Blencathra Foxhounds, Cumbria - The John Peel Hunt

Blencathra News

Opening Meet October 2011

JULY 2012 Duck Race 2012 Click on picture for this years gallery RESULTS: 1st: 84 -- Andrew Teasdale 2nd: 242 -- Christine Ousby 3rd: 356 -- Chiggy 4th:474 -- Ada Mattinson 5th: 728 -- David Lopaz

JULY 2012 Festival of Hunting Show at Peterborough- July 18th Click here to see the gallery [courtesy of S Todhunter]


JUNE 2012 “Sadly these are the scenes at Threlkeld Cricket Club , following the torrential rain and storms during Friday - 22nd June.

We want to send our best wishes and support to the officials and everyone connected with the club , as they face some tough decisions in the coming days and weeks. On behalf of The Blencathra I confirm that we will remain available to assist and support the club in any way we can , as and when required. As you can imagine looking at these scenes of total devastation, the income into the club will be severly compromised for many months to come Michael Thompson


MARCH 2012 We were privileged to be invited across to Yorkshire for a couple of days Many thanks to Hugh Cholmley for hosting the days meets & Best wishes to Mike Tipping on his retirement [& for securing & organising the invite] To see the 2 galleries from Yorkshire: Click here & Click here

We were delighted to welcome Rory Stewart - MP for Penrith and The Borders - to our meet on Saturday. This was an enjoyable and informative visit for us all and it was great to get an update on the latest developments in Westminster. In the meantime , we thank Rory for his support and we look forward to the next occasion.

AWAY my LADS AWAY by Jill Mason The book is 336 pages in length and includes 250 photographs in black and white and colour. Besides the six Fell packs it includes the North Lonsdale plus beagles (past and present), harriers, otterhounds and staghounds. Price is £25 plus £5 P&P To Purchase:contact Jill on 01366 347928 or 07884411619 or email: masons@sandmere66.fsnet.co.uk or see Alan Graham Blencathra Treasurer at a fixture meet

AGM October 2011 A good turn out of folk who were delighted to welcome John Stevenson --Conservative Member of Parliament for Carlisle

JULY 2011 Click here for an article dated 1870 from a book entitled 'Saddle and Sirloin' It covers July clipping days, herdwicks, John Peel to the Blencathra hounds and Squire Crozier

JUNE 2011 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT The Officials and General Committee are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Myles Walker as Chairman of The Blencathra - with immediate effect. This appointment which was unanimously approved at our meeting last week, will of course need to be ratified at our AGM in October. Myles has been for many years both an enthusiastic and an extremely loyal supporter and I believe that he brings with him a blend of business experience combined with a real understanding of the Countryside and all its workings. We all wish Myles well in his new challenging role and I sincerely hope you will all feel able to provide support in your own ways as this new chapter unfolds. On a personal note I would like to thank Myles for responding to " the call" and I will relish working closely with him , to continue the process of promoting at all times the very best interests of the Blencathra. Michael Thompson *June 21st 2011* This great picture [taken by Fred Wilson] when Myles stood down as a Magistrate in protest of the "implementation of the Hunting Act"

MAY 2011 Saturday 21st May---'The'Wedding of the Year!! click on picture above for more pictures of the wedding day

The Wedding Reception at Lodore click on picture to see more pics at the reception

APRIL 2011 It was 'Ladies Day' on Grand National Day for a group of our 'Ladies' [click on photo for gallery--courtesy of K Nicholson]

Another interesting snippet from the Newspaper archives. The Blencathra hunt hound Ranger, which is being walked at Rosthwaite, Borrowdale during the summer, became crag fast about 100 feet up Gate Crag and was rescued by the Keswick mountain Rescue team using for the first time the Davey Automatic fire escape recently presented to them. George Fisher climbed down to the ledge, caught Ranger by offering a bone and then held the dog as they were lowered down the cliff on the fire escape. Ranger was found to be uninjured. 50 years ago section ---Cumberland and Westmorland Herald 24th August 2007. Ranger was born in 1955 and entered in 56 so 1957 would be the right year for him getting cragfast. He was walked by J Mattinson and they farmed at Longthwaite farm Borrowdale.

2010/11 season's meets

for the LATEST gallery click on the picture

[for ALL the meet galleries go to the

recent days out page]

Kennels Meet

Westhead

Watendlath

Littletown

(some pics courtesy of D Elliot)

Joint Meet

Mill Inn

An article from the

WEST CUMBERLAND TIMES - SATURDAY, NOV. 15, 1930

The Blencathra Hunt, which were staying with Mr. THOMPSON, West Head, cast off on Friday morning at Harrop Planting. A drag was

taken in the wood, and Melody put a fox off at Sweden Crag. It went out through the wire fence by the city Fell to Launchy Ghyll, turned in at Tottling Stone and under Bough Crag, went forward to Bull Crags, through the City Intacks, back into Harrop Planting, and here Melody was joined by five couples of hounds.
The fox took them through to Dob Ghyll, where it was viewed by Mrs. HURST and Miss. LANCASTER, who gave it a glad "tally ho." Away it went under Birk Crag, above West Head Farm, up the Rough Intack, out by Stone Man, through the Nab Crags, where he was halloed by some followers of the Ullswater Pack, who now joined in the hunt.
The fox turned in crossing the beck above the Stepping Stones, and by this time was feeling the effect of his long run as he turned in by Little Side Intack, under Bracken Horse, through the front of Helm Crag on to Raven Crag, where he was accounted for by the Blencathra and the Ullswater Foxhounds before a large number of followers.

