Hunts called off due to icy weather
The icy weather forced the cancellation of two high-profile New Year’s Day hunting meets.
Hundreds of people had to settle for a spot of socialising rather than galloping across the countryside yesterday.
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The meet at the Hatherley Manor Hotel
A crowd of 150 gathered at the Hatherley Manor Hotel in Down Hatherley.
They saw more than 50 mounted members of the Gotherington-based Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt, accompanied by 31 hounds.
Huntsman Alan Morgan said many people stayed away because they realised the hunt would be called off.
He said: “The ground was too frosty and too hard. A lot of people went to Cheltenham races instead.”
About 500 gathered in Stow to see members of the Chipping Norton-based Heythrop Hunt.
Officials, though, decided the countryside would be dangerously hard and slippery.
Liz Wills, one of the masters of the hunt, said: “We had about 30 people on horses and 35 hounds. We had a lovely meet, with mulled wine, port, food and sweets for the children.”
10 Comments
by Neil, Cheltenham
Sunday, January 04 2009, 11:18AM
“It would be nice to see the hounds set on the individuals who believe fox-hunting is "jolly good fun". It would be interesting to see for just how long they could evade being torn to bits. Not very long I suspect. Incidentally, if the ban on fox hunting hasn't made a difference to these people, which is what they continually say, why are they so keen to see the law which is supported by the vast majority of people in the UK, regardless of politicial party, repealed?”
by Anon, Cheltenham
Sunday, January 04 2009, 2:19AM
“Good for the wily old foxes. Keep the vermin out of the countryside and ban fox hunting I say!
Let's see those blood thirsty fools do a proper days work like the rest of us townies have to.”
by Hessen Von Lietner, Oxford
Saturday, January 03 2009, 12:23PM
“Never mind- gives foxes bags of time to escape before the hunt is back on.”
by Simon Hacker, Wotton-under-Edge
Saturday, January 03 2009, 11:38AM
“Splendid. I know which hotel not to stay at now.”
by AHHHH, Tewks
Saturday, January 03 2009, 10:38AM
“I thought fox hunting was banned?
Or has my love for the news (not) let me down”
by Dave, chelt
Saturday, January 03 2009, 9:34AM
“Bunch of hoorahs, law unto themselves”
by Big Dave, cheltehnam
Friday, January 02 2009, 5:27PM
“Seems to me everyone had fun and no foxes were hurt....they should do this for every meet, and then both pro- and anti-fox-hunters would be happy!”
by D.Whitton, Cheltenham
Friday, January 02 2009, 1:35PM
“although being distantly related to Fox Hunts called off due to cold weather.
I have today discovered why I could not contact my aging father yesterday,being away I was unaware of a long power cut affecting part of Cheltenham.Seems this was not considered newsworthy by The Echo.
To me it should be splashed on the front page as many old folk must have suffered cold and distress and unable to get assistance.I Wonder if Social Services should have a contingency plan.Nowadays the phones are cut off along with the electricity supplies as it was in my case.”
by Fox lover, Cheltenham
Friday, January 02 2009, 1:09PM
“Ha Ha Barbara!
I hear the foxes were quite pleased that the hunt was called off. Yippee!!”
by Barbara, Plettenberg Bay
Friday, January 02 2009, 10:56AM
“It's not just Cheltenham suffering from the weather. Here in Plettenberg Bay the temperature is sitting above 90F for the fourth day in succession and we have had ten days of unbroken sunshine which has baked everything dry. the gardens are thirsty and the ground is rock hard too, from not enough water. Because of the heat we cannot sit on the beach later than 11.00 in the morning and then we have to go and socialize indoors. If we are lucky we can get back to the each at 7.00 in the evening as the sun goes down. Fortunately all is not gloom and doom. Thus, we have not had power cuts so the beer is ice cold but it has gone up to 50 pence per pint equivalent, which is horrificly expensive but I suppose we get used to it. Another cheerful thought is that a cold front is forecast with temperatures falling to the lower 80s by tomorrow night. So, its not just the people in Cheltenham who are suffering.”