158 FOX-HUNTING FROM SHIRE TO SHIRE 



for though March is generally a " ticklish " month 

 for scent, the Belvoir hounds scored a sequence of 

 good hunts, with the going in excellent riding 

 condition. A remarkable day's sport in Liecester- 

 shire happened with the Belvoir quite at the end 

 of the season, made memorable by a chimney- 

 climbing fox — remindful of the similar occasion 

 with this pack on the Lincolnshire side, twenty 

 years previously. 



With the wind-up of the Leicestershire season, 

 an increased following is attracted to the great 

 hunting centres for the steeplechases and point-to- 

 points, which form the carnival of the chase. The 

 Belvoir, therefore, had a large field to meet them 

 at Piper Hole Dam, a fixture in a field between the 

 villages of Long Clausen and Scalford, a weird spot 

 with a legend attached to it, situated in the heart 

 of the grazing country. Many twisty, narrow 

 roads, gated through grass fields, wind in serpent- 

 like fashion through the fields, a tortuous bumpy 

 track for the many motors approaching from Melton, 

 Grantham, Oakham, or Leicester. One of the 

 penalties of popularity which the Belvoir have to 

 pay when hunting in their Wednesday or Saturday 

 grass country, is a following of huge dimensions, 

 who honour the occasions by riding the pick of the 

 stable with the hounds who have an undefeated 

 record for speed. These beautiful weapons of the 

 chase, when handled by an artist like Ben Capell 

 can give a hard-riding field a proof of their breed- 

 ing for courage, speed, and stamina ; delighting the 

 heart of the best and the boldest across country. 

 Such highly-bred ones wont stand much interference, 

 but when there is a scent on the grass, only the 

 best mounted can live with them. 



A lady commands the Belvoir in the absence of 



