1824] ( 93 ) 



CHAPTER VIII. 



SPORT IN THE TWENTIES — THE GREAT RUN TO ULVERS- 

 CROFT ABBEY — SIR PETER WALKER, BART. 



They began cub-hunting on the 2nd of September, 

 1824-25, in the Brakenhurst, killing a cub and a badger, 

 with the whole pack out, with the exception of two 

 couples. He had thirty-nine couples. 



Some of those who came down to write accounts of 

 hunting with these hounds describe them as being very 

 indifferent on a cold scent, but the Master himself says 

 just the opposite. For instance, he says : " Stone's Gorse ; 

 found several foxes, and, after running about the cover 

 for some time, came away by Parson's Brake to Holly 

 Bush, by Moat Hall to Hoar Cross village ; turned short 

 back through the gardens and Newboro', back through 

 Mr. Hall's cover, by Parson's Brake to Hanbury Park 

 Wood, where we killed. A vixen. Beautiful hunting, 

 and nothing could excel the perseverance and steadiness of 

 the hounds, with a bad scent and pouring rain." 



The opening day was at Sudbury Coppice on 

 October 25 th. 



They had a lot of good sport, but it is impossible to 

 mention everything. But there was one day, when they 

 met at little Eaton, which Joe Leedham, for one, was not 

 likely to forget, for they found at Horsley Park, ran 

 through Locko by Chaddesden and Spondou, back to 

 Locko, and then away by Ladywood to Sandy Acre, close 

 to Nottingham, and nobody saw a yard of it except Joe, 

 on Denmark. The date \vas January 13th, 1825. This 



