22 The Lanarkshire and Renfrezvshire Hunt. 



past the kennels to Goldenlea Gorse, the fox being killed in the lade near 

 Crosslee Mill. 



The season, which came to an end on 4th April, was regarded as one of 

 the poorest on record, but during the closing stages there was a tremendous 

 lot of rain, which rendered the country in such a heavy state that the point- 

 to-point races had to be abandoned. 



A rather unfortunate opening to the succeeding season on 7th 

 November, 1903, was caused by dense fog, successful hunting being out 

 of the question. It was not until 8th December that any run of special 

 note was provided, and in the country leading from Castle Semple, where 

 there lived at this time a genial friend of foxhunting in the person of Mr. 

 J. W. Shand Harvey. The interests of this particular portion of Renfrew- 

 shire territory have of late years been assiduously looked after by Mr. 

 Andrew Hunter, who has his residence just beside Castle Semple policies. 

 It says much for the Castle Semple foxes of those days when a brace found 

 here sufficed to supply a great day's sport. The first one gave a preliminary 

 hunt by Gowkston as far as Karnes Dam, where he was lost. A better 

 fox had been left behind at Castle Semple, and getting away on good 

 terms hounds ran fast over a similar line to that previously taken, and, be 

 it said, it was not particularly nice for anyone to ride over. However, they 

 hunted back to more congenial surroundings by Greenside, from which it 

 was more " plain sailing," by Branchal and Craigton to Glentyan. There 

 was not a semblance of a check up to this point, but going over Gladstone 

 and Wardend it was rather difficult hunting. Doubling back towards 

 Glentyan, hounds got a view of their fox, and rolled him over at the end of 

 one hour and forty minutes. 



A meet had been arranged at Duchal on the following Saturday, but 

 this was cancelled out of respect to the late Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, who 

 had passed away. The deceased baronet was always a staunch supporter 

 of Renfrewshire foxhunting. 



A Finlaystone meet on 19th December was productive of a really good 

 hunt, although it was late in the afternoon. Finding in West Ferry, hounds 

 ran bv Drums, Barmore and Corslie Hill to Wraes, where there was a check. 

 Going on again from here by Ennelly they crossed Napps Muir and raced 

 right into Duchal, when it was getting very dark, and the Master and Webster 

 were lucky in being able to stop them near Duchal High Wood. 



