SPRING HUNTING, 1902. 273 



CAPITAL RUN WITH THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



To the accompaniment of hail, rain, and sleet, the North Staffordshire Hounds 

 yesterday provided their followers with a grand run extending over an hour and 

 twenty minutes. The meet was at Wj'bunbury, not far distant from Nantwich, 

 when, in spite of the cold, boisterous March morning, the Master, the Duke of 

 Sutherland, opened the proceedings in the presence of a large and fashionable 

 field, including the joint Master, Major Stamer, the Duchess of Sutherland, Mr. 

 Eric Chaplin, Sir Delves Broughton, Sir Thomas and Lady Boughey, Colonel 

 Dobson, Mr. Arthur Knowles, Mr. Reggie Corbet, Master of the South Cheshire 

 Hounds, Mr. Hornby, and many others representing the Shropshire and Cheshire 

 packs. Finding almost immediately hounds had been cast into Wybunbury Moss, 

 the fox bolted straight away for Shavington, and, after getting close here, raced 

 on as far as Betley Road Station. He then crossed the London and North- 

 western Railway, doubled back again and recrossed the line, marking his course 

 out by Blakenhall village and Blakenhall Moss to Lea Park. Continuing the 

 chase, the line was carried, as merrily as the unpropitious climatic conditions 

 would permit, on past Robin's Nest into Doddington Park, where, following some 

 zigzag movements, the fugitive succeeded in reaching Lea Park, and was run to 

 ground there. The gallop was undoubtedly the best experienced for a consider- 

 able time past, and it was rather unusual that during practically the whole of 

 the gallop Reynard set his head to the wind. Chapel Wood was afterwards 

 worked to no purpose, and although further sport resulted later in the day, the 

 first was by far the best run. 



'^Monday, March Blst, 1902. Madeley Road. — Drew the Bitterns blank. 

 Found in Wrinehill Wood. Had a nice little gallop over Barr Hill. Stopped the 

 liounds near Madeley road. Drew Finson's Hay Gorse, Admiral's Gorse, Harrow's 

 Wood, Three Brooks, Buerton Gorse, GoUing's Rough, Bellaport, Dorrington, Can- 

 ridden, Mill Hay, all blank. Found in Checkley Wood at 6.30 p.m. Had a nice 

 little gallop towards Bridgemere, and beat us. No doubt he went to ground in the 

 Brook side near the blacksmith's shop. A nice morning. Were all photographed 

 at the meet for Mr. Blagg's book. Found a good fox in Wrinehill Wood, but 

 did not go on with him, owing to him going towards Maer Hills. Then we had a 

 long draw befc-e finding again, which spoilt the day. 



" Friday, April Ath. Meece House. — Found in Meece Gorse, and had a very 

 good gallop by the Heamies, then over the North Staffordshire Railway, leaving 

 Cold Norton Gorse on the left, also Shallowford and Whitgreave, and beat us 

 near Cresswell Gorse. Drew Micklow Gorse and Tittensor blank. Found in 

 Trentham Wood. Had an unusual gallop. He went away over the Park, and 

 jumped the Park wall, and back again near Gravel Pit Lodge, through the gravel 

 pit, out of the Park, throuiih Hanchurch Gate ; then by the new covert into High 

 Greaves Wood, by the dairy, and into Trentham gardens ; back through the 

 wood, and ran him to ground at Beech Cliffe. The run from Meece Gorse was 

 very nice. The fox went a good line of country, and fairly straight. The gallop 

 from Trentham Wood was rather exciting, owing to him coming so near the 

 kennels and through the gardens, etc." 



The following account of the run on April 4th from 

 Meece Gorse, and of a good day's sport from Mucklestone 

 on April 7th, appeared in the Field of April 12th, 1902 : — 



T 



