CHAPTER V 



ATHERSTOXE HOUND NOTES— A HUNT WITH SIR WILLIAM 

 COOKE AND THE SOUTHWOLD— STEEPLECHASING IN 

 LORD HARRINGTON'S COUNTRY 



The Atherstone hounds winning at Peterborough for ^Ir Gerald Hardy and 

 George Whitemore — The collection of fox-masks at Merevale — Hunt 

 presentation picture — Value of the Atherstone pack — The top dog- 

 hounds, 1910, in Lord Huntingdon's mastership — Nimrod's description 

 of the Atherstone country — Sir William Cooke joint-master of the 

 Southwold at Ranby Hall — Hound work — Wolds and fens — The 

 new kennels and pack started by Sir William Cooke — The pick of 

 the 1909 entry — A hunt in Wellingham Wood — A good riding field — 

 Lincolnshire churches — The Earl of Harrington's large pack of hounds 

 — The point to point races at Woodborough, March 20, 191 1 — The 

 six miles by road from Nottingham — Those present at the races — The 

 officials of the meeting, Lord Harrington, Mr W. R. Brockton, Mr 

 John Holden — The Programme — The Woodborough point to point 

 course described — The race for Lady Harrington's Cup — Mr Danny 

 Maher's Tinman — A good finish and win for INIr T. Loso Bradley's 

 Firefly — The ladies' race with seven competitors — J\Iiss Elnor on Mr 

 A. W. Hickling's IMarvel — A good finish and win for Marvel with all 

 seven jumping the course. 



" Boys, to the hunting-field though it's November, 

 The wind's in the south, but a word ere we start, 

 Though keenly excited, I bid you remember 

 That hunting's a science and riding an art. 

 The order of march, and due regulation 

 That guide us in warfare we need in the chase. 

 Huntsman and whip in his own proper station. 

 Horse, hound, and fox each in his own proper place." 



— Egerton Warburton. 



The Atherstone Hounds on the Flags 



For many years the Atherstone hounds were 

 very successful on the flags at Peterborough, and 

 the sight of George Whitemore with winning 

 ribbons in his button hole was a foregone con- 

 clusion. The touch of genius imparted into the 



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