Hounds met at the Two Bridges Hotel on Wednesday 16th February for the annual meet and their last day's hunting before the ban comes into force.
A huge meet showed the level of support and hounds moved off on a bright and beautiful day with a light north wind. The first draw up the Cowsic from Holmingbeam to Beardown Man proved spectacular but blank. West Dart Head also failed to hold a fox but a brave pilot was soon away from the bog below Brown's House. Hounds were drawing wide and deep and rallied across the bog to the whip's holloa. Setting off at a pace across Broad Down they swung right-handed towards Braddon Lake and back to Hollowcombe Bottom with Portrait showing the way. Here they turned down the valley and twisted left towards Archerton but again turned right to the gorse north of the Powdermills where the pack was split by the arousal of a second fox. The master took on eight and a half couple to mark his fox to ground in the fields beside the ruined Powdermills. The whip took his half of the pack to have a much better run over Longaford Tor, Lydford Tor to kill their fox in good style by Blackbrook Head on Black Dunghill. Who had the original fox could be argued for many years. As hounds marked their fox one member of the field who taken a tumble in a bog decided that before he risked his neck any further he had better propose to his girlfriend who was riding alongside. She accepted.
Hounds drew on in the gorse above the Powdermills and found again pushing the fox across the Cherrybrook round the gorse on that bank and back again to where they found him. He was seen crossing the wire towards Archerton but was marked to ground a short while later.
Spader's and Wistman's Wood were drawn blank but a fox was found and pushed smartly on from White Tor gorse. Hounds hunted him across Cherrybrook Newtake over Littaford Tor and down to Crockerntor. Here he crossed the West Dart and ran up the steep bank to Beardown Forest. Here they hunted steadily round the woods before eventually taking a stale line northwards but they could only walk on the line as the wind picked up.
A sad and eerie event occurred at the end of the last run well a well known horse, Lol, died of a heart attack. It was a beautiful place at the end of a beautiful day and his passing seemed curiously symbolic of times we are living through. Our sympathies go to all his connections.
New Year's Day saw hounds meet at the Walkhampton Inn by tradition. Fog clouded the Kennels and heavy rain was forecast. This did not dampen the spirits of the crowd that turned out to fill the village. Knowle Down was drawn blank but a fox was in Burham. Having little enterprise he was put to ground half a mile later. The next fox from Welltown was only slightly more enterprising before he too took sanctuary below ground at Horsyeat. At Gypsy Rock it was apparent that the moor was to be unhuntable with the clouds right down so the decision was taken to draw down into the valleys on the way home. Pogle hit a fresh line immediately above Ward Bridge and soon the whole pack were filling the wooded slopes with music which left the field with little to do except sit and listen as the rain trickled down the inside of their collars and soaked through their breeches. For twenty minutes hounds hunted beautifully to run their fox to ground on a steep slope. This gave the terriermen a chance to absorb their fair share of water as hounds retired to their kennel and the field to the master's kitchen. A shame for the weather to spoil the first day of the year and one with several visitors out. It can only improve.
From an excellent and well attended meet beneath the ancient oak on the village green hounds moved off from Meavy to draw the bank opposite. The valley was drawn blank through to the rushes above Inglenook where hounds found and ran up over Castor Down and along to Durrance where our pilot cut up towards Brisworthy. Here he decided not to face the open and twisted back below the barn into the slang. Hounds perservered through this thick covert but lost valuable ground and marked their fox to ground in a hedge bank close by the lane from where he was taken.
The Round Wood below the dam proved blank except for some free-ranging pigs which disturbed the younger hounds.
Yellowmeade Farm at Sheepstor produced a brace and hounds settled well to the first which took them back up the gully whence they had come towards the Scout hut and then swung left handed across the moor to enter the top end of the forest surrounding Burrator reservoir nad hounds were stopped. This fox's mate had been seen to head down the valley from the spot where he was found but hounds could only own the line for a few yards at a time and never really opened up despite being cast the full length of the valley.
The Dartmoor Hounds had met locally and with the in country exhausted home was blown at 3.30 on a holiday bye-day.
As per tradition Hounds met in Bedford Square, Tavistock on Boxing Day to the delight of a huge gathering of supporters and the chagrin of a tiny group of demonstrators. Thanks to the excellent policing the meet passed off with ease and safety.
Hounds left the town via Down Road and drew the gorse below Taviton where a fox was soon found that was eventually persuaded to leave the covert but ran down the valley through Torlands and hounds were stopped before they re-entered Tavistock via Greenlands. A second fox had been viewed in the covert by the vast crowd massed on the opposite bank. Cars were parked three deep and foot followers mingled with the mounted field in this natural grandstand and all took advantage of their better view of proceedings to shout instructions to the huntsman as he struggled on foot through wire and hedges to maintain contact with hounds who were working equally had to own the scent in the mediocre conditions. However due to the topography the relative movement and positions of all three parties involved in the hunt were all too obvious to the assembled throng who cheered the fox each time he showed from the long gorse bank and then directed the pursuers with joyous shouts in true pantomime style for the next hour or so. Finally after much hilarity and with a second fox heading for the local dustbins they were given best.
Hounds drew on through Pennycomequick for Moortown where they chopped the mangiest fox found this season. He would not have since the week out and hounds brought an end to his suffering. They hunted a fox away from the old quarry by Prowtytown then the Moortown road below Pew Tor but despite having hunted well thus far could recover from the roadside check. This fox was headed towards Kennels and if he was the culprit in the demise of the goose that had survived Christmas there the irony was not lost but he had best beware.
Merrivale Newtake was the next draw and the thaw had yet to reach it. The ground was covered in an even blanket of snow and the air was noticeably cooler. THis did not improve scent. They found a brace by the river that split the pack. One half running a circuit below Shillapark thr remainder struggling up towards the rock earth by the road. Nothing came of either. Ground conditions making accurate casting difficult and scent was not helping hounds as they tried to use their own initiative.
Another line was hit at the north of the newtake which took them across the river but soon failed. The fog then closed in to make it impossible to hunt as the landscape beyond 50 yards dissolved into an indistinguishable whiteness. We navigated our way through it to Wedlake in the hope that this valley was below the clouds but to continue would have been foolish. Home was blown on a curtailed day at 3.00pm with a 45 minute hack home.
The Cranford meet was moved to Prewley to accommodate the festive season. As we came up the road Widgery Cross was piercing the belly of the clouds but Sourton was clear. Sourton Tors were drawn blank but a fox was found on the railway line. However he proved an unenterprising guide and went to ground a few hundred yards later.
Foxes were found and viewed above the viaduct in Tor Wood but scent seemed poor as cloud started to fill the head of this steep valley. By the time that hounds had drawn the gorse on both sides the the fog had reached the valley floor.
Hounds were taken on but drew both Southerley and Brendon's Gorse blank by which time visibility had closed down completely and the rest of the day was lost.
We left the meet from The East Dart at Postbridge under a murky sky on a remarkably still day. The air was thick and stationary in a way that is unusal for December. Hounds drew Gawler and hit a line at the far end. Running heel at first they took the line back into the top of gorse. Collected and put right they struggled to own the line westwards towards the Powdermills and cast themselves north. They were cast on over the wall and round to the west where they feathered the line before opening on it in short bursts. Only Hostile seemed to be able to hunt on it at pace and then without speaking. She showed the way across the Cherrybrook and then at last hounds openend up properly and hunted on up to White Tor where our fox was headed by walkers and the line could not be recovered despite the hounds eagerness. They were drawn through Wistman's Wood without finding.
As they drew Spaders a fox was seen to leave by the west of the covert and after a short burst was run across the West Dart where he ran the leat in full veiw of the field to go to ground in the thick gorse bounding the river.
Drawing back to Littaford hounds again hunted an old line down across the newtake to the ruins before turning north and back to the gorse below Lower White Tor. Here a brace was seen to cross the far wall and hounds settled to their task to hunt well across the river up the steep bank and into the forestery at Beardown. With our pilot showing little inclination to leave this bastion of wind-blown timber hounds were gathered and taken to draw up the West Dart. They found in the bog below Rough Tor and started with a pace and a passion to kill him but were cheated by the earth on the western side of the mire.He knew his goal and made its sanctuary with only feet to spare.
The rest of the marsh was drawn blank. Drawing down from Broad Down to Braddon they found again in the thick gorse and pushed a good-looking fox away to the north. Breaking from covert well together they overhauled him in short order and claimed their reward for hard day's work in peculiar scenting conditions. Home was blown in the gathering gloom of an early December dusk.
From a large meet at the Fox and Hounds with several visitors we moved off to draw the gorse behind the pub. Hounds spoke out of the top corner and hunted well across the fields beyond on the line of a fox that had been seen to leave as soon as they had entered the covert. Having run parallel to the road he turned west and crossed it above the Dartmoor Inn. Passing above Downtown Farm he crossed the lane in the middle of the village where hounds were stopped, being outside of our country and heading rapidly in the wrong direction.
Hounds then drew round High Down from the Sanctuary and chopped a good fox in the thick gorse opposite Widgery while his mate made good his escape. Doetor was drawn blank barring hounds touching an old line towards Willsworthy.
Above Ger Tor they hit a line which took them down into Tavy Cleave where they marked their fox in. They were called away from the rocks but Hoarder refused to leave and bolted the fox for himself and the rest of the pack were laid on to hunt their pilot downstream in this steep gorge. Again they marked and bolted him before he finally found an impregnable sanctuary above the leat take-off.
Coming away from the Cleave we drew the Rattlebrook blank to the peat track above Bleak House except for Prophet speaking on a line running east above the ruin which would have led us out over some very inhospitable ground. Mercifully the pack could make little of it and were recalled to the planned draw as neither weather nor daylight made it sensible to persevere.
As hounds drew home down Nodden a fox was apparently seen to leave the Fox's Hotel for Southerley but the information did not get through and he was not hunted.
Thick fog cleared to allow us to meet in very warm and humid conditions. Hounds moved off and hacked through the village to Knole Down where they found quickly. After a circuit of the Down our fox crossed the lane and ran up towards Furzehill Wood which is full of shafts and so they were stopped. They found again in the wet ground by Welltown but could do little with it amongst the multitude of sheep in the surrounding fields.
Drawing out over Ingrator and down into Criptor Bog they found again running the western wall and over the top of the first rock earth across the old puffing-billy track round King Tor quarries before being run to ground in the rocks above the cottage.
The next fox was roused from the newtake by the aerial. He dropped down across the prison road and was hunted well in the covert below where several foxes were afoot. In the ensuing half hour hounds put a brace to ground and accounted for another in the covert.
The ground beside the prison was blank but crossing the road they found by the Blackabrook, raced across to the Long Plantation and up its length to run out onto Black Dunghill. Here they came down through the Newtake and back through the Plantation at right angles and over to Beardown where they were stopped while still hunting well as darkness fell. The lorry mercifully was brought on.
As expected a large crowd gathered at the East Dart Hotel for our first meet since the ban was announced but only the weather threatened to dampen our spirits. Moving off hounds first drew Gawler blank for the second time this season which was disappointing. In fact no fox was above the Powdermills and along the bank of Hollowcombe Bottom which was swirled in fog.
The first fox was found below Lower White Tor and although loathe to leave the thick gorse in which he was found hounds pushed him across the brook and up into Hollowcombe where he recrossed the stream and ran up the far bank to reach the sanctuary of the sett there. Just as well since this was just on the cloud line.
Below Higher White Tor hounds found again and settled to their task well. Their pilot crossed the stream in the bottom and ran for the ruins of the Powder Mills. Here he passed close to the terrier-men and was seen to be an almost white cub that was born there in the summer. Going well he ran the length of the old factories before swinging west where hounds checked. Cast on they recovered the line on the edge of the newtake and hunted at speed over the wet ground back across the open and over the wall to the far end of the gorse where they had first found him. At the start of the second circuit he followed the same course and it was tempting to sit and wait for hounds to come round again. The wise did not, for our pilot changed his mind and this time ran through the mills and crossed the road by the Cherrybrook Bridge and into Bellever. Here he was given best.
Hopefully our white fox will come again, he has the strength and obvious distinction of colour that given time could have made him a local hero. In the face of a ban he is more likely to live an anonymous life and die an ignominious death on the road or of mange and starvation. Thus depleting all our lives. With a vastly depleted field and shoes missing home was blown as the clouds finally closed right in.
A very sociable meet in the Lamerton country was held in bright sunshine after a crisp frost.
