282 England's oldest hunt. 



country where everyone was a sportsman, and ready to do 

 everything in the interests of that sport. He hoped and 

 thought that the sport of fox-hunting would long continue 

 to flourish. It was of value, because by the advent of 

 motor cars horse-breeding was likely to be largely done 

 away with, with the exception of hunters. He thought it 

 was the sporting instinct which made the British nation 

 what it was. 



Mr. Alfred (Nimrod) Pearson in responding, remarked 

 that Lord Helmsley set an example which many young men 

 might follow. They would live to see him the crack amateur 

 huntsman of England, which was a far greater honour than 

 being Prime Minister. He hoped his lordship would be at 

 the head of the Sinnington pack until he attained a ripe 

 old age, and that when he laid down the horn, his son would 

 be ready to take it up. 



And now I have come to the end of my task. It has 

 been an interesting one, and if I have failed to substantiate 

 my title, I must plead in the words of the " Field " News- 

 paper (Nov. 9th, 1907) : — " The earliest accounts of actual 

 sport are not complete enough for a reader of the present 

 day to form an exact opinion as to individuals and their 

 doings. For example, there are half-a-dozen claimants to 

 the honour of being the oldest pack of foxhounds. Then, 

 again, no one is able to state with certainty which pack 

 was the first to make the fox their regular quarry in place 

 of I hare or stag." 



\ Through all its long history never were the conditions 

 obtaining with the Sinnington brighter than at the present 

 time. In the words of the old song : — 



Afpack of such hounds and a set of such men, 

 'Tis a shrewd chance if ever you meet with again. 



