162 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



a turn out to Gaddesby, killed him on the lawn 

 of Little Dalby Hall. 



The early part of the run was rather slow, and 

 the field may have become a little slack, so that 

 when hounds suddenly began to run fast at Ashby 

 Folville they were left behind and missed the best 

 part. I can remember the occasion, because I 

 was one of those foolish people, and have a vivid 

 recollection of seeing Lord Lonsdale on his famous 

 grey, cutting out the work over that charming 

 Twyford vale. 



On the last day of the year the Quorn had a 

 very good forty minutes from Ella's Gorse, and 

 killed their fox. The run was not straight, but 

 that was forgiven because it was such an ideal 

 line. By Willoughby across the Fosse and then 

 right - handed to the top of Old Dalby and back 

 by Mundy's Gorse to Hoton Spinney — can you 

 imagine a better country ? 



I have, however, always looked on that as a 

 black day, for in the afternoon Firr had a very 

 nasty fall from which I do not think he ever com- 

 pletely recovered. The following Friday the master 

 was hunting hounds, and we had a good run from 

 Curate's Gorse. The Quorn appear to have had the 

 lion's share of the sport, and a very fine run was the 

 one that commenced near Barkby and ended near 

 Eye Kettleby mill. Lord Lonsdale was then still 

 acting as huntsman. 



On I2th March the Cottesmore found a fox in 

 the Punchbowl and killed him near Ridlington, 

 which is a good eight-mile point. 



This was a really very good season with perhaps 

 the best of the sport coming after Christmas. 



