IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • DECEMBER 2013/JANUARY 2014
24
ACROSS THE POND
Visiting Beagles and Two Opening Meets of UK Foxhounds By Jim Meads
Tanatside Hunt Opening Meet November 2013 Huntsman Richard Evans taking hounds to draw.
North Warwickshire Beagles, October 2013, The meet at Bacceidon farm, Mid-Wales. Tanatside Hunt Opening Meet November 2013 New Joint Master Stephen Morrison stands in front of riders.
Tanatside Hunt Opening Meet November 2013 Elegantly attired Bod Harvey-Mears over a stone wall.
Tanatside Hunt Opening Meet November 2013 Senior Joint Master Graham Burnip with daughter Emily.
My 64th consecutive season as a hunting photojournalist began when the North Warwickshire Beagles made their annual visit to the Plas Machynlleth Foxhounds’ country, in mid-Wales. As usual, the 10½ couple of studbook beagles were kenneled at Bacceidon Farm, home of Mr. and Mrs. Emyr Lewis, who welcomed all comers to the 2:30 meet. I arrived in good time for a warming stirrup cup, in company of two joint masters, Richard Sutton, the huntsman, and Andrew Mein, as well as Hunt President John Sutton, Master 1978-92. Some 20 members made the 120-mile drive to the meet for three days of hunting and partying, while the weather was kind, being clear and mild, giving wonderful vistas of lofty hills in every direction. Rob Brewin was the trail layer on this day, and he set hounds some serious questions to puzzle over, as he roamed through open country and patches of forestry, which the pack took in their stride with a great cry, which echoed in the still air. I surprised myself by climbing to the summit of several rocky hills, as it is very early in the season, but everyone was in the same boat, and we all enjoyed a splendid day’s hunting in friendly company until “home” was blown after three hours of hectic exercise. Next came my first opening meet of foxhounds, when I received an invitation from the Tanatside Hunt to join them at Nicky Samuel’s home near Llanfechain. This season sees a new mastership, with two former Masters, Graham Burnip and Stephen Morrison, returning to office with Richard Evans, huntsman since 2007, carrying the horn. He arrived with 15½ couple of Welsh-English cross hounds, with young Ben Furnival whipping in. The meet was a festive occasion, with food and a splendid port being handed ’round to the 50strong mounted field and as many “footies.” Of interest
to my readers in the Southern states is the fact that in 1754, this pack was called the Confederate Hunt! After the speeches, hounds moved off to draw for the first trail, with the mounted field being led by Andy Higgens on a big gray hunter. Soon hounds were in full cry, initially on the flat meadowland, with timber jumps that claimed the season’s first victim, who soon recovered. After around 1½ hours, the pack ran into the bracken-clad steep slopes of the hill country, with several stone walls to be jumped, where scent was not as holding as on the grass. Still, the day stayed dry and the hunt continued until “home” was blown to end an excellent opening meet in superb countryside. As tradition dictates, Lord Davies, Master of the David Davies Hunt since 1963 and the longest serving MFH in the country, hosted the opening meet at his ancestral home, Plas Dinam, where the kennels were built in 1905. The morning was dry but windy as Huntsman Steve Bradley arrived with 20 couple of Welsh and Fell Foxhounds, which had escaped the dreaded kennel cough that swept through the U.K. Whipper-in since 1965 Neville Owen, a hill farmer, was also in uniform, while Field Master Des Davies had 35 horses and ponies to look after. There were 50 foot followers from many packs, and all were given mulled wine and foodstuffs until the huntsmen led hounds away to where the first trail had been laid, in the low country. Later they moved onto the 1400-foot Llandinam Hills, eventually clearing the pine trees to the summit, with views over the Severn Valley. Here the winds reached gale force, with riders in danger of being blown out of the saddle! So, via the Lord’s Grave, the pack were taken down to the low country, where the rest of a busy opening meet day was spent in several heavy rain showers.
Lord Davies, Master since 1963 and the longest serving MFH.
David Davies Huntsman Steve Bradley bringing 20 couple of hounds to the meet.
David Davies Hunt Opening Meet, November 2013. The meet at Plas Dinam, home of Lord Davies, MFH.