[News] The Southdown & Eridge Hunt's traditional boxing day meet has been stymied

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Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,106
Faversham
This is the issue. Let’s stick with it.

And this - Peers renowned in fox-hunting circles, stalling and filibustering out a Bill that would ban imports of trophy hunting into the UK - Anyone who thinks this isn’t the landed gentry of the UK protecting their private and commercial interests in hunting should think again:

“The core group of filibusters represent the UK hunting fraternity. Chief among them and the de facto leader of those opposed to the Bill is Lord Mancroft who resisted the fox hunting legislation a few years ago. While most are not trophy hunters themselves they do represent the overall industry. Also it is no secret there is a lot of funding from the hunting industry. The pro-hunting Peers have been actively lobbied especially from ‘scientists’ with known financial affiliations with the hunting industry.”

Many of these Peers in the HoL own vast Grouse-shooting estates shored up by millions of pounds from British taxpayers or private land upon which they make money from hunting. The majority of Peers traditionally vote against the abolition of hunting with dogs or the ban of trail hunting and carry out illegal hunting on privates estates where it is difficult to get access.

And no doubt with charity status for their enormous efforts towards 'conservation'.

(Would you like me to hand you your sportsman's gun, King Charles?)
 




schmunk

Why oh why oh why?
Jan 19, 2018
10,349
Mid mid mid Sussex
Maybe the Southdown and Eridge Hunt can have their little meet elsewhere this Boxing Day…..Southdowns in the middle of a field or even Eridge. :smile:

lkVhso.gif
 




keaton

Big heart, hot blood and balls. Big balls
Nov 18, 2004
9,972
it doesn't descend to this language. it's normal terms some use to express their view of Tories. they are the nasty party after all. nothing to do with this subject, or recent times as some try to excuse, its just standard langauge from some, and its accepted as such. it is pretty wierd as those that do would be appalled at automatic insults aimed at any other group.
I'd assume it's because the other groups probably aren't down to personal choice
 


Seagull58

In the Algarve
Jan 31, 2012
8,505
Vilamoura, Portugal
Latest goings on in the County Town.

For those interested, the latest news is that the annual Southdown and Eridge Hunt's Boxing day meet in the High Street has been stymied by a group called 'Action Against Fox Hunting' linked to the Hunt Saboteurs. It seems the S&EH were too late getting their application in for the road closure and have been beaten to it by said group who have blocked the high street off from 11-12 to have wheelbarrow racing in aid of local foodbanks. This is the same time that the hunt traditionally meets. Now personally, I don't support the Hunt or any cruelty to animals, but seeing as Hunting was banned way back in 2004, I don't have a problem with a bunch of toffs meeting outside the White Hart and then charging across the local fields following a scent. As long as they're not breaking the law, live and let live eh. It's a very popular event for local people who don't necessarily support the hunt but come with their children to view the spectacle. The latest is that in order to circumvent this, the hunt have applied to the council for the road closure between 10 and 10.30, hearing about this the 'Action Against Fox Hunting group' have requested a closure of the road extension from 9 to 11. Both updated requests are with the council to make a judgement on. So... we might end up with 3 hours of wheelbarrow racing in the high street on Boxing Day :D
If they don't chase and catch foxes anymore but simply follow a scent dragged along the ground why are the hunt saboteurs still bothering to disrupt? is it now a longstanding tradition that they are loathe to give up, much like foxhunting used to be?
It all seems a bit like the HACC arranging some proper nawty, tasty tear ups to keep the 80's tradition alive.
 




Seagull58

In the Algarve
Jan 31, 2012
8,505
Vilamoura, Portugal
That fox hunting ban almost 20 years ago really ruined the toffs fun didn't it! Now they have to follow a 'pre-laid scent trail'. Oh and sometimes a fox just happens to appear unexpectedly that the dogs chase after! What bad luck that they ended up in that spot.

No different to bull fighting in Spain or smashing the shit out of Dolphins elsewhere in the world.
Genuine question; do "engagements" with foxes actually occur and what happens if and when they do?
 




Creaky

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2013
3,862
Hookwood - Nr Horley
I do not disagree with your comments but as I said in an earlier post if you have ever seen rat hunting with dogs where rats are screaming in agony with broken backs after dogs have half killed them where do you draw the line? Foxes lovely and cuddly, rats vermin. Animal cruelty is is the same whatever the species. Yet my guess is not many would support being kind to rats.
Cruelty is the same whatever the species but that doesn't mean that pests, whether they be rats, foxes, mink etc. don't need to be controlled.

The use of animals for pleasure in a way that causes them distress is always wrong in my opinion. Fox hunting, rat hunting, shooting and horse and greyhound racing all come into this category.

As someone mentioned earlier it's not only the Fox that suffers in hunting but also the dogs and horses. It's not only one class that takes part in these "sports" - I'd guess that those supporting hunting are not the same people who goto greyhound racing.
 




