Steve Craddock and the Torrington Farmers Hunt spent another Saturday hunting foxes inside the solar farm near Alverdiscott. This time they met at Garnacott, near Huntshaw.
They left the meet around 11:30 and spent a short time in the fields east before heading towards Haddacott Moor and hunting north towards Stony Cross. Due to the huntsman’s poor hound control, after briefly casting hounds out, the majority of the day was spent gathering lost hounds, while the age-old antique hunt supporters stood around collecting dust.
From Stony Cross they went north through Bartridge and Budacombe to hunt the copse south of Marsh, west of Newton Tracey. Hounds began to speak, and foot teams were strategically positioned to intercept and watch for any foxes that might break. Sabs went in to rate hounds successfully, but found a large bonfire with around 5 dead sheep that the farmer had tried to burn. Farmers have been known to leave dead animals around to attract foxes for the hunt, but even by their standards this is truly psychotic behaviour and a disease breeding nightmare. Hounds were found causing havoc in residents’ gardens too, after being cast into the copse that stands just west of Newton Tracey village. Of course huntsman Steve Craddock was nowhere to be seen and other members of the hunt refused to intervene.
Hunting back south from Stony Cross, hounds were found once again trespassing inside the solar farm, of which we have clear footage. By now our presence was causing tempers to rise and some terriermen tried to forcibly evict sabs from the surrounding fields. One of these meatheads was Gary Rowe, ex-Eggesford Whipper-in, who seems to have been demoted to maize-field bouncer for the Torrington Farmers Hunt. Don’t take it personally, Gary. Jason Marles has moved on at least twice already.
The hunt packed up at 3pm at Webbery Barton.
There were a few occasions when hounds were in cry away from our foot teams, so unfortunately we can’t guarantee they didn’t kill. However, two foxes that were chased were seen to safety by our sabs.
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