THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 



187 



The opening meet of the season 1884-5 was at 

 Walton House on November 3rd, and produced a fine 

 run of just over an hour, over fully ten miles of 

 country. After a little skirmishing with some cubs 

 from the wood, a fox was started from a small spinney 

 on the way to Brick Hill Gorse. He went as if for 

 Walton Wood, but turning to the right ran a ring 

 round to Brick Hill to where he was found, the work 

 with him finishing at Combroke but with indififerent 

 scent. They then trotted to Pillerton Gorse, where one 

 of the right sort was on foot. He broke across the 

 Banbury and Stratford Road down to Fulready, and 

 then recrossed the road and pointed for Walton Wood, 

 and turning to the right, ran through Brick Hill» 

 straight on to Kineton Holt, and finally to Miller's Gorse, 

 Edgehill, where the hounds were whipped off in the 

 presence of only the noble master, Sir Charles Mordaunt, 

 the Hon. Susan Verney, who went well throughout, 

 Mr. Caine, and two gentlemen from Leamington, out 

 of a large field. 



The run which began in Ufton Wood after a meet 

 at Long Itchington on Thursday, December 11th, was 

 one of those which grace only very occasional pages in 

 one's hunting diary. After knocking about for some- 

 thing like a quarter of an hour, he broke gallantly and 

 crossed the turnpike road as if for Harbury Station. 

 After passing Bull's farm he turned straight to the 

 left, crossed the Southam brook, which thinned the 

 field in a quick and business-like fashion, he crossed 

 the turnpike road just beyond the brick-kiln under 

 Ladbroke Hill, and leaving Ladbroke Gorse to the 

 right, crossed the Southam and Byfield road to the 

 canal near Napton. At this point a check occurred 

 for a minute or two, but it only seemed to have the 

 effect of increasing the pace. The field had been re- 

 duced to almost a bare half-dozen, and even the fittest 

 who survived could scarcely make out what was being 

 done, and their going was not improved by having to 



Lord 



WiLLOUGHHY DE 



Brokk. 



An opening meet 

 at Walton. 



An exceptional 

 run from Ufton. 



