220 FOX-HUNTING FROM SHIRE TO SHIRE 



Tom Parrington, who lives close by. In more ways 

 than one our visit to the Sinnington was a memor- 

 able occasion and most enjoyable ; a talk with 

 Mr Parrington, who held a mastership of the hunt 

 from 1879 to 1884— besides instituting the first 

 foxhound show at Redcar as far back as 1859— 

 revived many stirring periods in the annals of the 

 chase, and marked the changes that have taken 

 place. On two occasions we remember seeing Mr 

 Parrington judging hounds at Peterborough, the first 

 being when Oakley Rhymer, shown by Tom White- 

 more, won the champion cup ; and a second occasion 

 in 1890 when Quorn Dreamer secured champion 

 honours for Tom Firr. To-day Mr Parrington 

 takes the keenest interest in hunting matters, and 

 has many friends dropping in to talk over sport. 

 No chapter on the Sinnington would be complete 

 without mention of the name of Jack Parker, who 

 for thirty-seven years carried the horn, retiring in 

 1890 at the age of sixty-eight ; and it may truly be 

 said his spirit still animates the country - side. 

 Eminently a sportsman — and a huntsman after- 

 wards—gifted with a true sense of humour, many of 

 his quaint sayings are well remembered by those 

 who knew him. A long and very interesting chapter 

 on Jack Parker is to be found in Mr J. Fairfax 

 Blakeborough's book on " England's oldest hunt." 

 Such a record in years to come will be of great 

 value, because it sets forth a period in hunting- 

 history which has passed away. Over the door of 

 the huntsman's cottage at the kennels, the name of 

 Jack Parker is to be seen inscribed ; for future 

 generations to remember the enthusiasm of one 

 who was regarded in his time as a hero. We most 

 of us realise that " the good old times " were not 

 all good, and former generations of sportsmen 



