154 FOX-HUNTING FROM SHIRE TO SHIRE 



the standard ; and from forty-five minutes to an 

 hour, is quite long enough for the best that can be 

 ridden. 



The Newton Wood foxes were under the fostering 

 care of Mr Thomas Heathcote and his sisters, re- 

 siding at Newton Hall. A fine old dog-fox with 

 well tagged brush and a dash of grey in his coat, 

 was viewed as he headed away for Sapperton 

 Wood, the music of Gillard's horn rousing all to 

 energy. Hounds threw their tongue freely as 

 they ran through the coverts of Sapperton and 

 Piclvworth, where Mr James Hoyes — one of the best 

 of the top-weights — galloped forward to the road 

 and getting information from a boy scaring crows, 

 halloaed his loudest, bringing Gillard and hounds 

 to hit off the line by the hedgerow. Crossing a 

 nice bit of fairly fenced hunting country, towards 

 Lenton Pastures, hounds travelled on at a hold- 

 ing pace, leaving Hanby on the right, where cold 

 scenting plough brought them to their noses. Before 

 reaching the Folkingham and Lenton road we had 

 one or two rough fences to jump, and those leading 

 the field were Mr Edgar Lubbock, Mr Thomas 

 Heathcote, the four Misses Heathcotes, Mr Campbell 

 Dick, Mr Charles Parker, Mr James Hutchinson, 

 Mr James Rudkin and a few more. Swinging along 

 at a nice hunting pace past Lenton church, with 

 its fine broach spire, on the right, there was a widish 

 drain to jump, Mr James Hutchinson giving the 

 lead riding a thoroughbred. With many a peck 

 and scramble we ran to Keisby on the hill top, 

 and one left a hat in a fence, another a spur, the 

 pace being too good to stop. The horse, too, which 

 Gillard was riding broke his bridle, and was ridden 

 to the finish minus the bridoon-bit and curb. For 

 some reason this good fox disdained the shelter of 



