Devon Hunt Sabs - Hit Report - Boxing Day 2014 - South Devon Hunt. No relaxing holiday or battles with sales crowds for us today. With the Eggesford Hunt currently out of action due to kennel cough, we had one less hunt to choose from on this, the biggest day in the hunting calendar, so we paid our first visit this season to the South Devon, who met at their traditional Boxing Day meet at Hay Tor on Dartmoor. The weather was appalling, with freezing temperatures, driving rain and fog, which meant visibility was reduced to about 50 metres for most of the day. The pathetic and subdued turn-out of plastic fans didnt wait around, and most were seen heading home as soon as huntsman, Ian Pearse, left the meet, with a field of only thirty or so riders, and took his hounds out of sight to the northern side of Hay Tor Rocks. Ten years ago there would have been over one hundred riders, and support vehicles lining the road for miles. The continued pattern of dwindling support and riders, compared to previous years, certainly wasnt reflective of the boastful comments about huntings ever-increasing popularity made by the Countryside Annoyance on the BBC news coverage this morning! This is one hunt who are a shadow of their former selves, and that always makes us happy :) We kept the hunt surrounded all day, with one group in our vehicle and three groups out on foot, slogging miles across the difficult terrain. The lack of visibility meant relying on hearing rather than vision for us all, but that didnt stop us being very effective. Pearse was kept hemmed into a 1-mile-square portion of the moor, in the Becka Brook valley between Hound Tor Down, Hay Tor and Holwell Down, all day. When his hounds did occasionally go into cry, foot groups were well placed to use gizmos, horn and voice calls to confuse and call the hounds to them, with one group gaining half the pack at one stage. A fox was seen running away, cunningly disguising its scent by dashing through a bog. Poor foot sabs then plodded through the same calf-deep bog to spray over its trail. The hounds also rioted on a couple of deer, but by 2.00pm, Pearse had already spent most of the day simply trying to gather his hounds back in the worsening conditions. The straggling support saw very little all day and spent most of the day driving around aimlessly. Most of the riders had packed up by 1.30 too. It certainly wasnt dartmoor hunting sans pareil as they claim on their website. By 3.30, in fading light, an increasingly lonely Pearse was seen moving back towards the meet with his pack in tow. We lost touch with him at this point, as we wanted to prioritise getting our tired, soaked and nearly hypothermic foot groups off the moor and back to safety before dark. Were pretty sure Pearse boxed up and slunk off whilst we did this, as there was no sign of support or hunt by 4.00, as the darkness drew in. Although hes not the brightest button in the box, we dont think even he would have wanted to spend another minute out in that weather. A good day for us, though a tough one for foot sabs. Theyll be in need of warm baths and hot toddies when they get home - well done, team! The only negative for us was the knowledge that at least 17 other hunts were out in Devon today, without a sab presence at them, and this is the challenge that faces us in this most hunted county in England every week of the hunting season. Only when theres a regular sab presence at each and every one of them will our wildlife be safe. If this makes you angry too, then join us!
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 19:04:59 +0000
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