Horses left behind but crowds gather for Camelford Hunt
THE welfare of the horses took precedence above all tradition as the master of Camelford Hunt decided to leave them behind.
Nonetheless the event, held on Monday as Boxing Day fell on a Sunday this year, attracted a large crowd around The Darlington pub in the centre of the village cheered before the 24 pairs of hounds ventured in wild weather on to Davidstow Moor, minus the horses, in a rare turn of events.
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It's a long walk and bitterly cold for North Cornwall Hunt master Alan Murton (far right) as he and his helpers follow the hounds on the trail, here waiting to climb out of a field at Davidstow.
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With huntsman Alan Murton (right) leading, the hunt sets off down Fore Street in Camelford, heading on foot towards the fields of Davidstow.
Hunt secretary for the past three years and member since 1990 Rosemary Meeson said everyone backed hunt-master Alan Murton, adding: "The decision was made for safety reasons. It is rare not to have them. I can only remember it happening one new year day in the 20 years I have been a member. The crowd was brilliant – really supportive. We had gone out and laid the scent for the dogs to follow. It was good for the hounds and good for those walking to work off the Christmas dinners."
2 Comments
by foxhunter11
Sunday, October 02 2011, 12:51AM
“your the type of person which gives hunting a bad name, the reporter obviously is in favour of hunting, so dont patronise the poor chap. Pull your head out of your **** and start thinking about whats good for hunting. People like you make me feel ill.”
by Sarah, South
Wednesday, December 29 2010, 11:25AM
“Point of information, dear reporter - it's the North Cornwall hunt, not the Camelford hunt. Hunts are legally constituted bodies with proper names, like football clubs. Just because a hunt meets in Camelford it doesn't mean its name changes to "Camelford". If Manchester United plays a match in Liverpool, it doesn't change its name to "Liverpool United". And it's 24 COUPLE of hounds, not 24 "pairs" (and I bet it wasn't 24 couple either - hunts traditionally take an odd number so it's more likely it was 24 and a half couple) Let's forget about calling the man "hunt-master" when the job title is just "master"...”