Carrock - New Year's Day

Opening meet --Salutation Inn Oct

Dalmatian Club of Scotland Open Show.

[Oct 17th]

Charlie won best black dog

then best dog

and then best in show

Well Done Charlie ....[ & Diane too!]

October 9th

Today saw our first fixture of the season with a successful coffee morning at the Coledale Inn

DICK'S 90th BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON PARTY [Borrowdale Hotel 26th Sep]

Click here for gallery

D’ye ken Dick Peel
For Dick Peel’s 90th birthday 24 September 2010.

Jim Cox and Thomas Fell.
After John Woodcock Graves ‘D’ye ken John Peel’ (1832).

D’ye ken Dick Peel with his coat so gray?
D’ye ken Dick Peel at the break of the day?
D’ye ken Dick Peel when he’s far far away
With his cap and his draw in the morning?

‘Twas the smile on his face brought me from my bed,
And the cry of his hounds which he oft times fed,
For Peel’s view halloo would ‘waken the dead
Or a fox from his lair in the morning.

Yes, I ken Dick Peel and auld Music too,
And Tara and Solo and Melody as true.
From the drag to the chase, from the chase to the view,
From the view to the death in the morning.

‘Twas the smile on his face etc.

So here’s to Dick Peel with my heart and my soul,
Come fill, fill to him his ninetieth bowl;
We’ll follow Dick Peel thro’ fair and thro’ foul
While we’re wak’d by his phone calls in the morning.

‘Twas the smile on his face etc.

Yes, I ken Dick Peel with his waistcoat red.
Living life to the full. As he’s often said:
Our lives are but short; We’re a long time dead!
So we’ll all toast his birthday this morning.

‘Twas the smile on his face etc.

DICK'S 90TH BIRTHDAY MEET[Fri 24th Sept]

click here for the gallery

Hunt Staff Benefit Society Little Book of Hunting Songs and Christmas Carols

The Little Book of Hunting Songs and Christmas Carols has been produced to raise funds for the Hunt Staff Benefit Society.

Each song together with its music, is illustrated with a painting by a well-known Sporting Artist. We are extremely grateful to have been granted permission to use these images. It is also full of interesting information about the songs, which you may or may not have heard before.

The Foreword is by Johnny Scott, a countryman with a great depth of knowledge about our country traditions. It is a small hardback book with a loose leaf cover.

Click here to download the Order Form.

Page 20 shows a picture of the Blencathra [courtesy of ourselves] with the accompanying page on 'The Foot Packs of the Fells' and the Hunting Song --I'll Give you a toast lads to all the Fell Packs

A very well produced' Little Book' in aid of a good cause

March 13th

Today saw our last fixture of the season with a very successful coffee morning at the kennels

Many thanks to all our supporters and followers who have been extremely understanding through this long winter period which gave us first floods and then snow & ice -- conditions which we have not seen for many years.

We wish all our landowner and farmers better weather and success for the coming spring & lambing.

If you still need a chuckle--You'll have to visit the Masters Jokes page

Last Fixture -- Kennels Coffee Morning

For all picture galleries from the 09/10 season click here

For all picture galleries from the 08/09 season click here

For all picture galleries from the 07/08 season click here

For all picture galleries from the 06/07 season click here

The Future of Hunting is Repeal

Make sure you click here to sign up to support the repeal of the Hunting Act

To view previous news items---click on the relevant years or month(s):

News: Nov 2007 'The Masters Voice' - news & details of how to receive this free magazine

News: Aug 2007 Bassenthwaite Ospreys - the story of these fascinating birds nesting again in the Lake District

News: May 2007 'Order of the Boot' --article by Barry Todhunter published in Hunting magazine

News: Jan,Feb Mar and April 2007 Fixture amend, Request re Fox mask, Sunshine's pups, Catterick racecourse visit, Old hunt photos from Cumbria archives.

News: December 2006 06 AGM news, Dick Peel Hon Master

News: 5th Dec 2007 -- response from the Prime Minister's office concerning the petition "to repeal the Hunting Act 2004"to which there were 43,852 signatures.

To view the Government's response click here

A clear, concise and powerful argument for the repeal of the Hunting Act is detailed in the “Case for Repeal”, a new document by the Countryside Alliance setting out why the Act is flawed and why it believes repeal is inevitable. Download a copy of "Case for Repeal" here

Keeping in touch:

We are very grateful for all the good wishes and financial support that we have received so far. We hope that supporters will continue to keep in touch with us.If you wish to do so contact us.