A fox was wound in Mr Cole's kale but ran the wrong way down the valley towards a group of in-calf cattle where hounds were not welcome and so they were stopped short; a task made easy by the poor scent. Hounds drew on through Iron railings and over Brentor Church without finding. A fox was found on the old railway below Brentor and a pleasant hunt ensued down the valley towards Mary Tavy with hounds in good voice. After a second circuit and a couple of checks they put their pilot to ground in a hedge bank close by the back of the village.
Grendon Gorse was drawn blank but a fox left a hedge one hundred yards from the hounds in full view of the foot followers. Hounds were laid on in seconds and cast right along the line he had taken across the open and yet could not own him. With a much depleted field and time getting on Home was blown at 4.00pm
Hounds left a generous meet given by the new proprietors of the Elephant's Nest and drew up through Yellowmeade where a brace was soon found. Hounds settled well to their chosen fox that seemed to be heading for the open moor as planned but unfortunately he turned and ran parallel with his mate towards the hamlet of Willsworthy. The lead hounds were stopped by Will Farm before they entered the Tavy valley, which was not the planned country for the day.
Drawing up below Ger Tor they hit the line of a fox who must have been well ahead of them and they hunted him to ground at a reasonable pace below Sharp Tor. The old mine workings west of Rattlebrook Hill proved blank. We crossed the ridge on the old peat track and entered the Rattlebrook just south of Bleak House. A mile below the ruin a brace were found together. Four and a half couple led by Whaler and Chaplain under the the whip took their fox on westwards and killed him a mile later as he tried to enter the Cleave. The bulk of the pack hunted their fox down to the confluence of the Rattlebrook and the Tavy and into the Cleave from the western end to mark it amongst the clitters that cover this steep gorge. Whether this fox bolted or a fresh one moved is difficult to tell but hounds were soon hunting again along the valley sides and the void resounded to their music. Their pilot was viewed several times and hounds were on good terms as they dodged around the rocks before eventually marking again in a cavernous place at the mouth of the gorge. Other foxes were seen afoot and hounds did well to stay together.
Leaving an area that is spectacular on foot but not altogether suited to mounted hunting hounds were taken to Standon Farm. Immediately on crossing the river they found, and almost as quickly killed their fox. This was the last fox found despite drawing up through Baggator and back through Longbettor Gorse.
Hounds met at High Down with a select field under a grey sky and steady easterly wind. Willsworthy Range was closed for firing and so they drew up from the Down through Nodden to Tiger Marsh where they found just below the cloud line. A quick dash ensued across the wettest of ground in the encircling fog before they mercifully put their fox to ground in a running peat drain.
Drawing round Branscombes Loaf they found again opposite Blackator but could do little with a brace of foxes that seem content to bolt and scamper round the vast clitters here. Only leaving one sanctuary to find a deeper one close by.
Finding again on the banks of the Meldon Reservoir they soon put their quarry to ground again.
An undisturbed litter was found below the dam which led to some joyous music as they hunted through the woods and gullies with several foxes on view. However the poor scenting conditions meant that after a couple of circuits they struggling amidst their own foil.
Tor Wood was drawn blank on the way home.
The Opening Meet held at Down House, Whitchurch was remarkable for a number of reasons. The hospitality was as generous as ever; the sun shone after ten days of almost incessant rain and gales; William Jack Harland, latest grandson of our hosts, attended his first meet aged four weeks and Pat Mackintosh attended her 24th successive opening meet on the same horse.
Dr Sweet's was drawn blank and on crossing the golf course a brace of foxes was found below Taviton. One left by the top of the covert, circled back under the farm and was seen crossing towards Greenlands. The second dropped out of the bottom of the gorse, crossed the stream and came up through the bracken towards the field, jinking along the edge of the valley with hounds working hard he re-entered the covert above Torlands. With poor scent and difficult access this pair was given best and hounds drew on through Pennycomequick to Moortown.
Our next pilot was found on the boundary hedge above Lower Quarry. He crossed the lane above Langstone and after a steady hunt was put to ground on Oakley Farm.
Hounds then drew out to the moor to Merrivale via Beccamoor Bog. Merrivale Newtake produced a brace. The first was lucky to avoid the hounds and get to ground amongst the rocks in the middle of the newtake but having been seen at close quarters to be mangy he was taken. Drawing on hounds hit the line of his mate who had run the length of the enclosure, jumped the wall close by the river before scaling the summit of Great Mistor. Patriot led the way up over the rocky slope but on the grassy uplands beyond the tor the line was lost in the wind and sun.
Drawing on up the Walkham and out over Whitetor no fox was found until the gorse below Whitetor. Again the wind played its part and although several hounds set up at great pace going down towards Twist but their voice was taken on the breeze and so the pack failed to get on.
Wedlake produced only a hare as did Cox Tor. Home was blown at 4.30 on a beautiful and reasonably busy day with the prospect of an evening of dancing ahead of us.
A mixed field of locals and visitors assembled at Lane End on Easter Saturday for the penultimate day of the season. The settled grey sky promised access to the high moor and some hope of scent. A fox was quickly found beyond Yellowmeade and having been kept out of the earths edging the gully turned down off the moor with hounds hunting well. They ran down through Willsworthy slang crossing the Tavy below Hilltown and up through Coffin Wood, ( so called because it was here that corpses carried over the moor on the Lich Way from far-flung settlements were placed in their coffins before burial at Lydford) and into Baggator. Hounds pressed on over the brok and up onto the rocks of Standon where our pilot was expected to take refuge but they pushed him up this steep bank and across the bogs on the top to mark him to ground by the river halfway up Tavy Cleave. Other foxes were disturbed in the Cleave as they marked but in the interest of the Ring Ouzels that nest there hounds were withdrawn and came back down to the river by the Monkey's Castle.
Hounds hit a stale line by Watern Oke which took them round in a circle via the Scad to Deadlake Foot without getting any fresher before hounds marked in the rocks by the old settlement.
We drew on up the Amicombe and crossed onto Fur Tor where the rocks failed to produce a fox for us for the first time in five seasons but the field were rewarded with the most spectacular and lonely view of Dartmoor which alone made the day worthwhile. Ironically, as we drew away over Little Kneeset and down to Bleak House, the Mid-Devon hounds were viewed running to the base of Fur Tor and marking having found in Brim Brook.
A long draw home via the Rattlebrook and Hare Tor proved fruitless.
After a hearty breakfast to celebrate the Hon. Treasurer's birthday we met at the pub for the last time this season. Thanks must go to the landlord for continued support and enthusiasm. as we left the meet the drizzle started. As we started to draw the rain began and by the time we found shortly afterwards near Ted's grave by Hollowcombe Bottom we were in a torrential storm. This did not deter hounds who flew on good terms with their fox to the bottom of the valley before turning downwind along the wall to Archerton. Here he was headed which caused him to jink over the wall and through the wire. Momentarily hounds checked before hitting the line and racing on. The field were trapped the wrong side of the wire and by the time we were back on track hounds had disappeared in the wind and rain. They were recovered behind the village at Postbridge.
Gawler Bottom was drawn blank for the first time this season.
A fox with little smell was found in the gorse by the Powdermills and despite being seen in the gorse hounds struggled to push him out. When they did the line was blown about and they could hardly hear each other in the wind. They hunted on well to mark their fox in behind the bunkhouse.
Spaders was blank as was Wistman's Wood. A stale line was found on the bank of the West Dart which came to nought.
By the time that we drew up over Rough Tor and hounds were in the bog below the weather turned fully against us and the visibility failed completely. With everybody soaked to the skin and the National imminent it was only sensible to return to the bar to watch it.
On 30th March hounds met at the London Inn which had recently changed hands. A bright clear day with a strong easterly wind promised little for scent. Having drawn over Knowle Down and up by Walkhampton hounds found a brace in Eggworthy and having ran a circuit of this large dense covert left by the top east corner over Routrundle and across the top of Ingra Tor to account for their fox in the old quarry.
Criptor bog produced a fox and despite being pushed hard enough by Poacher to forsake the rock earths below the old railway line he ran up over King Tor only to drop back in and take refuge in the mountainous boulder heap above the line.
Foggintor and Yellowmeade were drawn blank.
A fox found in Medland's newtake was quickly run to ground and killed.
Thick fog and howling gales meant that we took shelter in the bar of this hospitable inn for the first hour of the day. As the clouds started to lift at noon we decided to give it a go. A fox was found on Doetor Common and after a short burst was put to ground in the badger sett on Highdown and left. Willsworthy and Hare Tor were drawn blank. The Rattlebrook and Bleak House were still shrouded in fog and the wind was picking up so we drew down the face of Sharp Tor towards Nodden. Hounds winded and marked a fox below ground but he could not be persuaded to bolt. The rest of Nodden and the surrounding area were drawn without finding a fox on top. Not surprising given the weather conditions but at least hounds and horses were exercised.
The fog lifted on a dreary morning to give a beautiful spring day. After a well hosted meet hounds moved off to draw the old railway above Rumleigh and found quickly. However an unenterprising pilot took us quarter of a mile up the line and back again before disappearing into a hole. We drew on into Tavistock Woodlands and hounds enjoyed a busy day in the forestry culminating in a swim in the Tavy by Denham Bridge. An enjoyable day in the woods on the first real day of spring but not really hunting as it should be.
Another new and generous venue. A bright day that became cloudier. Cool winds and some deep snowdrifts left fom Thursday. Hounds found by Wedlake and despite his initial efforts to run back down to the Coombe our fox was viewed leaving by the bank running up to Roos Tor. Hounds were taken round and cast on to the line. Hitting the line they settled to the job well in less than perfect conditions. they hunted over the top of the tor, through various groups of walkers and sheep and down to the river Walkham. This they crossed and hunted the line accurately through the clitters surrounding the summit of Gt Mistor to bring their fox down into the newtake. As they checked here amongst rocks and sheep our pilot was viewed recrossing the newtake wall and was hunted to ground close by the the top of Mistor.
Langstone Bog and Whitetor Gorse were drawn blank. Wapsworthy Gorse produced a valley fox and hounds were stopped at the first check in the hope of finding a moorland pilot. Longbettor Gully soon provided a fine specimen but he too turned to run for the valley. As hounds hunted to Wapsworthy Bridge Alchemy and Arsenic took the line round between the ruin and Baggator Neck. The rest of the pack joined them in Longbettor Newtake and the pace increased as they started to run for Whitetor only to turn away and run at a good pace down through the newtakes and the gully to cross Baggator lane and drop down to the Tavy. Here the topography put the mounted field out of touch. Hounds where found again up the valley below Standon still hunting. They marked their fox to ground a short while later above Coffin Wood. A busy day during which hounds worked very pleasingly but once again the Longbettor foxes could not be persuaded to face the open moor.
From a new lawn meet at Criptor hounds moved off to draw the newtake and found a brace in the gorse. The first fox was viewed leaving by the south side and hounds were taken round to the holloa and laid on. Two couple (Chaplain, Tolstoy, Porpoise and Chaucer) stuck doggedly to the second fox which had yet to break covert. The main pack hunted their fox over Ingra Tor and down to Routrundle where they checked on the old railway above Eggworthy. The rebels meanwhile had chosen a bolder fox which had left by a similar line but continued straight, across the main and into Burrator. Skirting the reservoir the pack rejoined them in time to mark their fox to ground in the rocks below Sharpitor.
Hessary Tor produced the next fox which ran a circuit centred on the prison quarry which crossed and recrossed the prison road before disappearing in a sett at the back of the village.
Hounds found again in the Long Plantation and ran the length of the covert and crossed onto the Prison Home Farm and, avoiding the distraction of the Dartmoor hounds that had run into Beardown, ran down through the sewage works towards Tor Royal where they checked and were brought back to our own country. A couple of Dartmoor interlopers who had joined us were exchanged for two of our hounds that had joined them and we drew away up the Cowsic. A long and fruitless draw ensued over the open moor which was lightened only by the gorgeous weather and the moor itself. Reduced stocking on the moor seems to have led the foxes down from the tops as well.
Hounds found again in Merrivale Newtake and after a quick burst of a mile or so put him into the quarry spoilheap.
The meet at Archerton was nothing short of eventful. A beautiful day and a setting to match, this meet had promised to provide an excellent day's hunting after a couple of slower days, short of foxes.
It did not disappoint, with a large proportion of the day's country covered within the first hour and a half. Hounds were truly flying, stretching an eager Spooner’s field across the sun-drenched landscape. Regrouping at Powdermills, hounds and field set off once again, hoping for a more sedate pace following the sprint-like conditions of earlier in the day (the field more so than hounds).
