounds just moments later and was still so determined to make a kill. Hounds immediately picked up on this fox’s scent and began speaking and running along the hedgeline, but sabs were there to rate the hounds and send them back to Jason. He then dismounted his horse and began running with the hounds in pure desperation to encourage them onto this line. Our foot sabs ran with him, rating the hounds. This finally caused Jason to give up and glumly make his way with the hounds back up onto the road. The few remaining riders slugged their way over to Ellmead Farm to pack up as it was getting dark.
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