SEASON" 1901-1902. 271 



" Wednesday, December llth, 1901. Bird-in-Hand. — Drew Bromley Wood, 

 Draycot Gorse, and New Close Sprink blank. Found and killed in Hose Wood. 

 Drew Rherratt's Wood blank. Found in Fradswell Heath. Ran sharp through 

 Birchwood Park, Brindley's Plantation, to Mr. Philips's Gorse, through it, and 

 ran to ground at Middleton Green. Found again in Fradswell Heath. Had a 

 very fast twentj'-five minutes through Birchwood Park, Chartley Gorse, back by 

 Fradswell village, leaving it on the right nearly to Gayton Gorse, and rolled him 

 over near Coton. In two inches of snow we began drawing the Draycot Woods, 

 but the snow melted fast, and we had a good day's sport. The last run from 

 Fradswell Heath was very fast from find to finish. Only had one slight check, 

 and ran from scent to view, and rolled him over on the hillside near Coton. 

 This was a good gallop." 



From December 14tli to the 30tli hunting was stopped 

 altogether owing to frost and snow. 



" Wednesday , January Sth, 1902. Bird-in-Hand. — Drew Hose Wood blank. 

 Found in Mr. Dobson's new gorse. Hounds ran fast by Painsley, back into Hose 

 Wood and New Close Sprink, where we had three foxes on foot. Hounds got 

 divided. My lot — fourteen couples — ran sharp through Bromley Wood, out on 

 the Hilderstone side ; then to Sherratt's Wood and to Draycot Gorse, where we 

 got on a stale line, and gave him up. The other seven couples ran to Brindley's 

 Wood, and spoilt our afternoon's draw. We drew the coverts blank ; also Mr. 

 Philips's Gorse. Found in Stallington Heath. Hounds ran very fast over to 

 Black Lake, through it, by Stallington Hall, Fulford, Leacroft, and ran him to 

 gi'ound near Stallington Hall. We no doubt should have had a clinking da}'-'s 

 sport had the hounds kept together at New Close Sprink. One lot spoilt the 

 afternoon draw. The gallop from Stallington Pleath was very fast from find to 

 finish. He was onlj'^ just in front of the hounds when he got to ground. 



" Wednesday, January 22nd. Walton Hall. — Found a brace in the gorse. 

 Pian one sharp by Chebsey Rough, Yeld's Rough, and ran him to ground on the 

 river-bank near Bi'idgeford. AVent back to Walton Gorse. Found again, but 

 would not leave, so left him. Found a brace in Yeld's Rough. Hunted him to 

 Chebsey, nearly to Hilcote, back through Holland's Wood and Yeld's Rough, then 

 over the river to Walton Bank, Radford Pits, nearly to Seighford ; but was headed 

 back to Heath Wood, Five Lane Ends, Ranton Woods, Knightley, Wmcote 

 Wood, Johnson Hall, Acton Hill, down to the river at Hilcote, where he again 

 was headed, turned to Walton Hall Drumble, then made his point over the river, 

 and beat us at Hilcote Wood. A good hunt. A very nice day with a useful scent. 

 The run from Yeld's Rough was a very good one. We went over a lot of 

 country, and hounds well deserv^ed their fox. If he had not been headed at 

 Hilcote, which caused rather a long check, I think they would have hunted him 

 down." 



Between Friday, January 24th, and Monday, February 

 24th, there was no hunting owing to frost and snow, and 

 for the whole of the month of February there were only 

 three days on which it was possible to hunt. A very" 

 exceptional record. 



