MANHUNTING IN ENGLAND

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 160, 8 July 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

MANHUNTING IN ENGLAND

BLOODHOUNDS IN DERBYSHIRE,

The challenge thrown out to Mr E. Brough, whose hounds won the recent manhunting match ia the Yule of Aylesbury, by the Somersetshire breeder Mrs OHphunt created the liveliest interest among supporters of the Association of Bloodhound Breeders and others concerned. For many reasons the North-country sportsman was unable to accept the challenge this season, butithere Is little doubt that In the autumn it will be accepted. The Chatley lady, having had her hounds, both young and old, in training for V>me months, and being unwilling that they should go into retirement without a chance of proving their ability to trace man, arranged a series of trials, which took place at Norton St. Philip, in the Vale of the Avon. Most of the ground run over is in sight of the famed Westbury White Horse. Three tests were decided upon, and a start was made at midnight by a gamekeeper laying a line from a farm bordering the main road to Bath, across a trout stream, ploughed land, and a bridle path to his cottage, quite close to the game preserves. The distance was about two miles, and as there was no moon at the time the keeper started on his walk he had difficulty in finding his way.- Arrangements had been made overnight for those Interested in the trials to be on hand at 4.30 a.m., and half an hour later Chatley Regent, a hound which was successful at the Yorkshire trials and a well-known bench winner, was laid on the line, Mr Oltphant holding him in leash. The wind was favourable, but a hard frost rendered scent rather difficult, and although the hound readily struck the line on grass, he made a long check on plough land, but, casting back and satisfying himself that the quarry had gone ahead, he went on and put in fast work to the brook. Crossing this, he led his handler a merry dance into a by-road, where between the hedges scent lay very well, and he speedily carried the line to the preserves close to where his quarry was secreted. Here he was at fault for the first time, but after casting round very carefully he again got on the line and ran down his man in the cottage. The last check was then explained, for at daybreak the'keeper had been out to feed his pheasants, hence the show of sagacity on the part of the hound in refusing to go. forward when he recognised a fresher scent of his quarry. The young entry, a pack of five puppies all under ten months old, was next given a trial on land nearer Norton St. Philip. A trail of four miles on the Manor House Farm was laid, and two hours afterwards the puppies were released, they being allowed to run loose. From a-i eminence most of the line can be followed, and those who saw the runners go out for two hours previously Were astonished to note how very closely the line was kept, although on the more open meadows the' hounds hunted very much to windward. They went at such a rate, however, that Mr Oliphant, who went after them on foot, could not keep up with them, and they ran their quarry to sanctuary well Inside the' half-hour, the last 50 yards being on stone pavement leading from the garden to n cottage. This test was considered most satisfactory, for scent on such a hot day could not have been very good. After v few hours' rest the young hounds, with Regent and Bellman, two of the veterans, were given another run, this time from the kennel's to the village of Road.n boy strange to the hounds being sent with a message across the river, which is at this point nearly 20 yards wide. He had to ford across minus his boots and stockings aud then walk up to the main street of the village tp sanctuary. After he had been gone nearly an hour the hounds were released, and so fast did they go that visitors anxious to see the finish had to be driven. AU hut one successfully crossed the river, and although scent was bad In the village street -..hey eventually finished the trinl In capital time. All round, Indeed, tho tests were the most gratifying ye thcld in England.