6s The Sedgefield Country 



after one season's work as second whipper-in went back to 

 Sir Bache Cunard. 



The season of 1881-2 will long be remembered as an ex- 

 traordinarily fine one for sport in most hunting countries, 

 and in South Durham the openness of the weather (hounds 

 were never stopped by frost or fog), the succession of fine 

 scenting days, and the abundance of real good and stout 

 foxes combined to render it an altogether exceptionable one 

 in the Foxhunter's diary. There is no doubt but that a good 

 scent often, if not as a rule, makes a good fox, and to the 

 plethora of scent, if it may so be termed, on almost every 

 occasion that hounds left their kennels, may be attributed 

 the seeming extra stoutness of the foxes, who always 

 appeared to be aware of what was in store for them, and 

 went both "straight and long." 



The opening day at Sands Hall, when a brace of foxes 

 was accounted for, was rendered noteworthy not so much 

 by the excellence of the sport as by the revival of a 

 time honoured old custom, namely that of the dining together 

 at the Hardwick Arms, Sedgefield, of the subscribers to 

 the Hunt. It is more than probable that " Ruinart " was 

 the brand of champagne indulged in that night, as under 

 that nom de plume, one who was present describes the 

 evening's proceedings in the Field newspaper on the following 

 Saturday, and evidently enjoyed himself immensely. 



" In the evening, the subscribers to the Hunt to the 

 number of thirty dined together at Sedgefield, and spent a 

 thoroughly sporting and pleasant evening, the health of the 

 Master and Hon. Secretary being drunk amid holloas that 

 must have pretty well frightened all the foxes out of the 

 country, whilst there was no scarcity of hunting and 

 other sporting songs in which the Master, Hon. Secretary, 



