There are but a few words needful to wind up the story of the season of
1905–6. It has been one of the most open ever known. Sport has varied,
since scent has, of course, not been equally serviceable everywhere, and
accounts range from the Heythrop, which has had a notably bad scenting
season, up to the Badminton, the Cottesmore, the Fitzwilliam, and the
Albrighton, all of which packs have had extraordinarily good seasons.
The last named, hunting over a country not generally remarkable for
carrying a scent, have had an unusually good season. The Master, Colonel
Goulburn, and the huntsman, Morris, are new to the country, so that the
record of kills—sixty-five brace—accounted for is all the more
creditable, especially as it represents a number of quite remarkable
runs. There must be a certain feeling of regret in the thought that the
Quorn hounds will leave their old kennel this season. The new
establishment at Pawdy Cross Roads may have more convenience, but it
cannot have the associations of the old one, which invited the
admiration of our grandfathers. “The kennels and stables at Quorn are
superb,” wrote one who saw them in Mr. Meynell’s time; “they are within
easy reach of the forest of Charnwood, and we hunt there long after the
good country is shut up, in fact, until May-day.” Men make shorter
seasons in the Midlands now than they did in Mr. Meynell’s day, but we
kill more foxes; as in the five years from 1791 to 1796 the Quorn Hounds
only averaged 36½ brace of foxes. The new kennels have every
convenience, and we may be sure that Captain Forester and Tom Bishopp
will not fail to have an always improving pack to live in them. No
country has afforded more sport than the Fitzwilliam, which has found
foxes for three other packs besides the Milton. Mr. Fernie’s hounds had
a final day in the woods near Colly Weston on April 10th. There were
plenty of foxes, seven being viewed in one covert, but there was not
much scent to hunt them with. Such a show of foxes at the close of the
season makes it clear what honest and careful preserving can do, since
no less than four different packs have been in these coverts during the
season. The ideas of people on fox preserving differ in an amusing way.
I was discussing the other day the prospects of a certain country whose
very existence hangs in the balance with two men. The hunting man
thought there were very few foxes. The shooting man assured me there
were plenty. But I think, perhaps, the late masters would differ from
him.
The season of 1905–6 has been remarkable for the small number of changes
of mastership, and the ease with which vacancies have been filled up.
The two most important alterations do not, indeed, arise out of
vacancies at all, but from the masters being joined by partners. Thus
Lord Charles Bentinck becomes joint master of the Blankney, and Lord
Algernon Percy returns to his former post with the North Warwickshire as
joint master with Mr. J. P. Arkwright.
Among the new masters’ appointments since I wrote last are Mr. Swire to
the Essex, and Mr. Neven du Mont to the East Sussex. The last-named
gentleman is not an Englishman, but he is a very good sportsman, and he
is to have the support of Sir Anchitel Ashburnham-Clement, to whom
Sussex foxhunters owe so much. But if masters have not changed, many
huntsmen and whippers-in are shifting. Gillson, who has been for some
years with Mr. Preston Rawnsley in the Southwold country, has been
appointed to succeed F. Gosden with the Meynell. Gillson’s brother goes
to the Bedale from the South and West Wilts, with which pack he has
shown good sport. There was no huntsman more respected and admired than
the late George Gillson of the Cottesmore, and it is pleasant to see his
two sons doing so well. An excellent servant, too, is George Shepherd,
who is to be kennel huntsman to Lord Southampton with the Grafton. He
has just finished a most enjoyable season with the Blankney. That pack
has scarcely missed a single day. A promising man, too, is J. Baker, who
has been first whipper-in to the Fitzwilliam, and is said to be going to
the Cambridgeshire, a country where a good man can show much excellent
sport. Then Freeman goes to the Pytchley in place of John Isaacs, who
retires with a testimonial after twenty-six years in service with the
Pytchley.
Exmoor stag-hunting closed on April 11th, after an unusually brilliant
season. The final fortnight after spring stags was a most successful
close to the sport. The best run was on Friday, 6th, from Venniford
Cross. Sir Thomas Acland’s coverts, as usual, when this fixture is on
the card were drawn, and at one o’clock a stag was found, or rather two,
but one soon disappeared, while the other went on. There had been just a
sprinkle of rain the day before, and in spite of an east wind and
brilliant sunshine hounds ran well, even over the plough. The first part
of the run from Selworthy to Venniford Cross was bright and full of
dash, and hounds swept on to Tivington Plantations, hard on their stag,
which by this time had shed one antler. Then he laid down and allowed
the field to go close to his lair, till hounds were too near to be
pleasant, then he sprang up with a tremendous crash and literally hurled
himself through the bushes and trees. He did not stop again till he
reached Stonley Wood, some seven or eight miles from the start. Twice he
came down to the stream below Monkham Wood, and we all thought the end
had come. But in the course of the hunt in Monkham he shed the other
horn, and thus lightened climbed the steeps of Langridge, and taking a
line past Treborough Church, one of the highest placed buildings on the
Brendon Hills, he went down to the water in Haddon coverts. Strange to
say all trace of him was lost here, and he was given up. As hounds ran
they covered about fifteen miles, and the pace was good. The field,
including a good many strangers, was scattered, and only a few got to
the end—the Master, the hunt servants, and one lady from Minehead, Mrs.
Blofield. For my part, I could not get beyond Stonley, and not a few
were left here. The day was warm, the pace was good, and fourteen stone
riding the line honestly was bound to come to the end of the horse.
I am able on good authority to assure the readers of BAILY that there
are plenty of stags and hinds for next season and for many more after
that. This season was better than last, and the next will be even better
if the weather is favourable. There are, as I have said, plenty of stags
for sport, and not so many as to interfere with hounds. They have been
thoroughly and systematically hunted, and thus are more likely to run.
Mr. R. A. Sanders remains Master of the Devon and Somerset, Mr. E. A.
Stanley and Sir John Amory provide the subsidiary packs, and in these
three masters are three men who can hunt a red deer with a skill,
keenness and science well worthy of the sporting traditions of Exmoor.
The close of the season has been clouded by several rather serious
accidents and one fatal one (Mr. Bovill was killed while hunting with
the Warnham Staghounds). The cause of this last fall was said to be
wire. At all events, the summer is the time to try to lessen this
scourge. I am firmly convinced that wire should never be marked in
countries where the use of this fencing prevails. There is sure to be
some place where there are no warning signs, and it is here that fatal
accidents so often happen. There is one step that might be taken and
ought to be taken. Men who hunt and are favourable to hunting should
remove all the wire that is under their control from their own
properties, whether they themselves hunt in the country or not. Then
those who have influence with their tenants should endeavour to reduce
the quantity on land they own but do not occupy. There is nothing more
certain than that if all the wire was taken down by hunting men and
hunting landlords on land in their own occupation it would greatly
reduce the quantity and would set an example sure to be followed.
Mr. David Ker, who has held the mastership of the County Down Staghounds
for two seasons, has retired, much to the regret of his followers.
Captain Hugh Montgomery, only son of Mr. Thomas Montgomery, D.L., of
Ballydrain, co. Antrim, has been elected as Mr. Ker’s successor, and he
should do well, as he is popular, a keen sportsman and fine horseman.