Drawing up slowly through Wistman's Wood, hounds eventually marked to ground in rocks in the far end of the wood. With the 1st Whipper-in on foot, hounds were quickly gathered with the intention of moving away and onto the next draw. However, the next turn of events changed the course of the day drastically. The 1st Whipper-in's horse fell over backwards on top of him. The Air Ambulance flew in within minutes of our alert and our 1st Whipper-in had an unexpected flight out. Incoming news updates later revealed our hardy Whip had discharged himself from the depths of Derriford, and got home just in time to watch the end of the rugby. Battered and bruised, he was left feeling all the more sore for witnessing England's defeat against the Irish.
Finding again in Hollowcombe Bottom hounds strung out across the grassy plains of the moor. Holding my charge, we stood up and awaited tail end hounds. The events proceeding are moments I will hold with me for always. Unfortunately, on that sun kissed day, in some of Spooner’s most beautiful country one of our most dedicated hunt horses collapsed and died. This gallant horse, although small in size was big in heart, dedicated to his sport and thriving on the thrill of the chase. Never again will such a horse stride out across Spooner’s Country. Ted - A truly great little horse, a legend in his own right.
Hounds were eventually on Higher Whitetor and the decision was taken to blow for home. All in all, March 6th, provided a thrilling chase which stretched the hounds, staff and field out across the moor, accompanied by the spring like conditions, this had all the makings of a great days hunting. However, the events which proceeded left the staff and field feeling deflated and thoughtful as we hacked quietly home across our moor. Ever more grateful of good hunting days. KJP
Days of frost and snow made hunting doubtful and so hounds left this moor meet to draw Beardown Forestry. A brace and a half were soon afoot. Hounds hunted well in covert but struggled on the clear-felled ground. They settled to the task and put their fox to ground in an old wall 100yds up the Cowsic outside the forestry. He bolted on his own only to go in again slightly further upstream. From here he was taken.
A long draw followed under a clear sky, up the snow-covered West Dart valley to its head and then down the Cowsic as far as the Lich Way where we cut across to Walkham Head. No foxes were found above ground. This was unsurprising given the recent arctic conditions. The top end of Merrivale Newtake held the next fox and hounds got away with him on good terms as he crossed the river to Shillapark. As he ran the far bank he semed to making for the quarry spoil heap that has provided refuge so often this season, but this was not his goal., He dropped back down to the river, recrossed it and ran east over the newtake to leave by the wall close to the road. Hounds followed in good style while the field had to make a detour. By the time we reached them hounds had checked on the road at Rundlestone and amidst the traffic and walkers the line could not be recovered. Given the hour and the plummeting temperatures home was blown as we hacked back round the top of the Prison Farm. A better day than could have been expected first thing.
Hounds left the meet at Horndon cattle grid on Tuesday 24th February under a clear sky and with no firing on Merrivale ranges. The first draw was Willsworthy Gorse. Hounds found immediately running their fox down across the Tavy round Standon Farm and back over the river to Nattor Farm and killed him on a hedge just short of Lane End.
Finding again below Baggator this fox was marked in the rocks of Standon. The next fox was found below Baggator copse and ran up to the moor wall where hounds checked. Cast right hounds failed to hit the line. Our pilot had apparently run left-handed but they hit a line on the big earth which took them into the newtake. On reflection this seemed to be the heel line of a different fox disturbed by their cry.
Longbettor Gully reliably produced a fox which ran moorwards before swinging across the newtake to Baggator neck where scent failed.
Whitetor gorse or at least the marsh held a fox which Tolstoy and Mandate could wind from 200yds and ran as if they were coursing him without giving tongue. Not speaking until they were held up by wire. A reasonable hound hunt ensued, down through Broadmoor Farm, Black Shailes and Twist and back to Cudlipptown, where the scent seemed to fail entirely. Mist closing in shut the moor to us and the rocky going had claimed several shoes so home was blown on a very peculiar scenting day, which can only be explained by the mix of very dry ground and imminent snow.
Bickham House provided the venue for our CA Promotional meet and a large crowd turned out to see the hounds in this spectacular setting. Hopefully the message was not lost on them. Hounds found below Blowiscombe but scent was not great our fox slipped into the back of the village and hounds drew on.
Finding in Halse Park they ran up through Common Lane to kill in the Wilderness. Henshears was blank and we drew down through Pound Farm and Blaxton to the foreshore. Here they dragged up the seawall to find their fox for real beyond the reed beds and set off at good pace up through Horsham to put him in below Apsley.
Drawing home through the shooting coverts no further foxes were found.
The Children's Meet was again held at the Doughtys' on Tuesday 17 February. Hounds left the meet along the river so that the woods could be drawn downstream and also to give the children a spin over the ever popular cross country course. Hounds found on the river bank and took their fox up the escarpment to Hunter's Oak where he turned to run the top of the woods before turning back down the bank to go to ground.
Across the river hounds found again and after a short hunt marked in the gorse on West Down. Over Grenofen Bridge hounds found again and the bulk ran upstream on the Walkham round to the Viaduct where scent failed between the marauding armies of auks and elves in a wide ranging game of the Lord of the Rings. Meanwhile five couple had hunted a second fox back over the Walkham to mark him in.
After another spectacular meet at Heckwood on St Valentines Day the hounds finally moved off with the field well loved-up behind to draw Criptor. Here a brace were found together and ran for the rock heaps of the old quarry. The first was seen to go in but the second was viewed over the top. Hounds were cast right round the quarry but failed to hit the line. Drawing up through the rest of the newtake nothing more was found until hounds hit the line of the original fox below Hessary Tor. This took us up to the bank by the prison quarry and hounds were suddenly on better terms with their fox as they harried him through the thickets behind the village only to lose him in a badger sett.
North of the road they found in the rushes and Poacher coursed his fox leading the pack over the wall towards the open moor. With a rapidly diminishing lead on good open turf it seemed our pilot's fate was sealed when with inches to spare a drain swallowed him from sight much to the hounds' disappointment. His reprieve was short lived. In the midst of sheep country with lambing approaching he could not be left.
Finding again in the Prison Newtake hounds ran due north over Black Dunghill, the most treacherous going in this stiff country, which left the staff in a quandry. The master went right-about while the whip and most of the field went left, which vividly shows whose judgement they trust.
Having crossed the Dunghill hounds swung east through the horseshoe, over the Cowsic and Beardown Tor where we caught up with the tail hounds. The lead hounds having crossed the West Dart and run up through Wistman's Wood to Littaford from where most were retrieved. Some however were gathered by the South Devon when they ran into Bellever and their Master believes that they were marking there before his hounds arrived in the covert. A fair run if only we had been able to live with them.
The South Devon took one and half couple home with them but lost Torpid as she came off the lorry. She was seen disappearing up the lane in the dark. Thirty-six hours later she trotted back into her home kennels. Quite a feat of navigation over unfamiliar ground and a point of thirty-five miles. Bantam who they had seen in Bellever Forest but were unable to catch was retrieved from Hackney Marsh close by Newton Abbot race course the following Sunday how or why she appeared there is a mystery.
On February 10th hounds met at Venn Farm, Caseytown. Dr Sweet's was the first draw and proved blank. The thick hedges bounding Shorts Down also failed to produce a fox. As we drew Fullamoor a fox was viewed crossing the lane in the direction of the forbidden grounds of Grimstone and Sortridge mine and was given best.
Rilands was also blank surprisingly except for three roe.
Monkswell gorse, however, exploded with foxes. Hounds hunted well in covert and soon put one to ground. He was taken and found to be mange-ridden. Another was seen to leave by Crapple and a third was found as we drew the covert again. After a turn of the gorse he crossed Brook Lane and ran over Sampford Barton to Watery Ford. Here he was seen running up over the cross country course and hounds were well settled only to mark him to ground below Broom Hill.
Hounds then drew over Pew Tor and the lower half of Moortown without finding, which was unsurprising given the number of walkers enticed out by the first hints of spring.
From a well attended and delicious meet at Great Cranford on 7th February hounds drew across the road and up on to Southerley Down where a fox was quickly found. Viewed up towards the moor it looked like our luck was in. However this was too much to hope for and he turned to run down to the old railway line above Coombe Farm where a further brace were disturbed. Half the pack hunted a lame fox down the slang to the road above the meet where all bar Chaplain and Bantam were stopped in the interest of safety. The other half hunted back to the moor but failed to make much headway and returned to the railway. Reunited the pack was taken to where the moorland hunt had failed but a long cast produced no success.
A fox was roused from the Fox & Hounds and again left by the moor wall but once in the open looped back on himself to cross the road on Vale Down, again hounds were stopped. Drawing up a fox was roused from the summit of Arms Tor. Running north for a while he dropped down to the infant Lyd before crossing it and running up over Nodden to be frustratingly lost among sheep making for Southerley Down.
Back below Nodden a fox was viewed running up the river as hounds drew a gully running perpendicular to it. Holloaed on they unfortunately took heel line first and then strugggled on the line when put right, eventually marking their fox to ground in rocks below the peat track. He bolted from here on to get in fifty yards down the hill. From here he was taken.
Tiger Marsh was drawn blank but not without incident. Hounds found again as we breasted the Okement valley. They flew down the steep face to the valley floor and then ran at pace crossing the river below the old pumphouse. They appeared to be well settled as they hunted up the far bank but as they hit the high plateau the wind and sun again stole their line. Well in to the Mid-Devon country and with the field struggling to cross the swollen river it was decided to retrace our steps rather than cast on.
The bank of Meldon Reservoir produce another fox with little scent and he vanished without trace before leaving covert. Finding again in Tor Wood the final fox of the day was run to ground in a cutting on the line below Sourton Tors. A busy but generally frustrating day in glorious weather barring the wind.
On 31st January hounds met at the Rock Hotel, Yelverton. After a well attended and generous meet hounds moved off to draw Knowle Down and found at Burham. At first hounds struggled in the wind but as their pilot warmed up so they settled to the task and ran their fox through Welltown to put him in below Peek Hill. Drawing out on to the moor with gales blowing and storm force winds forecast they quickly despatched one fox below Criptor. Drawing on though the gorse onto the old railway we failed to find again. Up in the open it became obvious that the open moor was not going to be huntable and the field were soaked through. Hounds therefore retired to the Walkham Valley and the shelter of the woods to hunt happily if largely unaided for the rest of the day.
Hounds left the meet at Rubbytown Farm under a blue sky with frost on the ground but not in it. Artiscombe and Ogbeare were drawn blank but a fox was found below the quarry and hounds set off at a blistering pace for Ottery. Here our pilot swung left handed and came back via the lane to the quarry. Hounds bolted him from amongst the spoil heaps only for him to again seek safety below ground only this time in a large place from which their was no evicting him.
Finding again on Newton Bank hounds ran the length of the Lumburn before swinging west up over Colcharton Farm, beneath Three Oaks down over Artiscombe back into Ogbeare where they perservered before they could make no more of it. A better day than might have been expected with more foxes in the area than on previos visits.
Having drawn the rushes beneath Prewley Farm blank hounds were taken below Meldon dam to draw. Here they quickly found and after a short hunt round this wooded moonscape he was put to ground in a collapsed leat and left to the terriermen. A second fox had been veiwed away from the same covert in the direction of the A30 and was given best.
Drawing up the bank of the reservoir another fox was marked to ground after a short drag. The terriermen being busy elsewhere, hounds drew on. THey found again in the boulders beside the Okement and dislodged their quarry only for him to take sanctuary 25 yds down stream in an even stonger fortress.
Drawing on up the valley opposite Blackator Patriot raised a fox and led the pack along the steep valley side as they started to run up together. The veiw was akin to fell hunting as hounds scrabbled over the clitters 300ft above us but again they were disappointed as he sought refuge a mile up the valley in a rockheap. As they marked the sound of Guy Allman of the Mid-Devon's horn was clearly audible on the wind as he gallantly took his hounds and field away to the other side of Willhays to avoid confusion. Although we had agreed earlier that a joint meet was not the end of the world, discretion is the better part of valour.
As they marked Prophet and Hornet worked back to where they had found their fox in some rough and thenopened up on his mate. He was veiwed broaching the valley wall and hounds were laid on. They hunted along the cusp before dropping down the face to the weir where they crossed the Okement. Running between the Tor and the copse they persevered through heavy sheep foil before putting their fox in. Again he bolted and hounds ran him south down the valley towrds the better more open going. Here he was seen to baulk at the open and turn back amongst the rocks. Hounds had become split due to a combination of wind, sun, poor scent and steep rocky going which hindered both visual and aural communication. With little headway being made we reluctantly left the mid-Devon country.
