SPORT ANCIENT AND MODERN 



guarantors this step was avoided ; and the sepa- 

 ration definitely took place at the end of the season 

 1866-7, tne Broadway area adopting the name of 

 the North Cotteswold, by which it has since been 

 known. In 1858 Mr. Colmore bought the 

 pack with which Lord Gifford had for three 

 seasons hunted the old V.W. H. country, and 

 took as his huntsman Charles Turner, who had 

 turned hounds to Harry Ayris of the Berkeley 

 for seven years. He did well as master, and 

 made Cheltenham a fashionable provincial hunt- 

 ing centre. From 1858 to 1866 the Cotteswold 

 subscription amounted to ,1,800 a year. 

 On two occasions when domestic bereavement 

 caused Mr. Colmore to refrain from sport for a 

 time his place was taken by his brother-in-law, 

 Mr. Owen, and also by Mr. Watson and 

 Mr. Barton. On Mr. Colmore's death in 1871 

 Sir Reginald Graham of Norton Conyers, Ripon, 

 succeeded ; and a committee bought the hounds 

 from the late master's executors by auction for 

 650 guineas. The new master carried the horn 

 himself. His engagement of Charles Travess 

 as a whipper-in, in 1872, was the most note- 

 worthy incident of the short reign of Sir R. 

 Graham. In 1873 ne resigned, chiefly on 

 account of the scarcity of foxes. This was due 

 to neglect of earth-stopping, a very important 

 duty in this country. His successor, Captain A. 

 Sumner (1873-85), was one of the best masters 

 the Cotteswold ever had. He could hold his 

 own with the best over wold or vale, could keep 

 his field in hand, and established and maintained 

 the best relations with the farmers. On Cap- 

 tain Sumner's accession he promoted Charles 

 Travess to carry the horn, and as huntsman 

 Travess has remained with the Cotteswold ever 

 since. A run, historical in the annals of the 

 hunt, took place during this mastership. This 

 occurred on 14 April, 1875. They met at 

 Salperton, and finding at the New Gorse, ran 

 through Hazleton Copse across the Northleach 

 road to Compton Grove, and on over the brook 

 to Withington village and up to the wood. The 

 fox then ran right through Withington and 

 Chedworth Woods, a distance of three miles a 

 very unusual thing on by Chedworth village, 

 leaving Foss Cross on the left, then while bear- 

 ing right-handed for Barnsley, was pulled down 

 just before reaching the park eleven miles 

 straight, about fifteen as hounds ran : the time 

 is not recorded. Mr. W. O. Brigstocke, who had 

 become honorary secretary on Captain Sumner's 

 accession in 1873, resigned in 1876. Colonel 

 Thoyts took up the duties in 1878 and officiated 

 for a season, being followed by Mr. Le Blanc. 

 Captain Sumner resigned in 1885, after a most 

 successful reign of twelve years, and his place 

 was taken by Mr. W. F. Hicks-Beach, whose 

 accession to office saw a change in the constitu- 

 tion of the hunt. The hounds were permanently 

 secured to it through the efforts of Mr. A. Le 

 Blanc, and ownership was vested in the master, 



Lord Fitzhardinge, and Mr. H. J. Elwes, as 

 trustees. Mr. Le Blanc, who had been honorary 

 secretary since the year 1879, resigned in the 

 year which saw the success of his endeavours to 

 secure the hounds to the hunt. His place was 

 taken by Mr. G. B. Witts, who still holds 

 office. Major de Freville followed Mr. Hicks- 

 Beach as master in 1 893, and retained office for 

 six years. One of the best runs of the last ten 

 seasons was enjoyed during his mastership. It 

 took place about Christmas, 1898 ; hounds found 

 in Chedworth Wood, and got away with their 

 fox from the bottom part ; leaving Compton 

 Cassey on the left, they crossed the stream near 

 Starwood and ran on by Compton Abdale to 

 Roel Gate. The point was nearly nine miles, 

 but the distance was far more as hounds ran. 

 Major de Freville resigned in 1899, and was 

 succeeded by Mr. Algernon Rushout, who three 

 years previously had resigned the mastership of 

 the North Cotteswold (q.v.). Mr. Rushout's 

 reign, if short, was very successful. Two fine 

 runs occur to mind in connexion with his term 

 of office. In January, 1900, hounds ran hard 

 without a check all the way from Hazleton 

 Brake, and killed their fox in Sherborne Park, 

 having covered about ten miles under the hour. 

 In January, 1902, they found just outside 

 Andoversford, and ran, with only one check at 

 Hazleton Brake, very fast to Farmington Grove, 

 a nine-mile point and about twelve as hounds 

 ran in a little over the hour. Mr. Rushout 

 resigned in 1 905, and was succeeded by Mr. E. B. 

 Podmore, who had had a season's experience as 

 master of the Vine Hunt. Mr. Podmore re- 

 mained only one season, and gave place in 1904 

 to Mr. H. O. Lord, who continues in office. 

 The Cotteswold country extends some seventeen 

 miles from north to south, and fifteen miles from 

 east to west. The North Cotteswold and Croome 

 territories adjoin it on the north ; on the west 

 lies the Ledbury country, on the south the 

 Berkeley, and on the east the Heythrop and 

 V.W. H. (Cirencester). Monday, Wednesday, 

 and Saturday are the regular hunting days, with 

 one by-day a week in addition, generally Tuesday 

 or Friday. The subscription now exceeds the 

 ,2,000 which is guaranteed to the master. 

 The Lords Fitzhardinge have for many years 

 subscribed ,100. Sir F. Goldsmid of Rend- 

 combe gave ,500 a year on condition that the 

 hounds did not come near Rendcombe Park on 

 Saturday, his Sabbath. 



The meets considered best in the vale country 

 are Combe Hill, Norton, Stoke Brake, Stoke 

 Orchard, Boddington, and Odessa Inn. The vale 

 is good riding country, with fair fences of every 

 kind, and the water requires a big jumper. 

 Except for small rails in the hedges there is little 

 timber. East and south of the Cheltenham and 

 Tewkesbury road there is little wire. On the 

 hills the character of the country is quite dif- 

 ferent. The horseman can see a long way 



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