Lanton and Cuddystone 28th October 2002

25th November 2002

Martin Letts

Week commencing the 28th October was a busy one for this pack. On the Monday Ian and Tockie McKie entertained all comers at Lanton having brought up the Bicester hounds in the storm on Sunday, which fortunately had missed Northumberland.

About 70 riders followed Ian McKie onto Lanton hill, but it was a little time before a fox appeared, and although a number subsequently showed, scent was moderate though hounds persevered well in unaccustomed steep country.

The home pack was on parade on Tuesday above Hethpool. It was a damp day with hill mist threatening. A Hetha fox was sharp away over the Ellsknowe and into the 200-acre block of forestry at Elsdonburn. Some 12 couple with Diana and Robert Tindale in touch came away with the right fox, and he was caught on the Kilham march - 40 mins.

After some in-conclusive hunting in the mist in forestry, 2 ½ couple took a fox the length of the Ewe Hill to cross onto little Hetha to take it past the meet. The body got up here, and after hesitation on the road, ran over College water, which was in full spate, and onto the hill. The fox had a start of some 15 minutes but hounds worked out the intricacies of his route on Hare Law, crossed the dyke and took it steadily the length of the Wester Tor and all about the screes of Easter Tor. Goats, sheep and two walkers and a fresh fox complicated affairs, but hounds at last got on terms and retraced their steps at pace to the Mill dyke, and raced on up the water as far as the Cuddystone to come to the road junction at the hall. Both road options were investigated, but a good fox escaped after 90 minutes, a 10-mile hunt and just short of a mentionable point.

On Thursday foxes on New Etal appeared to have spent the summer cavorting with the otter population, and hounds crossed the river Till in full spat no less than five times. The huntsman was less successful.

Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Tate’s hospitality at Yeavering was well tried on Saturday, as there was hill mist and a delayed start. At midday a move to Kirknewton Whin was rewarded by a quick find, and hounds ran well on a holding scent for 1 ½ hours in misty conditions, and put their fox to ground in a big place-a busy and satisfactory week, and the bassets didn’t do too badly on Friday!

JML