Back on our side of the river another fox was put to ground after a short hunt and was taken. Almost half the remaining field were sodden having taken a dunking in the river and home was blown before hypothermia set in. A frustrating day which never lived up to its promise.
Hounds accompanied by a compact field left this new venue for a meet and drew along the old railway to Blackdown. The length of the line and the gorse above it was drawn as far as West Blackdown without finding.
Cholwell gorse was also drawn blank. A fox was found at the bottom of Yellowmeade and run between Will Farm and Willsworthy over Hill Bridge Farm to be marked to ground above Creason Wood. Drawing on down the valley on the moor side a fox was found among the mine workings opposite Horndon Clam and after a short burst he too narrowly got to ground.
The Walkhampton Inn again welcomed us on New Year's Day. A good crowd thronged the square. Hounds mved off and drew Knowle Down in clear sunshine despite a strong cold wind and heavy overnight rain. No foxes were found until the other side of the village where hounds marked at a hole in a hedge bank. As they drew on the terriermen quickly bolted this fox and hounds were laid on. They took their fox below Burham and across Welltown Lane until they ran up over Peek Hill Farm and lost their fox in heavily poached ground. A cast on left hounds struggling and the line petered out int the brake behind the cattle sheds where numerous holes could have provided esacpe.
Criptor produced a fox found by Prophet and the pack hunted him well round the Newtake and took him up to the rock heaps where a vociferous band could not keep him out. He was later evicted.
Beneath the ariel on Hessary Tor another fox was found and he ran across the road to the Prison farm. He ran through the thicket and was seen below the quarry, but as hounds entered the thicket it exploded with foxes much to the excitement of the assembled car followers. One was killed, at least a brace took cover in the sett below the quarry, another ran back through towards the prison gate and a line was hunted along to the main road but scent failed.
Yellowmeade Bog was drawn blank and hounds hacked home via Merrivale.
A new fixture on the card and well attended. Hounds left the meet and drew the bank opposite the village where a beautiful fox was found and veiwed leaving the covert towards Down Farm. Hounds struggled in the bright sunshine and thawing frost but once they settled to the line they took their fox up through Down Gorse and into Castor, leaving by the bottom of the the covert and ignoring fresh foxes that were on the move they crossed Lovaton Lane and ran on to put their fox to ground above Callisham.
Hounds were taken on to draw the roughs below Durrance. We had only been here once in the autumn on a very poor scenting day and it showed as foxes appeared in all directions. Scent was little better this day but hounds persisted and killed one below Lynch. At least another brace were veiwed by the field. In the end with the covert heavily foiled hounds were cast on over Wigford Down where they struggled on an old line but made little of it.
Near Brisworthy hounds found again and ran their fox over Legis Tor into the Plym Valley on the moor. They crossed Ditsworthy Warren before swinging left over Gutter Tor and back into the heavily stocked farms of Sheepstor where hounds checked and were stopped.
A final fox was found on Lynch and and ran back across the valley to castor where they checked on top of the badger sett without ever marking to it. Home was blown on a useful and enjoyable day.
From the best attended meet in Bedford Square for several years hounds moved off to draw Taviton, Pennycomequick and Moortown. Unfortunately the very rough night meant nothing was found above ground until Wedlake. Here hounds hit a strong drag that took them over Whitetor and into the gorse where they found their fox. He ran for the moor wall but finding the field there doubled back and ran west through Broadmoor Farm to Cudlipptown, before running the fields to Black Shailes and on over Smeardon Down to be run to ground shortly in front of hounds on Godsworty drive.
Despite the strengthening wind hounds headed up over Roos Tor for Merrivale. As we drew the Newtake the clouds dropped and ripped their bellies open on the tors. The resulting downpour was akin to being trapped in an ice-cold car wash for an hour. With the high moor closed to us hounds drew Beccamoor Bog and back over Pew Tor by which time the remaining field recognised the way home and took the only rational decision open to them. Thus allowing hounds to return home with their honour intact.
A disappointing day but at least the first half was dry.
A huge betinselled field both mounted and on foot gathered at Pound House for the annual Christmas Eve meet that is rapidly becoming as big a fixture as Boxing Day.
A fox was found on Roborough Down below Grenofen Bridge and ran the valley down to Double Waters before following the Tavy downstream and heading back inland over Balstone and Coppicetown to be lost in the back of the village at Buckland. Cuxton Farm was drawn blank and we moved on to Mr Doughty's and the cross country course which is always a source of amusement. The water jump was full and allowed for a couple of early baths which must have been extremely unpleasant. Denham Woods proved blank except for a fox that was marked directly to ground in an impregnable place. Home was blown early in anticipation more excitement to come.
A fog bound start meant that the first draw was confined to the log fire in the front bar for an hour. During which time the clouds teased us but by midday the weather seemed to be clearing and it was decided to go. A reduced field watched hounds draw along the railway line without finding. Drawing up through Tor Wood to the Coombe they found and hunted up across the top in the wind to put their fox to ground in the rocks of Sourton Tors. For refusing to bolt from here he was killed.
With the weather still threatening hounds were taken through the mist to draw Meldon. Here they found on the banks of the reservoir and an interesting but circular hunt developed with scent enough in shelter but little in the open where the wind caught it. Having hunted two lengths of the lake our pilot took them over the top and into the fields bordering the A30. Although foxes seldom cross this arterial road it was deemed sensible to stop hounds. With little country in easy reach and various Christmas Parties beckoning the Master reluctantly blew for home on a day that had been curtailed at both ends but had still given us three and half hours on the hill.
Freshly fuelled with mulled wine and bacon butties a well-fed Tuesday field left the meet as hounds drew the roughs below Twist and up into Whitetor Gorse. Here a fox was found and hounds set to work. They hunted him, steadily at first, back down past the meet and then with growing pace over Cudlipptown, through Wapsworthy and Longbettor to Baggator Neck. Here he swung east towards Lynch Tor and hounds checked in the open as as the wind and bright sunlight spoiled the scent. The line was recovered and hounds ran on to mark their fox to ground on White Barrow. A pleasing hunt, and a point of a little over four miles to start the day.
Hounds then drew the gorse in Longbettor Newtake blank and were taken over the Lych Way to draw down from Walkham Head towards Merrivale. Both large earths on the side of the valley appeared to be occupied but had to be left and no fox was found in the open until Merrivale Newtake. He was viewed by the field as he made his way up the bank to Gt Mistor and hounds were soon in pursuit. They crossed the newtake wall and ran to the boulder strewn slopes close to the summit. He decided to vacate this sanctuary by crawling down between the rocks and the bulk of the pack went with him as the master went to investigate those that were marking. This led to an invigorating game of catch up as hounds were seen crossing the Walkham half a mile away and 450ft below this eyrie. They raced up the far bank as we clambered down our side. They ran north of Roos Tor, down through Wedlake and Godsworthy to the Coombe before swinging for Cox Tor. Here he must have been headed on the farm drive, for he doubled back recrossed the Coombe running up the valley between Higher and Lower Godsworthy and up on to Twist. Here hounds checked but cast forward regained the line and ran at pace through the gorse and on to Whitetor itself. Coming off the tor by the east side they swung north and checked above Wapsworthy Newtake. Our pilot for the last couple of miles had run a jinking course and the wind made hunting difficult. Arnica could still work the line and took hounds down into the newtake. However, with most horses beaten, a long hack home and the prospect of fresh foxes in the ground below us he was given best. A fascinating hunt of over seven miles across some testing country. As we hacked home with the setting sun highlighting the relief of the moor and giving Tavy Cleave the appearance of a mini Hindu Kush all agreed that it was the best day of the season so far. Dartmoor always feeds the soul, this was a feast.
The Chairman's meet was held at Waytown in persistent rain and drifting fog which threatened to kill the day from the start. However since a large and similarly persistent field had made the effort to turn out to cancel would have been churlish. Since the weather meant the moor was out of bounds, hounds moved off over Walkhampton Common to draw Peek Hill Farm and Welltown where a fox that had been disturbed off the hedge was veiwed running down the lane. Hounds were laid on and hunted their fox to ground three fields later. As they marked awaiting the arrival of the terriers a second fox was seen leaving nearby Burham but the huntsman was not informed. Shortly after as we drew this covert hounds spoke and worked the line, now ten minutes old, up towards the fog-bound main road and hounds were stopped.
A further fox was found on Knowle Down but he quickly sought safety in a hitherto unknown sett in the thorns on the bank. Disappointingly the next fox found a mile away on the bank of the spating Walkham took the same refuge. Huckworthy Woods were drawn blank and in the hope that the clouds were finally lifting hounds were taken to the top of Eggworthy. Nine times out of ten on a clear day foxes found here will run down into the wooded valley below rather than face the better hunting country of the open moor above. So of course it should come as no surprise that on a foggy day when the idea was to stay in the valley our contrary pilot should choose to leave immediately by the top side of the covert amidst the swirling mists with hounds in full cry on a breast high scent. The joy of this country is that their are few dangers for hounds in such an unpopulated area and only one road. The curse is that even the most hardened moormen can become disorientated in the fog. Especially when concentrating on the ever diminishing cry of hounds in the distance rather than where they are. Hence it was fortunate that hounds ran into heavy sheepfoil and checked, from whence they were recalled. Home was blown early due to lack of clear country with the satisfaction of knowing that at least we had tried.
On Tuesday December 9th we took hounds across the moor to have a joint meet with the South Devon. I would dearly like to give a detailed account of the day's hunting that followed but with plenty of foxes and hounds hunting tightly in the well covered valleys I have little idea of where I was most of the day. Suffice it to say that we had a thoroughly enjoyable and busy day in a very different and interesting piece of country which made the hounds and their huntsman work for their living while the field was able to watch most of the activity from the safety of the high ground. Thanks must go to Ian Pearse MFH and his k-h Jamie Nicklin who helped us through the day and their Committee for making us so welcome.
On Saturday December 6th we were welcomed by the Elephant's Nest. From the meet hounds were taken to draw Yellowmeade below Willsworthy ranges. They spoke briefly part way along but little could be made of it. Hounds drew hurriedly on beneath the ever thickening fog and found at the top end of the gully and ran in full cry for Doe Tor in thick fog. Advantage was taken of the first check to stop them both on grounds of visibility but also because we were headed into our neighbour's intended draw. Hacking back over Ger Tor in the fog which is an experience in itself hounds twice touched on a line coming up from the gully we had just drawn and as we dropped below the fog above Lane End they hit it properly and ran at full pace to cross the Tavy at the bottom end of the Cleave. This left the field with an unpleasant crossing and cliff path if they were to stay in touch. Most did. Still at full stretch hounds ran on to mark their fox to ground in Standon rocks. A second fox was found in Baggator and after a swift circuit of the farm and newtake took refuge in the same sanctuary.
Drawing Longbettor Newtake hounds found again in the gorse and ran their fox down to the Youldon Brook, before turning left handed and forcing their fox up towards the open moor and dense fog. Luckily he baulked having jumped the wall and followed it round over Baggator Neck and up on to Standon. Here he ran straight across the afore mentioned rock heaps. With hounds still in full cry they took him down to the Tavy below Standon Farm and hunted along the river through Coffin Wood and did not check until Hillbridge. Here the obvious cast on into Creason and the large earths therein was decided against despite the desire to bring the hunt to a conclusion.
Hounds were taken back to Wapsworthy with the intention of drawing Whitetor when hounds winded a fox as we came through the moor gate. He was veiwed just ahead of them and a quick dash followed with our pilot seeking sanctuary in the old outdoor privy of the ruined Longbettor Farm. From here he was taken giving the terriermen an interesting end to the day. An entertaining day during which hounds hunted almost non-stop.
On Tuesday 2nd December we were given a warm welcome by the new landlady of the Royal Standard. Hounds left the meet under a clear sky to draw the old railway line and Burnford Common which were unfortunately blank. An unenterprisingfox was found in the short gorse on Blackdown and despite being close behind hounds struggled to hunt it. Eventually they were stopped as they crossed the old lane from South Brentor as casting them on would have taken us into our neighbours first draw for Saturday. Drawn on over the Mary Tavy end of Blackdown they failed to find until we had crossed the main road.
