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Snow-free Boxing Day hunt back after two-year gap

9:20am Saturday 31st December 2011 in News

THE traditional sight of horses and hounds returned to Rivington for Holcombe Hunt’s traditional Boxing Day meet.

For the last two years the “hunt”

has been snowed off but yesterday horses and hounds turned out under the leadership of master Sue Simmons.

She said: “We had a wonderful time, a great calorie cruncher.

“It was a good ride out for local riders. We were very well supported, as for the last two years it has been frozen off.”

She added: “The weather has meant it has been a good day for the hunts everywhere. The hunt is a thread of rural life which we do our best to keep going.

“I would like the act repealed but the Holcombe Hunt works within the law.”

Resplendent in their scarlet jackets, more than 60 riders saddled up for the trail hunt, which took them around Rivington.

Onlookers watched as they set off for a two-hour ride following scent trails for the hounds to follow.

The sound of the horn signalled the end of the traditional ride out.

Frank Jackson has been a member of the hunt for 30 years and has held the position of joint Master of the Hunt.

Speaking about how it had been before 2005, he said: “Trail hunting like this means the riders pick up a good gallop.

“The Holcombe Hunt does not catch many foxes or hares but have run them out of the area.” He added that hunting was about “survival of the fittest”.

Hunting live quarry with dogs was banned in 2005, after the Speaker of the House of Commons controversially invoked the Parliament Act to force the legislation through.

The Holcombe Hunt holds meets across the whole of Lancashire, but their Boxing Day gathering is traditionally held at Rivington.

Comments(11)

R'Marcus says...
4:36pm Thu 29 Dec 11

Ban foxhunting for good!
Foxes are not vermin:those wearing silly red jackets and behave badly are the vermin.

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Shane says...
9:06pm Thu 29 Dec 11

I assume you're not a farmer

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ladymanchester54 says...
10:23pm Fri 30 Dec 11

Shane wrote:
I assume you're not a farmer
We have banned **** fighting! We have baned dog fighting! both of which are barbaric so why Shane can they justify hunting down foxes with hounds. As with the other two sports, they too were for pleasure. If we have to control the species, lets do it humainly and cull them. This is not animal control? In another 100 years they could be trying to re-introduce foxes because they'll be on the endangered species list!!!! Foxes are coming more into the towns because the human race cant dispose of their edible waiste correctly so why punish the fox? Don't see anyone jumping on the band wagon to get rids of rats!!!

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ladymanchester54 says...
10:26pm Fri 30 Dec 11

For reference should have put in my opening 'We have banned Cockeral fighting'!!

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fusilier says...
10:39am Sat 31 Dec 11

Nearly 20 years ago now i was walking along a country lane on a lovely summers day in cumbria when i saw a fox running towards me. the animal was whining in terror. i realised the hounds were almost literally on its heels, I'd heard them for about an hour. When it saw me it dived into a gap in the hedge but the dogs were on it in moments. I have never forgotten those moments especially the screams of that fox as it was torn to pieces.
Do i oppose fox hunting? Dam n right i do. No animal should have to experience the fear and suffering of being hunted to death.
I'm no hypocrite i eat meat but there is no justification for the killing of foxes in this barbaric way. By all means shoot them if they are a problem but do it quickly and as humanely as possible. Chasing a animal down until its exhausted and terrified as the hounds close in and tear it apart whilst still alive is barbarism and morally unacceptable.

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Blue_Girl says...
6:33pm Mon 2 Jan 12

What a great balanced article here... not!! I can't believe you've quoted someone as saying 'hunting was about the survival of the fittest' - oh yes setting a load of dogs to chase a small animal, reaching the point of exhaustion before it is shot by these toffs. Yes sounds fair to me! Why not get a quote from an animal welfare organisation to balance things up?

I cannot believe they are considering repealing this barbaric act, if anything they should take it to a public referendum then they will realise the vast majority are against this type of horrific "sport"

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Blue_Girl says...
6:34pm Mon 2 Jan 12

What a great balanced article here... not!! I can't believe you've quoted someone as saying 'hunting was about the survival of the fittest' - oh yes setting a load of dogs to chase a small animal, reaching the point of exhaustion before it is shot by these toffs. Yes sounds fair to me! Why not get a quote from an animal welfare organisation to balance things up?

I cannot believe they are considering repealing this barbaric act, if anything they should take it to a public referendum then they will realise the vast majority are against this type of horrific "sport"

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ladymanchester54 says...
11:08pm Mon 2 Jan 12

Blue_Girl. I think you're getting a little confused. None of the above readers are justifying Fox Hunding. In fact we disagree with? Perhaps you were too fired up before reading the comments properly?

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xBuryGirlx says...
3:46pm Tue 3 Jan 12

I would love nothing more than to chase one of these toff's until the point of exhaustion, see the fear in their eyes, then tear them to pieces for fun. Horrible b*****ds

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Blue_Girl says...
6:22pm Tue 3 Jan 12

ladymanchester54 wrote:
Blue_Girl. I think you're getting a little confused. None of the above readers are justifying Fox Hunding. In fact we disagree with? Perhaps you were too fired up before reading the comments properly?
I wasn't confused before but I am now! I wasn't referring to any of the comments, only the original article which I'd spotted in the newspaper. I agree with you, the number of anti-hunt comments on here shows public opinion is very strong.

My main point was that the 'reporter' should have sought an alternative view on the barbaric nature of hunting, rather than saying how resplendent they look in their blood red coats :o)

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xBuryGirlx says...
10:14am Wed 4 Jan 12

Blue_Girl- yes they should, the article was very biased. Probably as not to upset the toff nose's that take part. Horrible scum

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