Another glamorous roadside meet for the Eggesford hunt this Saturday at Stone Moor Cross near Chumleigh.
After scoffing down some cold sausages the hunt started off at Mounticombe (never mind the terrified cows in the barn). Hounds quickly got on the line of a fox in the woods behind the farm and pursued it to Cheldon House and back, losing the scent in the north of the woods. Huntsman Jason Marles tried desperately to put them back on the line, failed, then took his hounds and field west. With the bridleway blocked by fallen trees, Jason simply abandoned his field (as usual) and hunted the woods between Leigh bridge and Milford’s Hill on his own. Hounds quickly got scattered across the valley and huntsman Marles eventually abandoned half his pack and carried on south into Great Leigh Wood. Hounds were seen here going north on the line of a fox, back to Milford’s Hill, losing the scent despite Jason’s frantic encouragement. Jason then drew Pollard Wood with about half the pack before giving up, declaring it was ‘too hot’. Maybe you’re just losing your touch Jason?
Sabs kept up with the hunt the whole time and witnessed some terrible riding. Apart from the usual pathetic attempts to block and intimidate sabs, we witnessed impatient riders knocking down a female rider and her child as they were attempting to access a pedestrian gate onto a footpath at Leigh Bridge. Jason finished the day bleeding from the mouth and greasy wannabe whipper-in James Skull ended up soaking wet, missing a stirrup. Maybe you need a few more lessons at your mum’s riding school James? After passing a hip flask around, everyone drove home at around 2.30.
While we were out, we got a tip off about a South Tetcott meet near their kennels. Jason also suggested we go there instead (I wonder what the South Tetcott think about that?) We found them packing up near Blagdon.
Thanks to our friends at Plymouth & West Devon Hunt Sabs for joining us after they packed up The Torrington Farmers hunt earlier in the day!
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