Wardy's twin

Well-known member
Oct 21, 2014
8,867
Genuine question; do "engagements" with foxes actually occur and what happens if and when they do?
Foxes are actively hunted still by hounds and that is why people are still willing to go out thereto disrupt meetings and save foxes. Then there is the separate activity of cubbing which targets the cubs who have just left the mothers protection and are much more vulnerable as they are still learning. Cubs are much easier to kill or catch so they can be kept to be used as training material.
 


Wardy's twin

Well-known member
Oct 21, 2014
8,867
If they don't chase and catch foxes anymore but simply follow a scent dragged along the ground why are the hunt saboteurs still bothering to disrupt? is it now a longstanding tradition that they are loathe to give up, much like foxhunting used to be?
It all seems a bit like the HACC arranging some proper nawty, tasty tear ups to keep the 80's tradition alive.
your missing the point , saboteurs are out there because fox hunting with packs continues. There are lot's of things which are long standing tradition which are totally inappropriate today.
 






Wardy's twin

Well-known member
Oct 21, 2014
8,867
I know this thread is about the stopping boxing day meet but this is one part of a wider issue . Stag hunting with dogs continues in the west country where a stag is chased for hours until its totally exhausted and then is shot. That activity is designed to tease out the length of the chase at the cost of the animals distress.

Other activities are the continued killing of birds of prey because they pose a threat to pheasant and grouse shooting. Last year 5 eagles were released on the south coast as part of an attempt to reintroduce them , similar to what was done with red kite. Two were found dead, had been poisoned in wiltshire close to an area where game rearing was done. The local Tory MP , basically dismissed it and said police should not waste time to investigate.

Hare coursing also continues and the numbers are declining , funnily enough this is not supported by the 'landed hunting fraternity' and funnily enough some police forces actually investigate the crime.
 




Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,106
Faversham
The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable.

Incidentally, those in favour of 'tradition' presumably subscribe to the 'rule of thumb'. Whether their wives also subscribe is another matter.
 




Superphil

Dismember
Jul 7, 2003
25,679
In a pile of football shirts
If they don't chase and catch foxes anymore but simply follow a scent dragged along the ground
if only that was true. Sadly, for most hunts, the drag trail is but a ruse, pretty much all of them ‘accidentally’ hunt live prey. And you’ll hear them bragging about it, in ‘their’ local pubs, about ignoring the law, about not giving a damn about what most people think, about their recent ‘successes’, and if you dare question them, guess what, they’ll threaten you too.
 


shingle

Well-known member
Jan 18, 2004
3,223
Lewes
Update ... The council has now approved The Southdown and Eridge Hunts request for a road closure and the Hunt will now meet at the earlier time of 10-10.30 with the wheelbarrow racing due to commence at 11am. Looks like Lewes high street will be a bit lively on Boxing Day morning.

Edit... Citing health and safety issues (dog and horse faeces) the group behind the wheelbarrow racing have written an open letter to the hunt asking them to move their event to another part of town.
 


Wardy's twin

Well-known member
Oct 21, 2014
8,867
Update ... The council has now approved The Southdown and Eridge Hunts request for a road closure and the Hunt will now meet at the earlier time of 10-10.30 with the wheelbarrow racing due to commence at 11am. Looks like Lewes high street will be a bit lively on Boxing Day morning.

Edit... Citing health and safety issues (dog and horse faeces) the group behind the wheelbarrow racing have written an open letter to the hunt asking them to move their event to another part of town.
council have bottled it and in doing so set up the potential for a lot of trouble.....anyone living in Lewes should write to their local councillor.
 


CheeseRolls

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jan 27, 2009
6,230
Shoreham Beach
Slightly off topic (apologies). When I moved to Shoreham Beach in the early 90s Bonfire night was celebrated with a number of independent bonfires along the main stretch of beach. This was then corralled into one big bonfire by the church and now all we have left is a few fireworks for pet owners to complain about. It was a tradition it is no more and all that remains is hoards of kids trick or treating the week before, something which used to be frowned upon.

Anyway the hunt not being able to book their traditional Boxing Day slot, is a good opportunity to question, if such a tradition is still worth keeping and if it needs to change to better reflect the soceity we now live in.
 




Husty

Mooderator
Oct 18, 2008
11,998
Ooo bit of boxing day handbags on Lewes high street then? This'll be fun
 


Paulie Gualtieri

Bada Bing
NSC Patron
May 8, 2018
10,624
I provided a reasonable explanation, you provide this. Why can’t you provide a sensible response to my post? Do you have one?

PS when have I ever claimed to be an authority on wine? I have always said the opposite if anything.
PPS a leading authority on everything including alcohol to, er, more alcohol ……now that’s a very broad list isn’t it? :thumbsup:
Anyway, I don’t see how you can be considered an authority on the broadness of the alcohol consumption market based on your refusal to enter a Whetherspoons, a particularly subset that is often overlooked!

Out of interest when was your last “Turbo Shandy”?
 


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