DIDO.1 20,953 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 How many packs have you hunted with? If next week goes to plan I'll have followed 30. Not including joint meets who had less than a full pack and hunting in someone else's country. Quote Link to post
J Darcy 5,871 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 15 registered ones in the UK...but many pirate packs.... 2 Quote Link to post
neil cooney 10,415 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Ward Union Staghounds. Meath foxhounds. Ballymacad foxhounds. Louth foxhounds. Tara harriers. Fingal harriers. Oriel harriers. Pembrokshire foxhounds. Goldburn beagles. Westmeath beagles. County Cork minkhounds. I'm sure I've forgotten a couple and could add on several footpacks and gun packs. 2 Quote Link to post
Dabhand 887 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) Ive been with a lot if you mean over the years The best days ive had is with two private packs and two of the fell packs Edited February 23, 2016 by woods 1 Quote Link to post
Lutra Lutra 611 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) Hello all readers, Not wishing to boast but I have lost count of how many packs I have followed over the years, but I will mention just a few that I have followed more than others. Some of my favourite packs have been in the shires. I followed the Vale of Belvoir for years with my brother and a great farming friend from Tideswell in Derbyshire, Frank Noble. Then with Frank being a farmer in Derbyshire we proceeded to follow the (High Peak Harriers) and did I have some fun with the (Antis)! However, that is another story! Days spent with our local pack, the 'South Notts" and ourselves doing the terrier work under Phillip Watts who eventually moved to the York and Anisty North if my memory serves myself well. My brother had some great days at the Albrighton with Bert Gripton. Many other fond memories of years gone by spent with the Cottesmore, Blankney, Holderness,Grove and Ruffed and many , many more which are too numerous to mention. Some particular packs will always be etched in my memory for certain events that occurred. One pack in mind was at the South Durham when working under Grahame Wing, working terriers and kennel man. Another good pack was the Vale of Aylesbury followed by Sir Watkin William -Wynn's famous pack of hounds in and around Shropshire. Sir WatkinWilliam -Wynn's name being somewhat synonymous in the Foxhunting world. Some wonderful times experienced both with terriers and hounds at the Cheshire to whom a great friend Shaun Hutchinson was the whipper in; then we followed him to the ludlow and now he is huntsman to the Suffolk. Many more chapter's could be wrote, perhaps on another occasion. Before my departure I would just like to mention some of the foot packs. Many days being spent with the Blencathra, Ullswater, and with the Lunesdale. Just forgetting about the great times with the West Norfolk, certain packs in particular with the packs in the South west. Also another memorable pack was the Devon and Somerset Staghounds, some fantastic hunting. There has been some wonderful private packs and a good friend of many years who resides in Barnsley hunts a few Beagles which are great for hunting foxes and he catches more than his fair share of foxes. The list goes on! But yet for another occasion, so for now good luck to all the genuine guys in the game. Regards, Lutra Lutra.... Edited February 23, 2016 by Lutra Lutra 3 Quote Link to post
Lutra Lutra 611 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Apologies to all readers, I think it would have been a good idea to list them in certain order. Nowadays down to many unhappy events I'm not at all like former times, so apologies once again. Also mentioned in another post about the Ian Newton book about Finches, of course the offer still stands. Unfortunately the response hasn't been too great. "Funny that is for sure"! Regards again, Lutra.... Quote Link to post
J Darcy 5,871 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Lutra...Phil Watts move to the Y&A North. He never did much smiling . Quote Link to post
keego 3 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Anyone got a contact for the high peak harriers. 1 Quote Link to post
francolin 449 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 15 registered ones in the UK...but many pirate packs... pirates a bit strong JD 2 Quote Link to post
neil cooney 10,415 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Good post Stephen, it's nice to get out with famous packs but it's always nicer to see the men who made them famous in action. I've been very lucky in that way too. 1 Quote Link to post
Archi 46 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Lutra lutra When did you hunt with the west Norfolk as this is my local pack and when I first started to follow Jim Wing used to drive the terriers about We may have met then as my dad did the terriers and countryman work when Ian Higgs, James Taylor etc hunted hounds They are a poor shadow of a pack with a poor huntsman and dwindling country now Archi Quote Link to post
Lutra Lutra 611 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Hello again, My mistake regarding Phillips position at the York and Anisty South, my brother would have known better he has followed more packs than myself and has a greater knowledge regarding hound packs and hunting with hounds. To some people Phillip seemed to be somewhat miserable when trying to approach him and engage in certain topics of conversation. We never found that to be the case, we had some excellent times together within our shared interests. I can remember taking him to the Rydal hound show many years ago and we all got rather drunk. That evening we all went to a restaurant for a drink and meal together with 2 other friends and (Anthony Barker).Upon eating our fill we all left, when I asked Phillip who had picked up the bill he replied not himself or any other person had so.I knew I hadn't paid. So the moral of the story is, in our inebriated state we had just all walked out without paying! Anthony Barker was so drunk we had to pick him up and transport him to the car..... "I think sometimes if you know something about a certain subject no matter sometimes how difficult a person comes across, you can gain a certain respect. That was our relationship with Phillip, plus total reliability and trust! Regarding the West Norfolk.I first hunted with them approximately 30 years ago but really followed them about 25 years ago. My brother has told myself about Jim Wing.To be quite honest when your mind is a blur you tend to forget about certain names, but they will eventually come to myself once again. Certain places remain in my memory regarding a place called Castle Acre but I forget who owned the land. I remember meeting some keepers at the time at little Massingham and great Massingham. Archie, Just a question please? Did they hunt into Fakenham? A place called Mileham springs to mind and my brother took myself to a place he had been at Litcham Warren. Before fox hunting with hounds I was drawn to the place of Norfolk in my early childhood days and of course behond, to the rich birdlife on the Norfolk broads. I love the location! I do realise the West Norfolk may not be the cream of fox hunting. However, the sport of venery is very old I think.Plus I did notice there was a close bond between fox hunters. "I am correct"? It seems to be that in this somewhat crazy world of ours, that everything that was once good is so rapidly changing. Traditions, music, places and more important people! Good Luck, Lutra.... 1 Quote Link to post
Lutra Lutra 611 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Anyone got a contact for the high peak harriers. Hello Keego, I will send you a contact number in a private message. Quote Link to post
keego 3 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Yea ok thanks Quote Link to post
J Darcy 5,871 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Lutra, I helped doing the terriers for him for a few seasons, so I was hardly a stranger.....! The huntsman before him was John Smith and he was a top bloke! :yes: IMO a Huntsman has to be friendly and approachable, it is part of his job as the ambassador for the hunt. JMHO......... 2 Quote Link to post
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