SEASON 1886-87 205 



concert given by the hunting folk in aid of the 

 Farmers' Benevolent Society brought a very large 

 field out on February 9th, when hounds met at 

 the house occupied by Colonel Markham. Many 

 thought that it was too hard to ride, but every 

 hour the sun dispelled the frost and improved the 

 going. A find was proclaimed in Burbidge's Covert, 

 the fox crossing the river, running over the Burton 

 flats nearly to the Punch Bowl, where he turned 

 left-handed for Burrough Hill. Scent was good, 

 and they ran well by Thorpe Sackville, un- 

 fortunately changing to a fresh one close by Adam's 

 Gorse, running through Gartree Hill Covert, away 

 to the railway at Great Dalby. Hounds ran down 

 on to the line just as the express was due, but 

 most fortunately the signal was up to stop the 

 train to pick up a young couple who had been 

 married that morning, and owing to this fact a 

 bad accident was averted. Gillard narrates in his 

 diary that " on the way home we passed through 

 Great Dalby, and- were invited by Mr. Brewitt, 

 father of the bride, to drink her good health, which 

 we did in a bumper, most heartily expressing a 

 hope that the new son-in-law was as good a sports- 

 man as himself." 



An awkward fall in a spin from Sproxton Thorns 

 placed Gillard for a few days on the shelf, damaging 

 his ribs and shoulder, but the Ides of March ushered 

 in rough weather and a stop to sport, for perhaps 

 fox-hunting of all sports is the most tantalising, 

 depending as it does entirely on scent, circum- 

 stances, and favourable weather. A good day was 



