Hunts buoyed by New Year's Day turnouts
WESTCOUNTRY hunts were in optimistic mood yesterday as hundreds of followers turned out for traditional New Year's Day meets.
One of the best attended was the Four Burrow Hunt which rode out from St Columb Major, near Newquay.
Hunt chairman Jim Pascoe said: "It's been wonderful. There has been a big turn out, we've had lots of support."
Mr Pascoe said those at yesterday's meet were hopeful that 2010 would be the year that the ban on hunting with hounds would be lifted.
"Obviously if a Conservative government is elected then we are very confident that they will do as they have promised and allow a free vote," he said.
"The message we are getting from everybody in the countryside is that it is a bad law, and that it has been tried and tested and found to be wanting. We are very hopeful that this year will be its last."
The Modbury Harriers, which turned out at Holbeton, in the South Hams, were also well supported as was the East Devon Hunt which met at Ottery St Mary.
The East Devon's master of foxhounds Chris Stephens said: "Despite the frosty morning, we had horses and a lot of people turn out to see us, which was nice to see.
"We're just waiting for the Hunting Act repeal to come so we can go hunting legally. Until then we have drag-hunting, following a trail.
"We always get a big crowd. There were about 40 horses and a crowd of about 200 to 300 people in Ottery. Despite the ban, we have more followers now than we did five years ago."
12 Comments
View all
by TimV, Pz
Monday, January 04 2010, 2:09PM
“It's a well known phenomenon that when humans want to kill their own kind or other species, they first reclassify them as "vermin". It helps cope with the conscience I suppose but does nothing for the logic or ethics.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Monday, January 04 2010, 12:41PM
“:| I thought it was rather interesting that on the Bristol site they have people being tormented by Rats. . Obviously the rats are being driven inside by the cold weather. . Clearly the more trouble they have with their vermin in the city, and wanting them all killed or poisoned, presumably; the more sympathy they will have for us and our vermin problems.”
by Devonian, Devon
Sunday, January 03 2010, 4:37PM
“Charles Henry, just been on your website, EXCELLENT!”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Sunday, January 03 2010, 2:42PM
“:( Or even 'TINTED'.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Sunday, January 03 2010, 2:40PM
“:| See my Website Devonian.
FOR ALL THOSE WITH ROSE COLOURED SPECS.”
by Devonian, Devon
Sunday, January 03 2010, 12:25PM
“Charles, I wish I had their 'rose tinted' glasses.........”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Sunday, January 03 2010, 9:26AM
“:) Here's another one talking about herself again. . They have a wonderfully, elaborate vocabulary some of them don't they Devonian. . Of course she might be man with a name like Alex. . It sometimes hard to tell with some of these city types. . We'd have to do a Dundee test on them.”
by alex, plymouth devon uk
Saturday, January 02 2010, 10:01PM
“Phoney idiots in fancy dress rideing large expensive horses...led by many expensive dogs....all chaseing one small miserable fox, so they can kill it.
A really useless activity....like most windbag MPs...such as the disgraced Steen of Totnes.”
by Devonian, Devon
Saturday, January 02 2010, 5:46PM
“You three (previous comments) are obviously working together & are not from this area............”
by barbara, Shildon Co Durham
Saturday, January 02 2010, 5:27PM
“They tried to tell us that it wasn't the kill they enjoyed, but they've never stopped bleating on because they have to chase a bit of rag instead of the real thing that screams real pain and bleeds real blood have they? They seem to have a following of easily impressed people who like to see them strut their stuff, why not quit while they're ahead and leave the ban where it stands, or I really think they will find any support melts away like all this snow soon will.”