We split up to cover the North Cotswold Hunt in Stanton and the Ledbury Hunt in Castlemorton today at their cubhunting meets, teaming up with a rep from Outpaced and a hunt monitor down from Cheshire – pleasure to work with you!

Cubhunting is the part of the year when hunts and antis team up to make sure that hunt supporters are fit enough for the coming season… well, no, not officially, but the North Cotswold team kept Jamie and Tom busy for some time as they were tasked with following us for the day which included grabbing us by the wrist and dragging us off to where they thought the footpath was. Jamie kept saying something about rhubarb….repeatedly. They also ceremoniously called the police who….suprise, suprise. …had no interest whatsoever in their plight.

At least our Nige (Nigel Peel master/huntsman)was pleased to see us as were the hounds, but Libby seemed to want us to go play with the Heythrop instead which of course we will get around to very soon so they needn’t fret.

Over in Castlemorton the scent was bad due to the extremely wet conditions and the hunt picked up on very little scent. Terriermen were spotted out, but in normal vehicles, not in their official roles. We’ll be following up again on our ongoing communication with the Malvern Hills Conservators over the hunt having permission to use the hills for illegal hunting.

The North Cots had slightly more luck with scent, but our stalkers kept tiring of us and we had the opportunity to check a number of badger setts for signs of blocking by the hunt or landowners, illegal persecution and, of course, the cull taking place in the area. Tom seemed rather upset about the presence of an anti cull sticker someone had placed on a sign and spent some time picking at it in a determined way…

Back in the Gloucestershire zone soon, so we’ll see you in the fields!