198 HISTORY OF THE YORK AND ATNSTY HUNT 



' Marton vicarage on our left, up to Farlington low covert. 

 ' Leaving that on our right, worked him up to the left of 

 ' Sheriff Hutton. The fox was said to be only three 

 ' minutes ahead of us there. Scent improved slightly, but 

 ' only for two fields. Hunted up to near Stittenham Wood. 

 ' Did not mark the line in, though the fox was seen to go 

 ' into the wood. Gave up after a beautiful hunt of an 

 ' hour and forty-five minutes, nearly straight. Found at 

 ' Sutton Whin, ran over Sheriff Hutton, and Strensall and 

 ' York road and Farlington beck. Turned to the right, 

 ' pointed straight for Smith's Whin — hounds crossing over 

 ' beck again — on to the York and Ainsty side of Strensall. 

 ' Then straight up to the railway, leaving Smith's Whin 

 ' on our immediate left. Slight check, but viewed the fox 

 ' on the common. Got hounds off the railway just in time, 

 ' a train being close behind us. Ran fast up to the edge of 

 ' the common, and turning to the left pointed for Claxton 

 ' village, and went into the Averhams. Came out at the 

 ' Claxton end of the wood. Ran through the small covert 

 ' by the roadside, coming out near Harton Lodges. Turned 

 ' to the right and pointed as if for Bossall. Swung round 

 ' to the left, crossed over into Willow Bridge covert, and 

 ' the plantation adjoining it. Here we had two foxes 

 ' ahead of us. There was a holloa over the river, which 

 , ' was taken advantage of, and hounds took tlie line up on 



' the other side. We got over Howsham Bridge. Hounds 

 ' re-crossed the river, got on to a fresh fox, ran for two 

 ' fields, when they crossed the river for the third time, and 

 ' were stopped. About an hour. Nine mile point — ten 

 ' miles as hounds ran.' 



There was a good average of sport during November, 

 but towards the end of the month there was some frost ; 

 all through December the weather was threatening, and 

 hounds were kept in kennel five days in that month. Just 

 before their last stoppage they had a day which gave those 

 who saw it something to talk about: — 



' Saturday, December 28th. Thirkleby. Good holding scent; 

 ' day cold ; wind east ; glass high. Found at once behind 

 ' the house at Thirkleby, and got away with a brace of 