Here they found in Cholwell gorse and hunted the valley steadily and accurately in full veiw of the assembled followers mounted and on foot alike. After three circuits of the valley they put their first fox in. Another was found in the base of the valley and almost instantly went to ground in a small place on a cliff which he left as soon as hounds were removed. Quick to wind him in the thick gorse hounds hunted across the stream and up over the spoil heaps on the Horndon side and across the common to Mr Hill's ground where they checked amidst sheepfoil. Cast on they recovered the line on Willlsworthy Common by which time our pilot must have been 15 minutes ahead but scent was holding just well enough until they hit the ridge above the rifle butts where the full force of the wind and bright sun made it disappear without trace.
A final fox was found below Yellowmeade and gave us a short cicular hunt round Lane End before going to ground.
On Saturday 29th hounds met at the Fox and Hounds. The previous night and dawn the west side of Dartmoor had spent had spent twelve hours in a high pressure car wash with gales blowing in more rthan an inch of rain. The streams were in spate and the ground unpleasantly wet and slippery. More importantly it did not bode well for finding foxes above ground on the high moor. Doetor was drawn blank.
The thick gorse facing Widgery provided dry-lying and produced a fox who was dislodged by Whaler. The density of the gorse meant he had to keep leaping to clear it giving this tenacious young hound a clear veiw of his quarry. Having run up the steep bank he turned back down again with Whaler closing as the rest of the pack came to his call. Whaler was not to be cheated and pulled his fox down before it made the open ground, which will be the making of him.Drawing on under Nodden a stale line was hit which came to nought. Tor Wood surprisingly was drawn blank as was the old railway line and Sourton Tors. Less surprisingly Tiger Marsh was blank, lying as it does in the open on the exposed brow of the moor. A second fox was found on Southerly Down and ran back through the heavily stocked fields over which hounds struggled to Tor Wood where the line could not be recovered. Home was blown as the clouds rolled back in at 3.45. A disappointing day in some of our most spectacular country but the weather cannot be helped.
A large field assembled at Coombe Farm, Crapstone lured in by the smoked salmon. Hounds first drew below Blowiscombe Barton which was blank and then into Coombe Fisheries where they found in the thick. Hunting well incovert they pushed their fox into the open in front of the field. However scent was poor in the open and hounds struggled to hunt the line in a loop back to the head of the covert. He was seen crossing the lane into the back of the village and hounds were stopped.
Drawing on through Venton and Pound hounds did not find again until the viaduct on Roborough Down, which has been a problem this season. However having found they hunted beautifully filling the deeply wooded valley with music as they hunted the entire length down to Double Waters across the Walkham and over West Down to run up as far as Magpie Bridge where they turned north and put their fox to ground above Grenofen.
Hounds met at Foxhams Farm on Tuesday 18th November with a day planned for the high moor. Unfortunately the fog made it look unlikely that there would be any hunting at all but luckily during the meet the clouds lifted enough to allow us to make a start. Hounds found below Knowle Farm and ran up past Walkhampton Church, down across Peek Hill Farm, passing below Welltown to come back to the village and on into the Walkam Valley above Huckworty Bridge, where they checked. Cast on across Leewood they hit off the line which took them on towards Horrabridge where they were stopped short of the village.
Sampford Barton was drawn blank. The next fox was found in Rilands and persauded to leave on the Plasterdown side but changed course to run into Monkswell and hounds had to be stopped on the boundary hedge.
Finding again on Fullamoor hounds then produced an interesting hunt over the farm and out onto the down before turning to run across the top of the farm, over Fullamoor Lane and onto Sortridge Farm where he was marked to ground half a mile further on.
The final fox was found in Dr Sweet's and ran across the Plasterdown, swinging left he ran for Venn and Caseytown. Emerging onto the golf course hounds faltered and the line could not be recovered.
After an excellent Hunt Breakfast at the East Dart Hotel, hounds left the meet in gorgeous autumn sunlight. The gales and rain of the previous 36 hours had abated. A brace was found in Gawler with the bulk of the pack unfortunately settling on the poorer fox which took them back to the village and across the main road. They were collected as quickly as possible and taken on to try and catch up with the other part of the pack which was going like smoke over Higher Whitetor for Wistman's Wood with only the whip in attendance. As we broached the newtake wall the packs rejoined and hunted down over the Powdermills towards Spaders before turning back across the Powdermills Newtake to be put to ground in rocks in Russel's Gorse from where he was taken.
The next fox was found in Hollowcombe Bottom and left by the east side of the coombe and was hunted into Braddon lake where again the pack was split by a fresh fox. The two packs ran concentric semi-circles to rejoin at the base of Hollowcombe and run on up to the large sett part way up the gully which was frustrating.
Drawing out through towards West Dart Head a good fox was roused that ran over Brown's House and on to Broad Down, through Braddon and over the East Dart to Standon where he was lost amongst the stock and thick cover and being out of our country he was given best having given us a pleasing hound hunt.
Drawing up the East Dart a brace was found and despite the difficulty of getting round to them hounds took the line on and crossed back across the river to put their fox in below the sheepfold.
All in all an enjoyable day with plenty of foxes and a holding scent which allowed for some entertaining if slightly parochial hunting. This will improve as foxes start to travel.
Saturday 8th November saw our annual visit to Chaddlehanger. Once again we were made extremely welcome by Mrs Cole. Hounds left the meet and drew Mr Horn's fodder beet which was sadly blank. They hit a line in the bottom of the valley and set up well for 250yds before marking their fox to ground in a boundary hedge where he was left. A second fox was found in Mr Coles' turnips and jumped up 50 yds ahead of hounds and was in full view as he fled down the hedge. An exciting course ensued with Dismal closing the gap to 3 ft but the field corner with its wire and hedge saved his brush. Hounds hunted him in full cry to the next boundary on the main road where the quick thinking whip and terriermen stopped them before they reached the road. Iron railings and Brentor Church proved blank.
The next fox was found just south of Brentor Station and quickly went to ground from where he was taken. Hounds found again on the old railway line and hunted fast but with little cry down the line to Mary Tavy before swinging up over Burnford and round the Glider field, across Brinsabach to Mr Budge's. Dropping back onto the railway close to where they found him they turned west again and marked their fox to ground in the coombe below Brinsabach. A slightly disappointing day with a poor show of foxes for the early part. However hounds hunted beautifully together and it was a useful day out for the large contingent of first season hounds present.
Thirty-five children ranging in age from six to seventy-six arrived at the Children's meet at Huckworty in torrential rain. Well fortified with chocolate and sausage rolls this hardy gang set off to draw Knowle Down and on into Huckworthy Woods where hounds found as we crossed the river. Runninng the length of the wooded valley they ran out over the down at the top to mark their fox to ground in a big earth in Leewood. A second fox was found in the valley and run to ground between Holewell and Eggworthy. Drawing up through Eggworthy wood and on to the moor nothing was found and with the clouds lowering and win gathering pace it was decided to draw down into the relative shelter of Peek Hill and Welltown. Here a brace were found but had little go about them in the weather with one being marked to ground and left in a thick hedge below the moor. With everyone soaked to the skin home was reluctantly blown before 3pm.
On yet another glorious sunny autumn day which promised little scent hounds left the meet at Highdown and drew the Fox & Hounds Gorse blank. They drew on across Doe Tor Common without finding and on up through the old workings behind Widgery Cross without even a squeak. The Rattlebrook as far up as Bleak House failed to produce a fox. It was not until we drew down through Tiger Marsh that hounds started to work a drag. When they did finally open up their fox took immediate refuge in the rockheap known locally as the Foxes' Hotel from where he could not be dislodged and so was killed.
There were foxes in the gorse above Tor Wood but the cover was so dense and scent so poor that nothing could be done with them. Southerly Down produced a fox in the open and hounds settled well taking him down to the main road by Gt Cranford. He baulked at the traffic and turned back on himself and was accounted for just short of the old railway line.
The last Saturday in October saw the Opening Meet held at Down House again in glorious autumn sunshine under a settled sky. Hounds left the generous meet followed by a strong mounted field. Dr Sweet's covert was drawn blank, as was Taviton Gorse. A fox was found by the old quarry on Moortown and ran a circuit of the farm before going to ground close to where he was found. Hounds drew on through Dennithorne and out on to the moor over the clear ground of Roos Tor to Merrivale where a brace and half were roused on the banks of the Walkham. Unfortunately none of the three proved very enterprising and all ended up in the rocky sanctuary of the quarry spoil heap.
At the north end of the newtake a better fox was found who made a break to the east over the newtake wall and up the steep face of Gt Mistor where history dictated that he should take cover in the boulder strewn crags but he did not and pushed on over the summit with hounds in full cry behind him. Running south from the summit he dropped down to Little Mistor and on to North Hessary Farm where he sought shelter in a drain within sight of the prison and at the farmer's wish was given best.
Taken back hounds drew on up the Walkham without finding. Perhaps this was not surprising given the number of walkers encouraged up onto the moor by the unseasonal weather. Whitetor and Wedlake were both drawn blank due to disturbance of another nature but Cox Tor provided a fox for the final hunt of the day which took us down to the Godsworthy track and out to the Princetown road where hounds were stopped as the light started to fail. A busy and workmanlike start to the season proper that can only improve as the temperatures fall, the clouds gather and the bogs start to fill.
In bright sunshine a field composed largely of visitors left the meet from the East Dart Hotel at Postbridge. The majority of our regulars being otherwise and conscientiously engaged on the point-to-point course. Gawler Bottom drew blank for the first time this season, and Spaders failed to provide a fox. Drawing along the bank below Littaford hounds feathered a stale line before Honey roused a fox just short of the newtake wall. With the hounds fanned out and drawing well he appeared in the centre of the line and before he could cover the fifty yards to the wall and gain himself some law Postman and Chaucer cut him off.
The disturbance had moved another fox in the gorse above and as hounds started to hunt he was seen at the east end of this long gorse bank. The hounds hunted well in covert but once they hit dry grass in the open scent seemed to fail largely, and they could only work sporadically, taking a line back up to and beyond Littaford but to no avail.
We drew on through Wistman's Wood and up to the tinner's hut beyond Crow Tor without finding. Dropping over to the West Dart we found a brace by Brown's House and hounds settled to their fox well. They hunted him back across the bog which the field had just circumvented at a cautious pace which necessitated a rather more rapid retracing of our steps if we were to keep in touch As we crossed the river at the southern end of the marsh hounds were running well into the valley at the northern end. Half a mile up the valley our pilot sought refuge in a rock pile and hounds were marking well when we caught up with them. Hounds were removed from the earth and after a short wait it appeared that Charlie had taken the sensible option of staying below and so was given best but as we turned away he bolted and ran for the top of the tor. Hounds could see their fox and gained on him with each stride led by the irrepressible Mr P and Arsenic. Beaten by the hill he ran around a large boulder unsighting his pursuers for a few seconds and turned downhill. With their noses back on the grounds hounds hunted him round the rocks back on to the open grass where the race to see who could catch developed with Arnica sealing his fate. An interesting little hunt if not very long and certainly open to scrutiny for all the field and the parties of Ten Tors trainees in the valley.
Drawing on Braddon lake and the banks of the East Dart failed us but coming back from the waterfall to Hollowcombe Bottom we found a fox below Lower Whitetor who was to produce the hunt of the day despite the scorching heat. Hounds found him in the thick gorse and hunted well to push him out by the east side. He ran the boundary works across Chittaford and into Watson's ground at Archerton where hounds checked among the stock. Cast upstream along the bank of the East Dart Arnica put them right and they crossed the river into the Mid-Devon country. Skirting Hartland Tor they ran on over the sheepfolds and Stannon Tor to cross White Ridge into Fernworthy Forest. Despite the best efforts of staff and horses hounds could not be stopped before they went in but fortunately they were retrieved from this massive block with relative ease.
Having cooked the field by the time we left our own country and all on bar one couple the bar of the East Dart called. A very good day in glorious weather and with the ground drier and easier to cross than it often is in August.
From Waytown Farm hounds moved off in glorious sunshine to draw Criptor Bog. This proved blank as did the moor up to Hessary. A fox must have been lying in the spinney beside the Blackabrook on the prison farm but sheep foil and time meant that little could be made of it. We drew up the Cowsic from Holmingbeam with no more success and crossed the north end of Conies Down to Walkham Head. A mile or so down hounds found against the river. With the safety of the badger sett half a mile downstream apparently in mind our fox ran up the bank to find himself amidst the front end of the pack. With Postman on the clear ground above the the rocky bank, the bulk of the pack below and Frenchman coursing him between the boulders his fate was sealed. A desperate jink downhill brought him face to face with Arkle, who not being the fastest or brightest hound in the pack no doubt could not believe his luck, but every dog has his day and Arkle brought him down. Moving on hounds moved marked to ground in the earth to which our original pilot had set his course.
