Crowds flock to the hunt meets

Dec 27 2007 By Brian Daniel, The Journal

CROWDS flocked to traditional Boxing Day hunts yesterday, showing their support for efforts to have the ban on the sport lifted.

A total of six meets were staged across the region for the biggest day in the sport’s calendar and all drew 100 or more supporters.

People living in rural areas came out to show their backing for a pursuit which was outlawed by the Hunting Act 2004.

Since then, two attempts to overturn the ban have failed, although the case is now being taken to the European Court of Human Rights.

While the ban is challenged, hunts continue to operate by using the drag hunting method, using the scent of a fox to lay a trail for the hounds to overcome the outlawing of the traditional chase and kill.

Support for the activity and its legal fight was particularly strong at Newton on the Moor, near Alnwick, Northumberland, yesterday morning where the Percy Hunt meet pulled in 60 riders on horseback, a further 20 on quad bikes and between 200 and 300 supporters.

Chairman of the hunt Charles Bucknall, of Fowberry, near Wooler, described the support as “tremendous”.

He said: “The interesting thing about the support on foot is that it really shows the support in the countryside generally for our traditions and culture.

“There is a considerable feeling that an act that was brought in for animal welfare purposes singularly fails to achieve that at all today.

“The fox is the loser as a result of that act. And the sooner it is repealed, which it will be, the better.

“Our support generally has gone up consistently since the ban came in. And I think that reflects what is happening on a nationwide basis.”

Former rider Diane Blackshaw, of nearby Lesbury, was part of three generations of the same family involved in or supporting the hunt.

Her daughter Gill was taking part as she watched alongside her 87-year-old mother – one of the Percy Hunt’s longest standing supporters.

Mrs Blackshaw, who hunted all her life before passing on the mantle to her daughter, described yesterday’s turnout as “absolutely fantastic” – in keeping with the support for all meets since the ban was imposed.

She said: “I think people are just out to make a statement – we are here to stay.”

Other hunts meeting yesterday were the College Valley/North Northumberland in Wooler, the Border at the Percy Arms in Otterburn, the Morpeth at the Dyke Neuk in Meldon and the Haydon in Fourstones near Hexham. Richard Dodd, regional director of the Countryside Alliance, was out with the Braes of Derwent at Lanchester, County Durham.

He said it had been “business as usual” across the North – with support for hunts having always been strong in rural areas.

Mr Dodd added: “There was probably 100 horses and a thousand people and that is generally what each hunt will have. Some will have more than that.”

The Alliance was giving out leaflets at hunts bearing the slogan Keep Hunting – Ban the Act, which claim the Hunting Act has been divisive, confusing, illiberal and cruel, and that the Christmas panto season exposes the “pantomime” nature of the legislation.

Mr Dodd said hunt supporters believe the Labour government has not listened to their arguments and hope a change at the top may increase the chances of the ban being overturned.

He added: “I think we will have a change of government in the next couple of years and then hopefully on the agenda will be to sort this mess.”