1864] RADBURNE DAY. 231 



occurred. Here his tactics were entirely changed, as lie turned short to the 

 right and ran parallel with the Birmingham and Derby Kailway, leaving 

 Normanton a little to his left, and absolutely flying down that fine line of grass 

 countr}' by Findern to the Spread Eagle, where he again turned to the right, up 

 to the Burton and Derby Road, which he crossed not f\ir from the Uttoxeter 

 branch of the North Staffordshire Railway. Thence to Etwall, leaving the 

 village to his left, and pointing as if for Dalbury. Here he was evidently sink- 

 ing, as he again turned short to the right, going by Burnaston down to within 

 two fields of Little Derby House, where this gallant fox succumbed. Had this 

 run been straight, it certainly would have ranked as one of the best on record, 

 as the pace was extraordinary, the check at Littleover being but momentary, 

 and this after thirty minutes, thence to the Spread Eagle and on to Etwall 

 occupying some thirty-five minutes more ; up to this point was the cream of the 

 run, the whole distance measuring close on fifteen miles. A report having got 

 abroad that the Melton division would probably come down by train, a large 

 field assembled at the fixture, the attractions of Radburne being enhanced by a 

 lovely morning. The pace, however, was so good as to quickly dispose of all 

 but earnest goers, some eight or ten only chalking out the line. It is to be 

 regretted that the Leicestershire men did not show, as they could not but have 

 been gratified in riding in such a run, over a country almost as good as the best 

 of their own, and in the opinion of some, superior as a scenting one. A few of 

 the Atherstone, North Staffordshire, and other men from a distance, notably 

 supported the reputation of their own districts, having, as they well knew, to 

 compete with some of the best riders to be found, viz. the Derbyshire men. 

 Unfortunately for themselves, Mr. Hugo Meynell and Tom Leedham were both 

 absent from illness, but in the absence of the latter Jack Leedham was a most 

 able substitute. 



Yours, etc., 



A. G. 

 Lichfield, February 6th, 186-1. 



On February loth, tliey must have found probably 

 the same fox in the Alclermoor which they hunted in the 

 early part of the season from below Hope Wood to 

 Hulland. It is a great pity A. Gr. was not out to leave us 

 a description of it. As it is we have only the bare outline 

 in Mr. Meynell Ingram's diary, from which we learn that 

 " they found in the Aldermoor, and went away directly by 

 the Wilderness to Marston-Montgomery, back to the right, 

 leaving Cubley Gorse on the right, over the Ashbourne 

 road by Stydd Hall, into the valley, where they checked, 

 and Eoguish (aptly named !) got forward. We did not 

 catch her till she was going into the Holly Covert at 

 Snelston. They passed Blakely Holt, over the Derby 

 and Ashbourne road, left Bradley Wood close on the 

 right, over Sturston brook, across Ashbourne Green, by 

 the back of Sir Mathew Blakiston's house (Sandy Brook, 



