1889-90J Frank Beers' Diaries. 191 



farmer, Mr. Townsend, was riding by my side when he 

 viewed the fox dead-beat almost in view of the hounds ; 

 the fox went to ground when another three or four 

 hundred yards would have made a glorious finish to one 

 of the best woodland days ever seen on that side of the 

 country. I never was more certain of killing a fox ; we 

 could feel him quite plainly with a stick." 



1889-90. 



Sept. 2nd. — Began cub-hunting at Redmere, and 

 finished Nov. 9th, at Stratford Hill, killing thirty-three 

 foxes. 



1889. Nov. nth. — Began regular hunting, much 

 stopped by frost. 



'' Dec. 9th. — Maidford. Found in Bushey End, ran to 

 Astcote Thorns, across the Turweston Road to Eastcote, 

 lost him. Found in Astcote Thorns, away to Potcote, 

 a ring by Grimscote Heath, the village to left, past 

 Potcote, to ground in sand holes near Caswell. Found 

 at Tite's Coppice, ran into Taylor's Spinneys, nearly to 

 Blakesley ; crossed the road to Bradden Ponds, turned up 

 to the village, Greens Park to the right, ran between 

 Wappenham and Weedon Coppice, close past Astwell 

 Mill, up to Falcote, turned to the right, and ran up to 

 Helmdon Village, and lost him. A person was in the 

 road with three greyhounds ; he declared he never saw 

 our fox (?) we could never ^ touch on him afterwards. 

 This was really a capital run. George Barrett, the 

 jockey, was out, and went well. He got an awful 

 cropper over some rails at Bradden and very nearly in 

 Wappenham Brook. Captain Elmhirst's horse was in 

 for two hours. Mr. Fuller was also in. I rode Falcon 

 and Sunshine. 24 couple bitches. 



