THE Boxing Day hunt – one of the biggest dates on Lancashire's controversial hunting calendar – was cancelled because of the icy weather.
Conditions made it too dangerous to take horses out on the annual Holcombe Hunt meet.
Instead, the new lady hunt master, Sue Simmons took hounds out on foot with her huntsman and hosted a meet and greet with the public at Rivington Hall Barn, in Bolton.
It comes as anti-hunt lobby groups step up their campaign after senior Tories indicated they could seek to repeal the ban on fox hunting if they gain power at next year's general election.
Mum-of-two, Sue, from Preston, who has been riding since childhood, said: “Each year we run the gauntlet of the British weather. It's rare but we also had to take the hounds out on foot last New Year's Day. We wanted to bring the pack out and do what we could to uphold a British tradition.”
And she said her new position as lady master had been well-received.
“We're a very modern hunt and I'm proud to be a custodian of this tradition,” she said.
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Voter (27/12/2009 at 15:09)
A Singleton, Gorton (27/12/2009 at 15:37)
Hopefully the day will come when this 'sport' is also consigned to the history books.
Esso Blue, , Manchester Central (27/12/2009 at 17:08)
St.Francis, Burnley (27/12/2009 at 17:48)
Casablanca, ex-Bury Road Convent, Rochdale (27/12/2009 at 18:35)
Good point. If having a woman as hunt master is an attempt to soften the barbaric image of hunting, it is worth remembering that some of the cruellest commandants in the Nazi concentration camps were women. And these days there are girl street gangs that are as brutal as any yob gang.
manchester girl (27/12/2009 at 19:44)
Andanotherthing, Mcr (27/12/2009 at 21:37)
R.Blackmore Esq, Tameside (28/12/2009 at 01:02)
Rasputin II, >Forward Manchester> (28/12/2009 at 01:16)
They are clearly being clasist. We can't have that, can we?
Unless they say so .... Murph
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (28/12/2009 at 09:57)
Aren't the government supposed to work in the public's interest. Labour supposedly banned hunting (although I've not actually seen or heard of it being enforced at all) because of public interest and now, the tories will bring it back, why? has there been a huge public demand or is it the elite shouting from the highest pedestal yet again.
To those who say that hunting brings wealth to the area, shame on you for putting profit before the suffering of animals, try some other kind of attraction for the public like open up the land to more footpaths and encourage people to open gift shops and cafes, campsites in the spring to autumn months. encourage people to love nature, not destroy it.
Black Flag (28/12/2009 at 10:39)
hjk (28/12/2009 at 10:53)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (28/12/2009 at 11:02)
I've had conversations with farmers who go hunting and they concede that when the fox has gone to ground, the 'game' should be over but the hunt masters just dig up the hole and send in the dogs to finish the job off. Don't forget, some of the dogs also come off with some horrific injuries and then in some cases are simply shot dead by the master, supposedly to be humane.
Esso Blue, , Manchester Central (28/12/2009 at 11:07)
Just thinking about the fox hunting thing: To me it comes accross as a very old children's game.
They say that the fox eats their livelihood and so they have to be culled. I would say the costs of the hunts overshadows what he fox eats. And even if there were issues in certain areas I think it would be best to do the exterminating humanely. Humanistic values and concerns, are as rare as the fox.
I wonder if it some sort of prestige thing? personally they are not impressing but tend to look a little stupid.
Try spending the money that is spent on the hunt on extra whatever to compensate for the loss.
Then there are the ones for whom the fox hunt is a nice little business earner. They are no different to the people who shoot dogs and cats for fun.
Insurance companies put a tax on everyone to compensate against fraud. Just put a tax on the meat.
Paul Timpson (28/12/2009 at 12:06)
Oh, what a pretty picture the hunting fraternity always paint for us about the Boxing Day hunts!
Horses, riders and supporters done up to the nines, partaking of liberal amounts of bonhomie, in liquid and verbal form, patting each other on the back for the sterling work they have done in avoiding the law.
Why, they surely could have just fallen out of an old-fashioned Christmas card!
But, wait a minute, where were all those noisy quad bikes that are so much the norm of modern-day hunting? No mention of the roads blocked by the cars of supporters who don't move even when asked.
Where was that special breed of local louts with terriers? Where were the foul-mouthed followers, the faces of the children blooded for the fun' of being at their first kill? The real face of hunting is not the pretty picture it would have us believe.
Show the face of an exhausted fox, stag, hare or mink its eyes staring, tongue hanging out, breath rasping, body quivering, not knowing where to turn to get away from persecutors.
Show the face of the bloodthirsty mob who will joyfully chase these animals, oblivious to their suffering.
That is the true face of hunting - not very pretty at all.
Please contact your local MP and ask them to support the ban on hunting and also see www.backtheban.com to see what YOU can do.
PAUL TIMPSON, spokesperson for the North West Hunt Saboteurs Association.
lovinthebanter, Manchester (28/12/2009 at 13:30)
lovinthebanter, Manchester (28/12/2009 at 13:36)
M Hayworth (28/12/2009 at 14:41)
Please if you support the hunting act, get your name on the R.O.A.R. (Register Online Against Repeal), an ‘all party’ list at: http://www.campaignfordecency.org.uk
Please make your voices heard!
Esso Blue, , Manchester Central (28/12/2009 at 15:05)
A Singleton, Gorton (28/12/2009 at 16:28)
Casablanca, ex-Bury Road Convent, Rochdale (28/12/2009 at 20:12)
How do you know that opponents of hunting don't also protest against other killing, such as in wars? Why do you assume that we cannot oppose both hunting and wars? Millions of humans are slaughtered around the world - that's life as well.
The fact that brutality is happening all the time does not mean it is acceptable or excusable, and is no reason to abandon compassion.
minority report, Derby, UK (28/12/2009 at 23:38)
You have revealed another lie of the hunting crowd. Hounds that are not up to the required capability (injured, too slow, getting old) are usually killed. So much for huntmasters' concern about the welfare of fox-hounds if hunting was banned.
Do they also want to "uphold a British tradition" of badger baiting, bear baiting, dog fighting or cock fighting? Or what about even older traditions, like burning heretics alive or hanging witches? Just because it is a tradition does not make it right.
J smith (29/12/2009 at 10:57)
minority report, Derby, UK (29/12/2009 at 12:01)
Sue Simmons does not appear to have said anything about preferring drag hunting to animal hunting. The quote does not suggest this: "We wanted to bring the pack out and do what we could to uphold a British tradition.”
lovinthebanter, Manchester (29/12/2009 at 13:04)
Although I must admitt I am yet to see the headline protesters move to block off the slaughter of 300,000 fury cuddly ant, o wait sorry I forgot there not over a certain size and look nice and cute.