CHAPTER XVI 



WITH THE BELVOIR FROM COSTON COVERT 

 TO WOODWELL HEAD 



Buckminster Park — The Belvoir hounds viewed at covert-side — Ben 



Capell— Jack Hewitt — H. Norman — A Belvoir field, 1908-9 A 



preliminary Leicestershire frolic on the heath country — A view of 

 Coston covert — " Notice to quit" on the horn — Pace the elixir of the 

 chase — Runs from Coston covert in the Sixties — The record time 

 of a Coston covert to Woodwell Head run — Speed tests and 

 measurements — Those there February 1881 — A good riding field, 

 January 1883— A very fast gallop, February 1892, and those there — 

 Two red-letter days from Coston covert in 1895-96 and the leading 

 division— A Coston covert fox-brush for the Hon. Mrs. Lancelot 

 Lowther — A Coston covert fox-mask for the Hon. Francis Lambton 

 — The find — A typical Leicestershire burst — The kill below Wood- 

 well Head. 



" But little need was there to-day 

 By Coston Thorns awhile to stay, 

 For scarce the eastern side we gain, 

 Scarce tighten girth and bridle-rein, 

 Ere Cooper's halloa sounds away ! 

 A gallant fox brooks no delay." 



— Coston Run Song of January 17, 1863. 



The lawn meet at Buckminster Park, the Leicester- 

 shire seat of the Earl of Dysart, is always an attrac- 

 tive fixture, drawing a distinguished Wednesday 

 following of the Belvoir from the Leicestershire and 

 Lincolnshire sides of the country. The fine mansion, 

 built in the Grecian style at the end of the eighteenth 

 century, makes an ideal setting for a meet of hounds, 

 with extensive drive and lawn allowing a full view 

 of the assembled crowd. Standing on the high 

 ground overlooking a vale of grass and home plan- 

 tations, with a fine hunting country stretching 