Merrivale Newtake did not fail us and produced a good fox who was kept out of the quarry spoil heap by the vociferous efforts of the foot followers. He headed west over the body of the quarry and ran parallel to the Tavistock road towards Cox Tor where walkers were as numerous as the boulders. With scent poor at best and our pilot being turned every fifty yards it was deemed best to give him best.
A glorious day on the moor that proved more useful than might have initially have been expected.
From another new lawn meet at the Bearslake Inn hounds drew up below the viaduct and through Tor Wood. The bright sunshine and gale force easterly were never going to make hunting easy. In the bottom of Tor Wood coombe the wind was strong enough to make staying in the saddle difficult and the pack of experienced older hounds had to concentrate to maintain cohesion. They worked hard but surprisingly drew the valley blank.
The plan had been to draw out onto the high moor beyond Bleak House and Tiger Marsh but the conditions made this pointless. At that height in the open communication between hounds, horn and field would have been impossible. Therefore we drew Nodden and marked at the foxes' hotel before hounds took a line that ran to the top of Widgery before petering out in the wind amidst sheep foil. We drew across High Down and Doetor into Willsworthy with only the faintest suggestion of a line beyond Yellowmeade.
Taken back to the Fox & Hounds gorse we did find and hounds got away on good terms to hunt their fox round Brian's barn and across the road through Shortacombe and onto the old railway line, which is now a motorway for cyclists as well as the Lamerton border. Given the change of country, the difficult conditions and the number of lambing ewes it was deemed sensible to collect hounds from a check and call it a day.
Disappointing for apart from the wind you could have gone where you wished and scent seemed reasonable.
We at left the meet at Leewood and drew across the river onto Knowle Down. Despite a long draw over Knowle Farm, Barham, and Welltown no foxes were found. The woods above Huckworthy also failed to produce a fox. This might have been on account of the rough weather or more likely the ravages of the mange which has been in the area all season.
If we were short of foxes in the morning Rilands Plantation made up for it with two brace being seen to leave. Hounds were away well on the first and hunted across Monkswell, into the gorse and put him to ground in Crapple. Apparently a second fox ran a similar line, a third ran to the forbidden Grimstone and the fourth dropped down into the next draw at Fullamoor.
Hounds feathered a line all down the boundary hedge with Boyton before their quarry was found resting on the hedge top and viewed travelling up the bank below Pennington. Here he swung left handed running onto Boyton Farm and then Highlands with hounds going well. The line unfortunately left no doubt as to his intended destination and the terriermen reading the situation well moved efficiently to stop them crossing Fullamoor Lane in the direction of Grimstone. A shame as they were going well but our pilot obviously wished to be reunited with his mate.
Finding again on Shorts Down hounds ran down below Whitchurch and up the valley through the back of Middlemoor and up into Holetown Wood. Looping back on himself he dropped back into Middlemoor through the gorse and hounds were frustrated as he climbed the ivy on the old school wall and made his escape into the village. Luckily the schoolyard wall provided enough of a barrier to allow hounds to be collected before they could put in an appearance in the bar of the Whitchurch Inn.
From an entusiastic meet at Warleigh Barton hounds drew Worleigh Wood and then back along the creek towards Tamerton Foliat. Here a fox was found close by the lane but unfortunately ran the half mile to the village with hounds only yards behind. The well placed terriermen managed to stop them before they entered the gardens. A long draw across the rest of the farm and along the seawall failed to rouse a pilot.
Back on to Blaxton, and the Ashleigh valley and our search proved equally fruitless. The rest of the day produced only game from each covert and no vermin which was disappointing from a hunting man's point of view.
After spectacular thunderstorms and violent showers at first light the chances of finding a fox above ground on the moor in the vicinity of Postbridge seemed severely limited. This suspicion was proved correct as hounds marked immediately to ground crossing in to Gawler. We drew on into the gorse as the terriermen set to work. They bolted two in short order and hounds were laid on settling to the job in hand. Running first towards the Powdermills our fox crossed the marsh below looking towards the forestry but thwarted by the car followers ran the bank below them. The ensuing short hunt was played out in full view of the field. Hounds checked below Archerton, and cast on hit the line on the moor above, running it up into the Dart valley but here it failed and despite a long forward cast could not be recovered in the wind. A third fox from the same earth was killed.
Some excitement was caused as the field tried to cross above the waterfall but no damage was done. The recent heavy rain had made the remoter moor more treacherous than normal and given the large number of visitors and the likelihood of a long draw across the open in order to find again it was deemed sensible to try the gorse of Hollowcombe. Here a good fox jumped up yards in front of hounds and was away with Postman and Chaucer burning his brush. He used the thick gorse above the Powdermills Newtake and Whitetor to good effect to give himself some law but hounds hunted on at a galloping pace over the Newtake, through the Powdermills, Gawler Bottom, Archerton, across Braddon Lake and up on to the top. At which point the Mid Devon field came in to veiw from the direction of Fernworthy. As Prophet took the lead hounds on over the wire the surviving field had to take a detour to find a way through and contact was lost in the strengthening wind. Having not checked in four miles the pack had not had a chance to close up since finding and the tail hounds must have heard the mid Devon horn and crossed the river to join them in Stannon. Wrong-footed the term hunting hounds takes on a different meaning and we had to rely on observation, experience and intuition to refind them. Having run with a left hand bend Broad down seemed the obvious place but was clear and the sheep on Rough Tor beyond were undisturbed. Back to East Dart Head there was no sign of their passing, and so we looked back towards the meet where several were collected from an earth above the river and the rest were found in a stable where they had been put after being separated from their mid Devon colleagues. Short of shoes and mired in sweat it was decided to blow for home despite it only being mid afternoon. An enjoyable afternoon which could have been exceptional.
From a wonderfully attended Children’s meet we set off after much refreshment and chocolate to draw Denham Woods. One unenterprising fox was hunted all of ten yards before going to ground. He must have been sunning himself on his doorstep.
Hounds found very quickly in thick below Orestocks and set up with a tremendous cry. The field were well strung out having been jollying about on the cross country course and the master was wrong footed at the bottom of this large wooded valley. After a long circuit of this difficult area it became apparent the unthinkable had happened, hounds had left the Tavy for the Tamar some three miles hence at the closest. They were eventually found still hunting below Morwell Barton and collected by Newbridge. It is typical that the traveller I have been looking for for the last two months should put in an appearance at the Childrens meet and in a tricky part of the country. An object lesson in expecting the unexpected.
Unusually for the meet from Collaton we left under clear skies. For the last four seasons the weather has been atrocious whichever month the meet has been arranged for. Occasionally forcing abandonment of the day's sport in favour of the farmhouse kitchen and our hosts had obviously catered with this contingency in mind for Saturday.
Moving off we hacked up to draw Wedlake and a fox was swiftly away up the far bank towards Whitetor before baulking at the moor wall and heading down into the coombe below Godsworthy. Hoarder was the first away in the strong wind persevered largely single handed for a mile or so until the bulk of the pack caught up with him. In the coombe our fox must have crossed the stream and resumed his course for Twist and Whitetor. Unfortunately on the open tops on closely cropped turf exposed to the gale and bright sunlight the scent was not holding and despite a long forward cast our fox was lost.
Langstone Bog was drawn blank and in the conditions we headed for the more sheltered conditions of Longbettor. Here a fox was found in the gorse filled gully beside the brook and hounds hunted well in a long loop round the newtake to put one fox to ground and hunt a second round to Wapsworthy where despite their best efforts the scent failed them. another fox was found below Standon farm and hunted over to Coffin Wood and despite being viewed by the foot followers hounds could not hunt him thirty seconds later. He was given best.
In Baggator hounds found and hunted with a killing pace and murder in the voices whilst they were on good terms with their fox but the rocks of Standon Hill were too close at hand and once again they were thwarted.
With the wind still strong but the air cooling we headed for Walkham Head and the moor proper. Hounds marked a fox straight in below Conies Down and even with Honey's best subterranean efforts he could not be shifted. They found in Merrivale Newtake and hunted well up to the wall before the full force of the wind hit our pilot in the face and he swung left-handed and dropped down to cross the river and seek sanctuary in the spoil heap of the quarry. Dejectedly hounds were gathered up to draw again when in an unprecedented move our fox left by the far side of the heap. Hounds were laid on and were quickly away back across the river and in to the Newtake where it looked like he was headed for Mistor. However he ran upstream and keeping low he again changed banks and ran up across Shillapark and over Roos Tor where again hounds checked, Postman taking them over the top and round the side of Cox Tor where again scent petered out and he was given best. An entertaining but frustrating day due to the wind. It is hard to see hounds work so hard for no reward but work hard they did throughout the day.
Hounds or at least the field dragged themselves away from a very sociable and enjoyable meet in Sampford Spiney. Spirits were high due to the glorious weather and good company. The local rogue fox could not be found behind the church and so hounds were taken to draw Criptor bog. Here at least a brace were soon afoot and the thick gorse held scent better than might have been expected. Hounds unfortunately split in two. One half hunting their fox behind the farm and down into the valley towards Daveytown before coming back up onto the moor to hunt on for Long Ash and the Walkham again. The second half hunted well in the Newtake for a while before dropping down into towards Whithill and the other end of the valley. Given the difficulty of persuading foxes or hounds to leave this large wooded valley, hounds were stopped. Taken on to draw Yellowmead Bog they found again and pushed their fox up to the massive spoil heap of Foggintor Quarry. Here the field were treated to the unusual sight of Charlie leaving this impregnable fortress by the top "window" some 70 feet above the hounds marking at the bottom. He scrambled along the rocks at the top of the heap as hounds winding and viewing him made a desperate attempt to scale the height before he ducked in again. He crossed the top of the pile in full view of the foot followers and hounds followed. Unsurprisingly dropping down the far side he again took sanctuary in amongst the rocks in a place that he obviously considered an even more secure bastion than his first refuge. Here he was left. A short but exciting episode as akin to the fells as you can get in the south of England and at least the field did not have to exert themselves to see it.
Hounds found again below North Hessary Tor , which is always worth a visit on a clear day for the view alone. Our pilot proved unadventurous and went to ground in a little used sett behind Rundlestone Farm half a mile later.
Finding again on the banks of the Blackabrook above the prison hounds warmed their fox up well before he left covert by the north end and swung west across the prison farm with hounds going better. He crossed the main road and appeared to have his heart set on the old prison quarry. With this in mind and due to traffic on the road he was given best. The Long plantation was drawn blank. The original intention had been to draw on out to the forest proper along the Cowsic but given the severely diminished field we instead drew behind Smith's and across Merrivale to allow hounds into the Walkham Valley that we had skirted earlier.
Here it did not take long to find and in the cooling air hounds went well and the music got louder as evening drew in. It is nightmare place to show sport on account of its densely wooded, steep, boulder-strewn sides and is crossable only at each end and once in the middle of its three mile length. However with good scent and decent hearing conditions and without a field pressing for a gallop it is a magical place to listen to hounds crescendo and fall as they hunt, check, cast on and find again. The problem is that you can seldom be very close to them and results are difficult to get, but to hack the mile home two hours later only a couple and a half light after an enjoyable if not spectacular day is result enough. The three stragglers were home in time for a late supper despite Hoarder's best attempts at playing the Hound of the Baskervilles under the full moon.
From the cattle grid at Horndon we drew up from Cholwell, through Willsworthy and out over the moor to Doetor. Here below Bearwalls they found a brace and after a short hunt put one to ground from whence he was evicted. Drawn along the slopes of Ger Tor and out to the edge of Tavy Cleave not a fox was found and in bright sunlight and a north wind scent seemed poor as hounds tried unsuccessfully to work a stale line.
Drawing down the Tavy from Lane End, ever mindful of the live firing on Baggator range, hounds found opposite Coffin Wood and ran well up to Hollbridge and out onto Will Farm. here they fresh found and in poor scenting conditions these independent hounds split. Reunited they hunted on well back down into the Tavy Valley and put their fox to ground in the large sett on Hilltown. Finding again in the roughs of Will Farm they hunted a similar route down through Willsworthy across the river through Coffin Wood only to recross the stream and run back up towards Hilltown where he was accounted for. A pleasing end to the day as scent improved with the weakening of the sun and the wind.
