MR. H. W. SELBY LOWNDES AS M.F.H. 139 



The following extracts from the " Malton Messenger " 

 tell their own story of a further evolution in the history of 

 the hunt : — 



May, 1903. — On Monday evening, at the Buck Hotel, Chop Gate, 

 an important meeting of the Bilsdale Hunt Committee was presided 

 over by Mr. F. Wilson Horsfall. The annual statement showed the 

 Hunt to be in a sound financial position, and it was stated they had 

 ended a very satisfactory season. It was proposed by the Chairman, 

 and seconded by Mr. J. Fairfax Blakeborough, that Thomas Bentley 

 be re-appointed huntsman, both gentlemen speaking of the excellent 

 manner in which he had hunted hounds. Mr. Garbutt Johnson was 

 re-elected Secretary, and thanked for his services to the Hunt. Mr. 

 Blakeborough was proposed as Chairman of the Hunt Com- 

 mittee, but moved an amendment to the effect that Mr. Chapman 

 Garbutt occupy that position, which was carried, Mr. Blakeborough 

 being elected Vice-Chairman. 



Sept. 3, 1903. — For three seasons — since Mr. Selby Lowndes re- 

 signed — the Bilsdale Hounds have been without a Master. Feeling that 

 the Hunt lacked status, a meeting was held on Sept. 19th, Mr. C. Garbutt 

 presiding and Mr. J. Fairfax Blakeborough being in the Vice-chair. The 

 latter read a letter from Mr. F. Wilson Horsfall, Potto Grange, Northaller- 

 ton, expressing his willingness to fall in with the wishes expressed by 

 some members of the committee to act as Master. He said in his letter 

 he would take the pack for three seasons, and allow the pack to remain 

 trencher-fed as at the present time. The Vice-Chairman moved 

 that Mr. Horsfall's offer be accepted, and Mr. Seth Kirby (Helm- 

 sley), seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. 

 Horsfall has previously acted as Master of the Bilsdale Hounds, 

 and I is not a little popular amongst Northern sportsmen. The 

 indefatigable Thomas Bentley is still to act as huntsman, and 

 George Teasdale has been appointed as whip. 



Mr. Horsfall made it conditional upon taking hounds that 

 Bentley continued to act as huntsman. The Master resides 

 at Potto Grange, and for years has followed the Bilsdale 

 and other local packs. He is perhaps even better known 

 as a breeder of Cleveland Bays and Yorkshire Coach Horses 

 than as a sportsman, though he is pre-eminently that, as 

 well as an ornithologist. The opening fixture was at Hall- 

 Garth on November 10th, 1903, the trysting place being one 

 of the two farms in the hands of the sporting parson (the 

 Rev. J. L. Kyle, M.A., Vicar of Carlton-in- Cleveland), a 

 brother-in-law of Mr. Horsfall. This meet followed upon the 



