22 8 The Pytchley Hitnt^ Past and Present. 



particulars of the many good runs tliat have taken place 

 since the Whip from the '^Belvoir ^' assumed the horn of 

 the " P.H. ;" but during that time none is more worthy 

 of notice than one on the 12th of March^ 1878, when a 

 fox found at Yanderplanks, after crossing the cream of 

 the country by Watford, Crick, Yelvertoft, Clay Coton, 

 Swinford Cover, Stanford Hall, was finally run into at 

 Clifton Mill, close to Rugby. Unpromising at its com- 

 mencement, after leaving Crick village, the hounds began 

 to run in earnest, and it seemed as though the fox 

 was determined to make things pleasant all round by 

 selecting the finest line in the Midlands to traverse. 



Goodall, Major Curtis, the Hon. F. Henley, and Cap- 

 tain Soames went about the best ; and the former still 

 looks upon it as the crack run of his time. A run from 

 Sywell Wood in 1877 to Whishton village was memo- 

 rable from Goodall having swum the Nene just before 

 killing his fox. Accoutred as he was, he plunged in, and 

 bade bold riders follow ; but these declining the invitation 

 galloped right and left, determined to praise the bridge 

 that carried them safely and quickly over. 



Happily fortune in this case favoured the brave, and, 

 instead of losing the fox, as usually happens after the 

 performance of some notable feat by which an entire field 

 is shaken off, the dripping fugitive from the depths of 

 Sywell Wood was brought handsomely to hand. With a 

 little whisky poured down his throat, and a larger supply 

 into his boots (a hint for river-swimmers), Goodall 

 escaped all cold, and had no reason to repent for self or 

 horse their somewhat hazardous immersion. 



Aged thirty-eight, and riding under twelve stone, 

 bringing to bear upon his duties a zeal and conscientious- 



