Hi THE KORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



to his left, and went straight through Mill Hay, crossed the Doddington and 

 Woore road again, straight to Heathcote Gorse, which he skirted, and went to 

 earth near Woore village. An effort was made to get him out for the good of the 

 \oiing hounds, as there are prettj' well of foxes, but the eftbrt was not successful. 

 The hounds were then taken to Mill Haj^ where another was soon found, and 

 took a similar line ; but this time Wrinehill Wood was his destination, after a 

 smart gallop. What took place after this I cannot say ; the bulk of the field had 

 gone home, and all had had enough. Altogether, it must be considered a good 

 day's sport. There were a few good falls, as well there might, for there was 

 some bold riding, considering the fences are so very blind this year. 



Pink. 



" November Gth, 188G. Standon. — Chopped a fox in Standon Rough. Went 

 away with another nearly to Sugnall, then to the right by Charnes to Green 

 Lane Coppice. Here we changed foxes, and hunted a line slowly to the back of 

 Ashley, where we gave it up. Capital run as far as Bromley. About forty-five 

 minutes." 



Dickins's entry of this day's sport is substantially 

 the same as the above. 



^^ November 12th, 1886. Loggerheads. — Found in Forty Acres. Ran very 

 fast fifteen minutes to Pipe Gate, to ground ; bolted him, and ran him fast back 

 to Willoughbridge, where we changed. Hunted slowly through Cow Leasows, 

 Forty Acres, Burnt Woods, and out at the Chipnall end. Then ran fast through 

 Park Springs, and by Hales to Chipnall Wood; thence a small ring towards 

 Cheswardine, and back into Chipnall Wood, where they caught him. Time, from 

 bolting fox at Pipe Gate to kill in Chipnall Wood, two liours and a quarter. 

 Heard afterwards that the beaten fox we left at Willoughbridge had crawled 

 across to Maer Hills, laid down in sight of the keeper, and was so done that the 

 keeper picked him up and put him in a pen, where he died in a very short 

 time." 



Dickins in his diary describes this as " a good day," 

 and times the run as two hours and forty minutes, which, 

 with the addition of the first fifteen minutes to Pipe Gate 

 to ground, almost exactly tallies with the hon. secretary's 

 record. It is evident that the run was quite above the 

 average. Dickins also notes that the first fox was picked 

 up on or near Maer Hills, and afterwards died. 



The next account is from Dickins's diary : 



" November 19th, 1886. Wrinehill Village. — Drew Betley Gorse ; did not 

 find. Then drew Balterley Heath, and chopped a fox. Got away with another, 

 and ran fast fifteen minutes, to ground by the brook under Betley. Went back 

 to the Heath ; found again. Ran a ring by Betley, away by the end of Mill Dale 

 up to Weston village, and on to Crewe Park, and lost him on the railwaj^ 

 Supposed to have run the railway. A good forty minutes. Note — Mr. Dahyniple 

 badlv hurt from a fall." 



