28 The Sedgefield Country 



often said they call him Lax,| but he 's anything but slack 

 in the hunting field ! 



Mr. Maynard, showing excellent sport all round, officiated 

 as Master of the North Durham Hunt for twelve years, 

 when a Committee followed for four years, and then Mr, J. 

 E. Rogerson, in 1888, assumed the command, a position 

 which he has held ever since to the satisfaction of all con- 

 cerned in the fortunes of the hunt. Dick Freeman has been 

 huntsman for many years now, and is said to be as game 

 as ever. 



But our interest is centred for the time being rather in 

 the fortunes of the South Durham Hunt, and right good 

 sport the scratch pack, which was now a year old, showed 

 in January, 1873. On Monday, the 13th, they met at Stot- 

 fold, at 12 o'clock. Mr. Harvey, who had been confined to 

 the house through illness, not being able to be present. 

 Found at once at Brierton whin, and, after a ring by Dalton 

 Piercy back to the covert, raced their fox away in the direc- 

 tion of Cole Hill; thence by Quaker's Gill to Embleton, 

 through Close Wood, Newton Hansard, skirting Lumpley, and 

 on past the Tile Sheds into Brierley plantation and Layton 

 Lings, where reynard dwelt not a second ; across the Stock- 

 ton road into Watts' plantation, through Homer Carr, and 

 up to Hely House, where the first welcome check occurred; 

 but, " forr'ard away" was quickly heard and the pace was 

 not slow past Diamond Hall, through Mordon plantation, 

 and Fir Tree Hill wood, to Hardwick Hall, where this stout 

 fox went to ground in the earths opposite the decoy at 

 3-30, after a run of just over three hours ; just before going 



} The Author was on the Grand Jury, at Durham Assizes, a few years ago, when the Clerk of 

 Assize called out Anthony Fox Maynard, to his own discomfiture and the great amuse- 

 ment of the Court. It was a very foggy morning. 