The Newcomers' Meet was held at Bickham House. A good sized field was present to celebrate Emily Harland's sixth birthday and her first day's proper hunting. Amongst the rest of the field it was pleasing to see her grandfather MFH to the Lamerton and several new faces who had come to see hunting for themselves. Having drawn the coverts on the farm drive and Common Lane a fox was found in Halse Park and hunted up towards Milton Coombe where he turned and ran down to Lopwell. Here hounds got on better terms and ran at increased pace up the West Valley and over to Maristow House. Here they checked and were cast on to the Rookery but apart from the odd touch were unable to make anything more of it.
Drawn on through Blaxton Wood and the marshes that flank the foreshore it was disappointing not to find. Not a fox was found on Horsham or on the half of Worleigh that we drew. With the constant disturbance from regular shooting no doubt they have taken refuge in the more peaceful far flung corners of scrub and thick hedges that abound on the estate. We have two more meets in the area and like the UN Inspectors will have to search more thoroughly next time.
After a good meet at Rubbytown Farm hounds moved off to draw Artiscombe and found quickly. The fox obligingly leapt out of the covert and ran down the lane in front of the field with the hounds close behind. He climbed the bank and ran the length of Ogbeare Wood before crossing the Lumburn and running down through the old quarry and into Newton. Hounds pushed him on, moving several fresh foxes which were seen, but stuck with their quarry until he baulked at crossing the main road. He recrossed the stream and ran a wide loop to Crease Farm and was marked to ground in a large place in Crease Wood.
Taken back to the marsh below Ogbeare hounds drew it blank. Prophet roused the next fox off a hedge below Ottery, and hounds flew at full pace on the best of terms with their quarry. After a sprint of half a mile he made it to the safety of the quarry with hounds only yards behind. In this thick covert with hounds unsighted he managed to put a greater distance between himself and his pursuers. Hounds hunted well despite the distractions and brought the line out to run the stream beside the fish farm. He ran over the open ground and along the thick hedges until he reached the water-meadows. He now ran straighter and came up to the main road at the back of Lamerton village where hounds checked. Being on the border of our country and close to the village it was decided to give him best.
A pleasing if short day in this small pocket of country during which the hounds hunted extremely well. Given the mix of older and less experienced first season hounds it was a very successful day.
From a generous meet at Downtown hounds moved off to draw the nearby gorse bank in the hope that a locally toublesome fox would be found there. Unfortunately he had taken notice to quit. A fox was found to ground in a hedge just across the road and was bolted only to go to ground half a mile away. From here he was taken. A second fox was found below Bearwalls and hunted well for 15 minutes before he left across the ranges and scent dramatically failed.
Another fox was quickly accounted for on Doetor and hounds were taken across Willsworthy ranges to draw Yellowditch where again they efficiently despatched a further fox. Drawing up over Haretor and round to Nodden no more foxes were found possibly due to the height and exposed nature of the country. A brace and a half were found on Southerley Down but even at this late stage in the day scent was not special and hounds struggled to take the line across to Tor Wood and the Viaduct. Only Hostess was able to hunt with any conviction. When she could be persuaded to stop home was blown.
From Postbridge drew Archerton and Gawler where a fox was immediately marked to ground. While waiting for the terrier to bolt it hounds drew on and found another fox which they hunted well in the gorse but could do little with in the open. As they were hunting, the first fox bolted and hence got away unhunted.
Hounds drew themselves on into the Powdermills newtake and hit a line which they hunted over towards Hollowcombe Bottom and put their fox into the big sett on the far bank. Finding again under Whitetor hounds ran across Cherrybrook Newtake to go to ground under the Powdermills wall from whence he was evicted.
Cherrybrook gorse was blank, as was Wistman's Wood and Hollowcombe. Braddon Lake unusually failed to produce a fox and we did not find again until the banks of the East Dart. Here hounds forced their fox across the river along the bank to the north before recrossing the stream to run towards the waterfall, but again in the open and on the dry dead grass scent failed. A satisfactory day but not outstanding except for the views and the clarity of the weather on the moor.
From the meet at the Bottleneck Inn hounds first drew Prewley. This was blank. They found beside the reservoir at Meldon just above the dam but their pilot immediately made toward the main road and forbidden ground so hounds had to be stopped before they had got started. Surprisingly the old quarry workings were drawn blank until a line was found behind the car park. This led hounds back on the road side of the quarry and was never particularly strong so in the hope of fresh finding they were taken above the dam to draw the northern bank. Having been feathering a line for some way they roused a brace three quarters of the way up the lake. A strong gale was whipping the waves into white horses on the water and did little for communication. However once they were settled they hunted well up the West Okement cossing the river below Blackator and up into the Copse. With the field trapped on the wrong side of this steep valley hounds ran up the other side but mercifully swung back for Meldon giving an excellent view. Coming back to the head of the lake hounds then took to the water speaking as they swam the 100 yard width of the neck. They hunted on over the top back towards Prewley where the line was lost in the gale amidst sheep foil and could not be recovered.
With the weather turning against us there was little point drawing out on to the high moor so hounds drew back along the old railway line through Sourton where they found a fox which they hunted down to Tor Wood and up on Sourton Tors with Whynot and Dickens showing the way. Checking in sheep above the church they refound the line to push him back to the viaduct at Lake where they pulled him down on the edge of the coombe. What seemed like an otherwise good scenting day was spoiled by the gale.
Due to a week of severe frost the meet at Greenwell was held on foot. Hounds marked one fox to ground on Willake in a badger sett. They found a brace in Mr Dean's gorse and settled to hunt one away to Castor and on to Durrance from where they hunted via Lovaton to Brisworthy and back round to Durrance again. Scent was poor in the bright sunshine as the very surface of the ground started to thaw. The hounds worked hard for two and a half hours until the field had flagged when we returned to the meet for tea.
In better ground conditions hounds left the meet at Peter Tavy to draw up through the coombe and on into Wedlake. No fox was found until Wapsworthy despite drawing over Whitetor and through the gorse below it. Our fox from Wapsworthy ran down into the valley across Baggator lane and to cross the Tavy via Hill Bridge. Hounds hunted him well along the road and the upstream along the river bank to put him in on the badger sett below Hilltown Farm. Taken back to Longbettor hounds quickly found again and settled well to their task as they were led a circular course around Longbettor farm and newtake. It is a difficult area to cross with boggy ground, ditches, rocks and wire fences in equal measure but being in a large open valley it is good veiwing. With a decent scent hounds needed little help, recovering the line on their own when necessary. They produced two faultless circuits before hunting up on to Whitetor where the wind caused them to check. Cast back down into the valley towards Cudlipptown they recovered the line and ran over Browsentor farm, down through Coffin Wood and across the river to Willworthy. Here they turned downstream to put their fox to ground in the same earth as his mate had sought refuge in earlier. Only he approached it from the opposite direction. An interesting hunt with an unusual twist at the end. Hounds then drew the eastern bank of the Tavy back towards the meet, finding the final fox of the day in the old mine workings opposite Mary Tavy. Unlucky not to catch him instantly a short sharp burst ensued before he crossed the river and was lost in the back of the village.
Having been entertained at the Walkhampton Inn hounds moved off in brightening weather and optimistic mood to draw Criptor Bog. Heavy persistent rain in the previous 48 hours meant that the in-land farms were unridable and so we went straight to the moor. With even the most minor stream a rushing torrent and the roar of the Walkham in spate audible on the tors above it was not going to be an easy day. Drawing up the gully in Criptor a fox was marked straight to ground and would have been bolted except for outside interference. As hounds were marking the mast on Hessary Tor disappeared into the clouds and within ten minutes the entire moor had been swallowed. Hounds were taken into the valley to draw. On the way to Eggworthy they hit a line taking them through Eggworthy Wood in which they did a circuit before heading up the valley into the fog to be lost from sight and hearing. They killed their fox between Daveytown and Criptor. In the impossible and dangerous conditions hounds were taken home early.
From the meet hounds drew Yellowmeade and the pumping station blank before finding in Merrivale Newtake. Their fox ran over the wall below Gt Mistor before being turned by walkers to head for Little Mistor where he was headed again and ran back to Merrivale Warren where hounds checked. Cast across the main road they failed to recover the line until brought back to the Warren Tor. Here they hit the line off and ran down to the river and crossed below Shillapark working up to the old quarry spoil heap where the marked him in. A pleasing hound hunt. We then drew right up the river to Walkham Head and over to the Head of the Cowsic. Despite marking two foxes into rocks on the way no foxes could be found above ground until Broad Hole and even then he ran only 200 yards before going in. The Long Plantation produced a fox which ran its length before crossing to Beardown Forest. The hounds were stopped with the exception of Postman who could be heard happily hunting alone as we drew the Prison Farm. Finding in the rushes a short hunt ended with hounds putting their fox into the old mine workings in the middle of the prison newtake. Another fox was found in the newtake and did a couple of circuits before being lost in the Long Plantation. With a long hack home under a freezing sky in prospect home was blown for. An unfulfilled day but if you could keep warm at least we did not get wet and the moor was stunning.
A small field followed hounds from the meet at Postbridge to draw Archerton first and then Gawler. Here a fox was found that ran back towards the village and with hounds not settled on the line they were taken back to retry the gorse. Predictably a second fox was hunted away along the gully towards Powdermills with Dickens leading the way. Intent on the shelter of Bellever Forest our pilot crossed the bog by means of the Lich Way with hounds and horses in pursuit. The perilous state of this ancient path made for an interesting 5 minutes during which there were several empty saddles. Meanwhile our fox finding the road crammed with cars lost his nerve and after a pause for thought was seen recrossing the bog and the hounds followed accordingly. Moving on at an icreasing pace they marked him to ground in an old sandpit amongst the old mills themselves. Here he was left. A beautiful fox was found in Spaders and having been once headed on the road and once on the western edge of the gorse, finally left by the northern side only to run a long looping left-handed semi-circle to take him across the main road by the Two Bridges junction in his desired direction. Checking near the road hounds were put right and a pleasing hound hunt developed through Muddilake parallel to the Ashburton Road, across into Prince Hall and down onto the West Dart. Working hard as a pack in unremarkable scenting conditions they cast and drove on as required to mark him to ground below Sherberton, some three miles into the Dartmoor country and five from where they found. A very enjoyable sortie into a different area, made all the better for the chance to observe hounds working in detail. Taken back to Wistman's Wood hounds marked and bolted a fox for themselves. He ran due north before crossing the West Dart and running back down the eastern bank recrossing the river below Crockerntor. He ran up the Cowsic below Beardown and on towards the forestry where hounds were checked in sheepfoil. Undoubtedly his course lay into this dense stand of conifers and he was given best. En route for Higher Whitetor hounds worked a short line before marking to ground from whence brace was evicted and one killed. In Whitetor gorse hounds found again and pushed their fox throgh the dense cover and out into the newtake, despite being turned once he could not be dissuaded from his original course and was hunted up into the rocks of Littaford Tor. Hacking home hounds found themselves another line from a previosly disturbed fox. Mercifully this led us back to Archerton. Advantage was taken of a short check to pick them up and blow for home.
A large crowd and mounted field welcomed the hounds in Bedford Square along with a small delegation of the LACS. After an uneventful meet hounds moved off to draw Taviton, Pennycomequick and up on to Moortown. Here a fox was found in the old quarry and despite starting well he turned short above Longford and was killed. Merrivale Newtake produced at least a brace which left over the northern wall. the first was veiwed heading due north up the Walkham Valley while his mate must have croosed the river and run over Langstone moor and into Wedlake. With the field held up by a little local difficulty hounds hunted themselves up together and down into Godsworthy. Running down into the Coombe they checked, only to speak as they crossed the brook, swollen the overnight rain. Hunting on through the sheep below Twist the line faltered and then gave out completely, never to be recovered. Having short circuited the draw for the day we were left with choice of a long hack back out to the moor or drawing Wedlake and nearby Whitetor. The latter course was taken and would have been fine had these two excellent coverts not failed to produce a fox. Drawing the rest of the parish proved equally fruitless which was a shame. it can only be assumed that the earlier rain had persuaded most sensible foxes to lie up below ground. Reluctantly we drew home over Cox Tor and Pew Tor which yielded nothing but Bank Holiday Walkers.
From an exceptional home cooked meet hounds moved on through a gap in the fog to find a fox on Southerley Down. At first hounds struggled as this fox ran two tight cicuits bounded by the open moor and the old railway line. However they persevered and once they pushedhim into the open scent improved dramatically and with it the pace. At full stretch they pushed him north over the top of Tor Wood rather than through this steep coombe. From here they ran to the east of Sourton Tors. Over the best of going the field were at pains to live with them. Disappearing into the clouds it looked as if we might be in for an interesting day hunting hounds. Fortunately they came down the steep face of the tors towards Prewley but this only led them down towards the junction of the two major roads in the country. Fortune favoured us again as our pilot bore away from the traffic and ran the old railway line into Meldon. Here in thick cover scent once again failed us. As the weather deteriorated and fog re-enveloped the moor it was deemed wise to call it a day. A short hunt developed when we found as we drew home resulting in a fox being marked to ground on Woodman's. At least we had grabbed a few hours sport and a four mile point from an unpromising start.
