Yesterday we turned up uninvited to the DVSPMH end of season meet at Sherford Down Farm. Apparently the hunt assumed we’d be coming because we sabbed this meet last year. They had decided in advance that if we did show up they’d only be going for a hack instead of hunting. They gleefully told us this at every opportunity and asked if we were bored or disappointed by their decision.
There’s nothing more satisfying than stopping a hunt from chasing wild animals simply by showing up, so we were far from disappointed. Bored yes, but then the HSA’s new edition of HOWL magazine kept us all occupied. Even our runners, who took HOWL with them on their jog around the lanes (see photo). Join the HSA for just £20 a year, which includes a subscription to this quarterly magazine and supports the work of sab groups around the country! https://www.huntsabs.org.uk/howl-magazine/
The riders put on a brave face as they left the meet to go on their hack, whereas quad followers and vehicle support looked pretty dejected. The route taken was from Sherford Down Farm to Duncombe Cross and from there across to Keynedon Barton and Combe Park before a half-hour pit stop for sandwiches and cups of tea at Coleridge Farm. They did offer us a cup of tea but unfortunately hadn’t thought to stock up on oat milk, so we declined (suggestion for next year…).
On they went to Darnacombe Farm and into the valley between there and Harleston. Hounds unexpectedly found scent in the middle of a field and began running into the valley in cry but were abruptly stopped by riders, huntsman and quadbikes. It’s nice to see it IS possible for the hunt to stop hounds when they’re on a fox. We’ll remind them of that next time they refuse to do so.
Riders started peeling off back to the meet and the stragglers began the slow hack of shame back to the kennels, via Sherford Cross, Stancombe, Pinhey’s Cross, Cole’s Cross and Lower Combe. Between our vehicle and foot teams we took it in turns to follow and get ahead of them and all were assembled back at the kennels by 2.30pm.
Gallery
