1865] FAST EUN WITH THE BICESTEE. 275 



On December .27tli, 1S05, the Bicester hounds had a 

 run without a check for twenty-five minutes from Bod- 

 dington Gorse, during which time they ran five miles as the 

 crow flies, nearly to Chipping Warden to ground. Squire 

 Drake, Mr. Dewar, Mr. J. Mordaunt, and ]\Ir. Edward 

 Harrison were nearest the hounds. 



Saturday, December 30th, The MarlborongJi, Dudley. — Found at once in 

 Studley Osier.s, aud ran like luad past Spernal Park aud Alue Wood for 

 Wootou. tlieu tm-nod for Great Ahie. and killed liini in the mill-dam at 

 Grey's Mill. Forty -five min\ites with a check ; about the fastest I ever saw. 



Saturday, January 27th, The Sun Bising, Aston Cantlows. — Found an 

 afternoon fox in Alne Wood, and ran faster than I ever remember seeing 

 hounds run, through Spernal Park and Studley Osiers, over the road, right 

 do\vn the centre ride of Coughton Pai-k io Sambourne. Here was a 

 momentary check. l)ut they went on again at a fearful pace, and killed him in 

 tlie road at the bottom of Rougli Hill. From Sambourne to Rough Hill they 

 ran clean away from us, and we Avere only up in time to save his head. The 

 best forty-five minutes I ever saw, and l^eats the run from Studley to Grey's 

 MiU.* 



Monday, February bth, Irons Cross. — Found in Bevington Waste, and ran 

 like mad to the Leuclies, back over the flat to Goomb's Hill, through tlie Sladd 

 Woods, over the flat, througli Weethley Wood, under Thorn Hill, into 

 Pearson's Wood, over Ragley Park, and killed him as he got into Lady 

 Wood. Two hours aud forty minutes. 



Tuesday, February 6th, Ebrington. — Foimd in a stubble field close to 

 Blakemore, and ran a capital fifty minutes, aud killed him. 



Monday, February 12th, Liyhthoriie. — Found a In-ace in Chestei'ton Wood ; 

 got away for Oakley, but turned for Liglithorne Rough, through it, and on 

 through Hell Hole, and round Moreton Wood, througli Friz Hill and 

 Combroke, over Pillerton Hill, then turned back for Chadshunt, and on to 

 Itchiugton Holt, through it, and back by Ycrney's Gorse into Chadshunt, 

 and stopped them, tlie horses being beat.f 



Thursday, April 5th, Couyhton Court. — The last day of the season. Had 

 two long runs, but did not get lilood to finish up with. 



During the season of 1865-18G0 the Warwickshire 

 Avere out on one hundred days, and killed .28^ brace of 

 foxes and ran 14^ brace to ground. Mr. North's j)rivate 

 pack were out on eighty-nine days, and killed 19|^ brace of 

 foxes and ran 14 brace to ground. 



In January, 1866, Mr. North agreed to take the Bicester 

 country in succession to Mr. Drake, and as soon as lie had 



* With the exception of a few which stand out in memory above the others, one 

 sjreat run is always the best you ever saw till the next one comes. — W. R. V. 

 t This reminds one of the great Ufton Wood run in 1837. — W. R. Y. 



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