Compassion, sympathy, empathy, kindness – words not often associated with “huntsman”. Refreshing, then, to learn that while the Mid-Devon Hunt’s hounds are confined to barracks with kennel cough, help is at hand from the neighbouring South Devon Hunt. To the rescue on Saturday, 10 January, came senior master and huntsman of the South Devon Hunt, Ian Pearse, with a belated Christmas present - a full pack of hounds. The meet was at East Week Farm, South Zeal, in the low-lying sheep and cattle grazing region of North East Dartmoor. To augment the dwindling number of Mid-Devon Hunt car followers, some of Ian’s loyal fans also came in their own cars to show their support. Assisted by Mid-Devon Hunt huntsman George Lyon-Smith, Ian began by drawing the wooded valley immediately south of the farm. Unfortunately for the mounted field and car followers, the interior of this dense broadleaved woodland is impossible to view from outside. For those who had paid for the privilege of the day’s entertainment, however, Ian Pearse’s empathy was short lived. The next hour saw riders and cars fragmenting, moving hither and thither as they struggled to discover when and where hounds and huntsman would reappear. Even the Mid-Devon Hunt’s Simon Kenny - a combination of whipper-in, field master, point rider and general dogsbody – seemed none the wiser. Using voice, horn and “gizmo” from time to time we called hounds, adding to the chaos by splitting the pack, necessitating Ian to pause and regroup his hounds. At around 12.30 huntsman and hounds broke cover and headed for Throwleigh Common on the eastern slopes of the open moor, providing car followers the opportunity to spectate and the mounted field to participate. Sadly for them it gave us the same opportunities. Sabs on foot followed the hunt, from time to time calling hounds back over drawn ground (see video footage), forcing the huntman to recover them and quicken their pace to escape their pursuers. Eventually they did escape and disappeared two miles to the south past Buttern Hill, and over Gidleigh Common to Scorhill Down. By this time car followers had given up and were last seen driving in the opposite direction. Even Mid-Devon Hunt chairman Robert Curtis drove off we know not where. Experience told us, however, where to search and we viewed Ian Pearse on foot with hounds in a field below Scorhill Tor on the north side of the North Teign River valley, and the mounted field on high ground on the opposite (south) side. Having driven to a point behind the mounted field we called across the valley to see Ian Pearse gather the pack and make his way back northwards. On high ground for 3 miles, for part of the way being tailed by footsabs, he continued with a faithful few riders until coming back down to earth near East Week Cross as dusk fell. Ian does not give up easily and a determined late finish is an indication that things did not go well for him. youtu.be/SU2qylep9UM
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 21:30:04 +0000
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