244 England's oldest hunt. 



he carried off first prize for brood bitches in 1903 at Peter- 

 borough with Pastime, by Holderness Steadfast (96) — 

 Sinnington Peaceful (96). This speaks volumes for the work 

 in kennel, for it must be remembered the Sinnington had 

 only a year or two previously been little more than a trencher- 

 fed pack, and were now so raised in status as to have hounds 

 not merely fit to send to Peterborough — the great hound 

 show of the world — but to come back again wreathed with 

 honours, after having met the best hounds from the most 

 famous kennels, where for years all the knowledge and 

 science of the greatest of houndsmen had been employed in 

 producing blood alike for the field and flags. Mr. Sherbrooke 

 hunted hounds himself during the whole of the ten years 

 of his mastership, with the exception of one season, 1902-3, 

 when Mr. Robin Hill carried the horn. In 1903-4, Mr. 

 Sherbrooke again hunted them, giving up at the end of that 

 season, feeling that it was time both he and pocket had a rest. 

 From the first season to 1898, Alfred Thatcher acted as kennel 

 huntsman and whip, and then came William Henley, now 

 kennel huntsman of the Sinnington. Mr. Robin Hill whipped 

 in to the Master till 1902, when Charles Haines acted in that 

 capacity, first to Mr. Hill and then to the master-huntsman. 

 He went to the York and Ainsty in 1894, and is now with 

 Lord Willoughby de Broke. During the first six years 

 of his mastership, Mr. Sherbrooke found the supply of 

 foxes very short, though during the last four there was a 

 better stock, and now that Lord Helmsley is at the head of 

 affairs he can practically command as many as he desires. 

 During the first years of his era, as will be shown later, Mr. 

 Sherbrooke had the unpleasant office of recording four or 

 five blank days in his diary, but latterly there were only 

 one or two, and during the last half of his period of office 

 the Vale contained a capital lot of foxes. 



During these first difficult, and withal expensive, six 

 years, the master hunted the country at his own expense, 

 having a poultry and covert fund which swallowed up the 

 subscriptions. After this time, however, the low country 

 coverts had got up, and did not require so much outlay, 



