July 28, 2013
Townies Should Pass an Exam Before Voting on Rural Affairs
Retired star cricket player and professional team captain David Gower suggests that “townies” should be required to pass an exam on rural affairs before being allowed to vote on issues that affect the countryside. He also accuses politicians who are “allergic to grass” of making unpopular decisions about countryside matters. Gowers’ comments were made to Readers Digest magazine. “I’ve no desire to hunt foxes, but I don’t want to stop others,” he said. Gower shoots and said that he has had interesting discussions with people about firing at defenseless pheasants. He worries about the time when townies decide to arm the pheasants, and they start shooting back. For more of Gower’s unorthodox ideas and how he is perceived by his opponents, read Simon Cable’s complete article in Mail Online. Posted July 28, 2013
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Fox and Terrier Are Best Friends
As in Disney’s movie, The Fox And The Hound, a Patterdale-Lakeland terrier cross and a fox cub have become the best of friends. The fox, called Rosie, was the lone survivor of her litter after the father killed the other cubs. She was rescued—eyes not yet open—hand reared, then taken in by Richard Bowler in North Wales at the age of fifteen weeks. Although he didn’t expect his terrier, Maddie—a type bred for foxhunting—to welcome the new addition, he was surprised to see them become playmates. Bowler has been impressed by the speed at which Rosie learns—faster than Maddie did—and, while their play is supervised because of her age, the results are “fun and games and destruction.” For more photos and copy, click on John Ingham’s article in the Express. Posted July 28, 2013
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Puppy Walkers Gone Wild
l-r: huntsman Chris Cerrone (hunting horn by Bounty), first whipper-in Annabelle Whitticar,
honorary whippers-in Ainsley Colgan (7) and Sam Homeyer (9), kennelman Jean Simpson with
Old Dominion hound puppies Feagan (front), Febe (behind left), Fever (behind right) on walk
Betsy Parker photo
What better way to introduce summer campers to foxhunting than by bringing a foxhound puppy or two on the trail ride with the other dogs and then writing it up in the form of a formal hunt report? Good for the puppies to be exposed to all the sights and sounds in the woods and good for the campers who have a fun ride and learn about hunting. All it takes is a multi-talented camp director like Betsy Parker. -Ed.
July 24, 2013, 7:30 am meet at Hunter’s Rest (site of the old Old Dominion Hounds kennels), Flint Hill, Virginia.
Air temp 71 degrees at first cast. BP 29.73 and rising. Breeze variable 3-6 mph from the east/northeast. Fine overcast, cool and cloudy.
Staff: Huntsman Chris Cerrone, first whipper-in Annabelle Whitticar, amateur whippers-in Ainsley Colgan and Sam Homeyer, kennelman Jean Simpson
Hunted hounds: two couple. Old Dominion Feagan, Hunters Rest Mel, Nap and Sneak. (Old Dominion Febe and Fever were left in kennels.)
The pack moved off promptly at 7:29 am from kennels, drawing east toward the Jordan River. Whips rode wide to keep young entry on track as the field jogged along the “Aiken Line” and followed Linden Lane and Redbud Lane to first covert.
