MALDON: Hunt tradition is alive and well six years after the ban
DEFIANT huntsmen kept a centuries-old tradition alive on Saturday when they turned out for the annual New Year's Day hunt.
Hundreds of people watched more than 30 riders gather outside the 14th-century Blue Boar Hotel in Maldon and parade down the High Street before beginning the hunt, which involved hounds tracking a scent.
Master of the Essex Farmers and Union Hunt, Douglas Hill, who turned 68 on New Year's Day, is a West Hanningfield farmer from a family that has worked the land for generations.
"I think it's important to keep up a tradition that's been going for hundreds of years; the infrastructure is still in place – the huntsmen, hounds and horses – and we have a lot of support from landowners in the local community," said Mr Hill.
"Everyone who lives in the countryside, even if they don't hunt themselves, respects the tradition, but unfortunately some people want to control what everyone else does even if they don't understand it."
The Essex Farmers and Union Hunt, formed in 1984 by the amalgamation of the Essex Farmers and Essex Union hunts, dates back to Lord Petre's Hunt in 1822.
The hunt meets twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday, during the September-to-March hunting season.
The Boxing Day Hunt at Galleywood was cancelled this year due to ice – although riders still paraded their hounds.
But the New Year's Day Hunt went ahead as planned.
"For purists, watching hounds chase a scent doesn't come close to watching them track real quarry," Mr Hill said.
"There are a lot of reasons people love hunting – some breed horses and use the hunt as a useful learning ground; some are hound enthusiasts; some are riders or jumpers; some love the tradition and others are just posers."
In his autobiography, A Journey, Tony Blair expressed regret over the hunting ban he passed in 2004.
But as one of his campaign pledges, David Cameron promised MPs a free vote on the issue.
"I'm not surprised by Blair's turnaround; politicians often have a miraculous change of heart as soon as they're not in a position to do anything about it," said Mr Hill.
"We'll have to wait and see what happens with Cameron – they're both typical politicians, but unfortunately we have to live with them."
3 Comments
by Suzi Birch, Basildon
Sunday, January 09 2011, 2:23PM
“Good on Douglas Hill and the other huntsmen. If this is an annual event in Maldon, I will be there waving them off. I would join in if I could. Long may this wonderful and necessary tradition continue.”
by Geoffrey Woollard, South East Cambridgeshire
Thursday, January 06 2011, 5:18PM
“"Master of the Essex Farmers and Union Hunt, Douglas Hill, who turned 68 on New Year's Day, is a West Hanningfield farmer from a family that has worked the land for generations."
Mr Hill ought to know better after all those years. I hate the so-called 'sports' of fox hunting, hare coursing, stag hunting, etc., because I can't cope with the idea of killing animals for fun. There are millions more like me.
I advised a hunting friend of long standing to stick to drag hunting in light of the Hunting Act 2004. His response was, 'It's not the same.' I said, 'Why?' He said, 'Because there's no kill.' I advised a prominent Conservative MEP the same and do you know what he said? 'Drag hunting is like sucking a sweetie with the wrapper on.' There are some beasts about and some of them suppose themselves to be both human and humane. They are very much mistaken.
By the way, I write this as a former Conservative activist, as a farmer, and as a born and bred countryman whose family has also worked the land for generations.”
by mhayworth, UK
Thursday, January 06 2011, 4:38PM
“"For purists, watching hounds chase a scent doesn't come close to watching them track real quarry," Mr Hill said."
Those aren't purists Mr. Hill, they are sadists and there are just as many people in the countryside that despise this type of cruelty as there are in towns or cities, as you well know.
The type of people who claim to manage wildlife by taking out the sick and the weak, while salivating over cubbing season every year, are truly appalling.
Christmas is meant to be a time of peace, to be spent with friends and family - not terrifying and killing small animals for some twisted form of pleasure.”