46 The Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Hunt. 



horses could stand such a severe test. It was small wonder, then, that 

 Mr. James Barclay wrote at the time that it was the finest hunt he had 

 ever seen in Renfrewshire — a very high tribute. 



The claims for compensation for the loss of poultry were, during the 

 war, of an excessive character, and made it all the more imperative that as 

 many foxes as possible should be killed or even destroyed if the hounds 

 failed to account for a satisfactory number. 



With the co-operation and encouragement of Mrs. Barclay, the Master 

 persevered in the face of many difficulties, doubtless imbued with the idea 

 that there was still a bright future for hunting when the long dreary years 

 of war were at an end. All can now realise the successful outcome of such 

 admirable tenacity, and it may truly be said that hunting was never more 

 popular in Renfrewshire than at the present time. It is not intended to 

 give an account of all that happened in the field during the war, but a few 

 of the runs may be put on record if only to show that the pack maintained 

 its running powers and the necessary work was successfully carried out. 



At the end of the campaign in 191 5 Molyneux left to take up a similar 

 position with Lord Middleton's hounds in Yorkshire. A bold and fearless 

 horseman, Molyneux was undoubtedly a good man in the field, and I might 

 add that he was an adept in obtaining " walks " for puppies. By this I 

 mean to infer that he was successful in persuading many farmers to take 

 charge of a puppy even when they had never previously attempted to rear 

 one for the good of the kennel. Following him came Will Jacklin from 

 the Queen's County hounds in Ireland, and he has successfully filled the 

 position to the present day. Hunting with the primary object of killing 

 foxes was resumed about the usual time in the late autumn of that year, 

 and one of the best runs of Jacklin's first season was recorded on 8th January, 

 1916. Finding in Auchinbothie, hounds ran by Dr. Brown's coverts 

 nearly to Elphinstone, and with this on their right they raced over the valley 

 to Drums, where this fast thirty minutes ended with a kill in the open. 



On 27th March, 1917, they had a very good day, in the course of which 

 a leash of foxes were killed. One was hunted from Formakin right across 

 country to Duchal ere being rolled over, and from Whinnie Hill they after- 

 wards had a fine ringing hunt in the vicinity of Elphinstone, ending with a 

 kill. I can only give the points very briefly from the records available, 

 and coming to next season — or shall I say expedition ? — some fine hunting 



