AROUND 400 people gathered to see off riders taking part in a traditional New Year’s hunt through the East Staffordshire countryside.
The Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt set off with 50 mounted huntsmen and women and their hounds from Uttoxeter’s Market Square, covering around 15 miles in two and a half hours before returning to the town.
The hunt, one of the best-attended of the season, followed on from the Boxing Day hunt at Blithfield Hall which attracted a record attendance of around 1,000 people and almost 80 riders.
Due to the ban on hunting with hounds, the dogs must follow a pre-laid scent line to replicate hunting foxes, but master of the hunt Richard Parrott said he was hopeful the legislation would soon be overturned.
He said: “We’ve had to adapt because of the ban but obviously we still believe hunting is the most efficient way of controlling the fox population and we would like to see it reintroduced.
“This is the second time we’ve been to Uttoxeter and it’s gone very well. We’ve had a very positive response from everyone and we’re lucky in that we’ve had a lovely, sunny day.”
