IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • DECEMBER 2012/JANUARY 2013
On October 27, it was back to another mounted pack of foxhounds with a long history, namely the Tanatside, which until 1926 were harriers. Records exist back to 1754, when the pack was known as the Confederate Hunt. In 1795 its name was changed to the Oswestry Corporation Hounds, then between 1820-25 Mssrs. Shuker & Habberley of Chirbury hunted hounds, but in 1825, John Pryse became master and changed the name to the Tanatside Harriers. In 1928 the harriers were disbanded and replaced with foxhounds, which continue to this day, with kennels at Guilsfield. In recent times, probably the two most influential masterships have been Major Edward Bonnor-Maurice, 1971-2001, and Charles Stirling, 1991-2001. Since 2007, Richard Evans, whose late father Len hunted the Ludlow Foxhounds, has carried the horn for two lady masters, Marge Teague and Sarah Hodgetts, now with John Jones as hunt chairman. This year, the opening meet was held at Mrs. Samuel’s home near Llanfechain, on another perfect day, with sunshine helping to dry up the saturated grassland from our wet summer. Huntsman Richard Evans arrived with 18 couple of Welsh x English hounds, while he and his partner Julie Taylor proudly showed off their five-week-old son Archie, who took it all in his stride. There were almost 40 horses on parade, with Sarah Hodgetts, MFH, taking the Field Master’s role, while super glasses of port were handed round before hounds moved off. The initial trails laid by Andy Higgins were on the low ground, with numerous timber jumps for people to enjoy, before scent took us into the hills, with their stone walls and fantastic views of the countryside with the colors of the fall enhanced by the sunshine. Hound music was a pleasure to hear, but it was not a good scenting day, and the Huntsman had to help his pack on occasion to keep them going. After three hours of strenuous exercise, my legs cried “Enough!” and it took me fifty minutes to walk back downhill to my car and a flask of hot tea. On October 29, my home hunt country, the David Davies, was visited by the Cumberland Farmers Foxhounds, who had driven 250 miles south from their kennels close to the Scottish border for three days’ hunting. This was a joint day, with hounds from both packs, so we had a mix of broken-coated Welsh hounds and smooth-coated Fell hounds working together. This foot meet was in an isolated village called Llidiartywaen and a big crowd gathered. In 1978, Peter Wybergh became a Joint Master of the Cumberland Farmers, taking over as Huntsman in 1980, and this is his farewell season. Accompanying him on the long journey were his daughter Holly and Steve Blamire, who takes over as MFH and Huntsman next season – a tough task he is looking forward to taking on. The morning was dull but mild with a light wind, and for almost three hours after hounds had moved off, we stayed on a grassy hillside, watching and listening to hounds on the other side of the valley, making it a really lazy day for us old but dedicated foxhunters. Tanatside Hunt Opening Meet Hunt Chairman John Jones with daughter Anna in rugged hill country.
Tanatside Hunt Opening Meet October 27, 2012 Alison Harper takes a timber fence in her stride.
Tanatside Hunt Opening Meet October 27, 2012 Trail layer Andy Higgins over a stone wall in the hills.
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Cumberland Farmers Hounds visit Mid-Wales October 29, 2012 Well-attended meet at Llidiartywaen School.
Cumberland Farmers Hounds visit Mid-Wales October 29, 2012 Personalities at the meet: Clem Richards, David Davies Hunt President; Steve Bradley, David Davies Huntsman; Peter Wybergh, MFH and Huntsman since 1978; Holly Wybergh, Master’s daughter; Steve Blamire, becomes Huntsman next season.
David Davies Hunt Opening Meet October 20, 2012 Young rider Jenna Sherrard in action. David Davies Hunt Opening Meet October 20, 2012 Field Master Des Davies with Rosie Gater and Holly Gee.
David Davies Hunt Opening Meet October 20, 2012 Lord Davies’ eldest daughter Eldrydd with two of her children, Bayden and Oscar, and Hunt Chairman Scott Lewis.
Ullswater Foxhounds visit Mid-Wales October 22, 2012 Among the many visitors was George Hardy with “Sarn” and “Dee.”