Tuesday 17 December 2002 Broadmoor Farm
Hounds found quickly just below the meet and ran their fox to ground in a wall. As they marked, one fox bolted and was hunted across Whitetor Farm and down through Cudlipptown into the Tavy Valley where the line was lost. A second fox was killed in the same earth. A fox had been present in Whitetor Gorse but in the wind and amidst the sheep little could be made of it. We found again amongst the rocks of Whitetor itself and hunted with difficulty in the wind to the ford below Langstone Moor where the wind wiped out all trace of a line. Taken into the top of Longbettor hounds found in the more sheltered ground below the old farmstead. A long steady hound hunt followed which was interesting to watch as hounds ran the entire area of the newtake and out on the moor and back. They hunted beautifully as a pack checking, casting, refinding and driving on in this vast moorland valley which is difficult to cross on a horse in the height of summer, let alone after a wet spell in the winter. Hounds were eventually thwarted after over an hour by a combination of the wind, sheepfoil and time. Taken into Baggator they found again and ran into the Tavy valley towards the firng range exclusion zone and had to be stopped. Not a bad day given the difficulties caused by a freezing easterly gale.
Saturday 14 December 2002 Eastontown, Sampford Spiney.
The rain forecast for the afternoon started as hounds arrived at the meet. The clouds caught on the tors as they scudded westwards and threatened to drop at any time. Hounds were taken to draw Criptor and soon had a fox on the move. He was prevented from reaching his favourite rock earth on two occasions and was forced to forge a long loop up the stream over the railway before taking sanctuary in another of the quarry spoil heaps that abound in this area. Yellowmeade was drawn blank. The pumping station produced a fox and the bulk of the hounds were away on good terms. They ran north across the small fields of Rundlestone giving the field a thrilling veiw, before turning west over Little Mistor and down to Merrivale Newtake. At all times Mandate, leading the pack, could see his quarry and was winding him in. The gully that divdes the newtake unsighted him and Charlie turned sharply right causing hounds to check momentarily. Postman put them right to lead them to mark at the top of Great Mistor, one of the highest points on the moor and today in the lashing rain and clouds it felt like the edge of the world. Having called hounds from the rocks they were taken down to the river to draw and almost instantly hit a line that took them with increasing pace up the far bank through Langstone Bog, below Whitetor and into Longbettor where they stuck well to their original pilot who was seen sinking as he ran the gorse. Unfortunately a mixture of sheep foil, a beaten fox's failing scent, and fresh foxes moving in the short thick gorse aloowed his escape. Hounds ran a fresh fox to gound in Standon Rocks via Baggator. Along way from home we returned in deteriorating conditions, which no-one had noticed while hounds were running but now were feeling, to draw Merrivale Newtake. Despite intense interest in one rockpile no fox was produced. Beccamoor Bog and Pew Tor were also drawn blank. Hounds returned home early at 3.30pm as there was not a dry stitch to be found on any member of the field. Only those in waterproofs felt smug. An enjoyable day to which the weather in its perverse way only added.
Tuesday 10 December 2002 Mount Tamar
From the meet at Mount Tamar hounds drew the old railwayline and put a fox away towards Rumleigh where unfortunately they are not welcome and had to be stopped. A biting easterly gale in the previous 48 hrs had blown a frost well into the ground and any exposed earth was as hard as iron. It was therefore decided to draw in the forestry as this would be kinder to hounds feet than the arable country in the open. Drawing below Harts Hole behind the old sausage factory a fox was found and run along the banks of the Tavy over the old rifle butts, through Particliffe Wood and up into Shillamill Wood where scent failed. Another fox was found in Broadwell Wood and was hunted well on these steep woode banks to be put in under Raven's Rock. Hatchwood had several foxes afoot but being generally more open and facing the freezing east wind scent was non-existent. Denham Wood produced a further fox but scenting conditions were just as poor. An enjoyable but bitter day.
Another generous meet in a new location for what was planned as a moor day. Unfortunately the weather intervened and the fog hung below the moor fence all day forcing an unexpected change of draw. Drew the banks of the Tavy northwards and Radge Gorse blank. An opening in the clouds prompted an optimistic turn towards the moor which proved futile but rather than turn circles and draw back to Grendon hounds drew on over Kingford and Nutley Farms where they efficiently despatched one fox. Drawing on over Taviton Gorse to Moortown another line was found with which hounds struggled without ever making much sense of it. They could only own the line in short patches. On Wilsetton they raised a fox off a thick hedge and raced away to Warrens Cross and down to Pennycomequick. With the fog lowering, scent seemed to improve dramatically and they ran at full pace along the moor wall below Taviton to Torlands before swinging left to skirt the golf course to Caseytown and on to Shorts Down. Crossing the lane below Bleak House the new wire had started to string them out a little but the leaders kept the pace going through Fullamoor and out to Sortridge where they had to be stopped for fear of running into forbidden territory. On their way through Fullamoor at least a brace of fresh foxes had been moved but with the fog right down by now further hunting was not an option.
A large field left the meet and hacked through Horrabridge to draw Knowle Down and on through Walkhampton to Welltown where a very poor and mangy fox was found. He turned tight round the farm buildings in sight of the field and disappeared into a badger sett in the next hedge. Unfortunate for all concerned as in the state that he was in only a lingering and cold death awaits him, better by far would have been the swift mercy of the hounds. Hounds found again on the moor above Eggworthy and ran down into this large covert that borders the Walkham Valley. Luckily they hunted two circuits of the covert with out dropping into the valley which once entered is difficult to leave. With other foxes afoot Hoarder led the bulk of the pack back out onto the moor over Ingrator and put him to ground in the old quarry workings.
There were foxes in Criptor bog but the dense gorse and poor scent made hunting impossible. Drawing on towards the Devil's Elbow and Princetown no further foxes were found until Medlands Newtake. This fox ran down into the head of the Walkham Valley as expected but at this late stage in the day it did not matter. They then split. One half remained at the moor end of the valley and ran up onto the rocks of Mistor. The second half of the pack ran down the valley and were retrieved from below Waytown. Generally a poor day but time spent stirring up the valley is never time wasted.
With the Mid-Devon meeting a mile up the road the intended draw up the East Dart was altered so that we drew away from any possible confusion. Having drawn Braddon Lake blank, hounds found in Archerton and hunted their fox across to Gawler. In this thick gorse Postman pushed his fox straight through along the bottom and then across the road to Bellever Forest. Prophet and Wexford, a deeply reliable couple, hunted their fox through the gorse and out of the top. The rest of the pack led back Arnica hunted along the bank towards the Powdermills where their pilot went to ground. In an attempt to keep things moving they brought forward and laid on with Prophet and Wexford but sadly their fox swung left and ran for Postbidge where the Mid Devon hounds could be heard in full cry. With some effort and consternation hounds were stopped and brought back to mark Ardent's fox to ground where Postman saw fit to rejoin us. This fox was later killed. Only Glazier stayed with the Mid Devon from whence he returned on Sunday morning with tales of how he personally had killed a brace on top.
Drawing on across the newtake hounds kept touching on an old line but could not own for any distance even up into Hollowcombe. They found again in the gorse above the Cherrybrook. Taken to the whip's halloa hounds hit a line and fox was viewed away only for the whip to say that his fox was still in a gorse bush in front of him. At which point his fox brazenly leapt from cover and high tailed in the opposite direction from hounds thanking his luck as the huntsman cursed his. However hounds hunted well before putting their fox in along the Powdermills Wall. Here was left.
A better fox was found in the gorse below Whitetor and hounds hunted accurately in the wind through the sheep over the top to Wistman's Wood where after a check they found their pilot taking sanctuary in the rocks. Not to be cheated they bayed him hard enough that the moment they were called away he bolted. On good terms they pushed him northwards running beyond Higher Whitetor and round to Longaford Tor. Going for Littaford Tor having passed the rock heaps that have so often provide sanctuary in the past appeared that we could have the run required to warm us up. However within sight of Muddiford he was accounted for. A useful workmanlike day that provided the young hounds out with moor experience, but not a spectacular day generally due to scent and the parochial outlook of the foxes.
From an excellent meet at this new venue a large field followed hounds across Yeolands Farm to Venton Gorse where hounds found a brace getting away on which was put to ground below Axtown a mile away. The next fox was found below Blowiscombe and after a short hunt was lost in the back of the village at Milton Coombe. The fish ponds were blank. A brace was found between Buckland and Denham Bridge but with a poor scent hounds struggled in the heavily foiled covert as they ran tight circuits on and off the lane. Given the confusion hounds were taken on Denham Woods where another brief hunt resulted in yet another fox being put to ground.
From the meet at the Plume of Feathers hounds moved off to draw North Hessary Tor and quickly found. Our pilot initially looked set to run west for Yellowmeade but suddenly changed his mind and ran for the badger sett in the old prison quarry where he went in. The rushes and small coverts on the north of the prison farm were lying very wet and flooded and did not hold a fox. After drawing up the Long Plantation hounds were taken across Holmingbeam and drew on up the Cowsic marking one to ground in the rocks below Beardown Man. Drawing up the West Dart from Rough Tor to its head hounds worked a line and began to mark the earth at the southern end of the bog. As they did so another fox was seen leaving the bog on the far side and running north on the better ground. Hounds were laid on with a deficit of quarter of a mile to make up. They took the line and set off at full pace. The field were then treated to an exciting half hour with fox and hounds in view nearly all the way. They ran out round South Tavy Head, back over Cowsic Head and as they dropped into Horse Hole their fox led them by less than 200 yards. As they ran down the Summer Brook with the distance closing by the stride it seemed that they must have their reward only for the ground to open up and swallow their quarry as he disappeared into a collapsed peat gutter from where he could not be shifted.
Hollowcombe Bottom was blank. The gorse in the Powdermills provided the next fox who only narrowly made it away from the covert and then engaged the field master in a race to the earths in Hollowcombe Bottom. Unfortunately he won by a short head with the pack coming in a close third. Whitetor Gorse produced another fox and hounds settled to their job hunting him accurately through this impenetrable covert and out of the top before bringing their fox round into the Newtake. There then followed a happy hour of hunting with several runs out across the open before hounds changed foxes at the back of the pottery with only a couple and half sticking with their original pilot and putting him into the rocks below Littaford. The rest of the pack hunted a long loop back to Whitetor where hounds were stopped in the dark. A good day for hounds with some spectacular viewing but a few more bolder foxes would not go amiss.
From the meet hounds drew Mr Horns fodder beet but failed to find until they drew into the rushes in the valley below. Here they got away on very good terms with their fox hunting him hard up the valley to the meet before he swung up over the bank towards Lamerton crossing the lane by the disused quarry he then ran north for a mile running over another old quarry before swinging right again back on to Mr Eggins' ground where he was marked to ground in a beautifully built stone-faced bank and left. The next fox was found in the rough below Heathfield and hunted well through the covert and back again to the main road by Iron Railings where hounds checked and were collected.
Drawing Brentor Church the field were given a picturesque view as hounds found in this stunning location. Making his escape through the thick gorse Charlie ran the contour of the Tor and down towards Week and Liddaton where several foxes were seen on the move. Hounds stuck with their pilot putting him in in a thicket below Liddaton Common.
Moving down to Burnford and Blackdown in an attempt to get a moorland hunt from an in-land day a fox was found on the southern edge of the village and hunted down the valley and up over Burnford below the glider field and round in a long loop to Mary Tavy. Here he skirted the village and ran out onto Blackdown before dropping back to the old railway line. Hounds were strung out by a succession of high banks and new wire and a short check gave them time to regroup before refinding their fox who must have laid up. In full cry along the old line it seemed that they must have their reward but he ran into the thick covert on the hill which had been foiled by cattle, the field and the hounds themselves. Several older hounds continued to persevere but with the field dwindling, evening falling and a long hack home in prospect he was given best. An enjoyable and useful day.
Having enjoyed an excellent meet hounds struggled, failing to find a fox until drawing Ogbeare. This unentreprising pilot ran straight to the sanctuary of Mill Hill quarry and had to be left. He also proved to be the only fox foun