212 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



Saxelby Wood, Lord Aylesford's and Shoby Scoles 

 were all left to the right. 



The fast part of the run came to an end at the 

 main earths in the Hoby Vale, and from there hounds 

 hunted on to a stick heap near Thrussington Grange. 

 The majority of horses that were left could barely 

 raise a gallop at this period, and though we should 

 have liked to see the fox killed, the pack would 

 have run away from us in a few more fields. 



This was an exceptionally fine run, and of those 

 who reached the end there are probably not many 

 now living ; but the survivors will not easily forget 

 that day. The point from where hounds turned 

 back in the preliminary ring is rather more than 

 nine miles. 



Only a fox of extraordinary staying power 

 could have lived through it, and still carried on. 

 My own idea is that this was the same fox the 

 Quorn found the following season (23rd December) 

 at Walton Thorns, and running him the reverse 

 way killed at Welby. That is the run I have 

 already alluded to as the best I have ever seen. 

 Besides several other features which were very 

 similar, both runs began with rings. It was this 

 gallant fox's bad luck to have been found on this 

 latter occasion, when scenting conditions happened 

 to be quite perfect and hounds were glued to the line. 



After the Belvoir run the hunt servants, and 

 the few who had struggled to the finish, went to 

 Mr. Pennington's to refresh. I remember poor old 

 Gillard, in his courtly manner, thanking his host 

 and hostess for their hospitality, and also the final 

 remark with which he bowed himself out, " I will 

 inform his Grace on our return of your very great 



