We were never going to turn down a chance to give the notorious Hursley Hambledon Hunt a visit and today along with sabs from Bath, Southampton, Swindon, Brighton, South Coast, Croydon and North Downs (sorry if we forgot anyone!) we gave them their first bit of sab attention since the late 90s.
We arrived at the meet to find the hunt had already left so we split into two large groups of sabs and got to work in finding the hunt whilst our vehicles patrolled the roads keeping eyes out.
With not much to go on we kept looking and listening and soon got word off the other group of foot sabs that some riders had been spotted. We’re on! As we approached their location some of our sabs were stopped by the police who informed us the hunt were packing up (baring in mind this was about an hour into their day) and for us to go home. Yeah, right! We pushed on and soon came face-to-face with the hunt and stuck with them like glue.
We managed to keep with them for quite a distance until they decided to split into 3 groups to try and lose us. But in no time at all we got word from the other sabs that the hunt were back at the meet! As we approached the hunt and their supporters were getting feisty and the police were clearly siding with the hunt (this was evident throughout the day with one copper driving around in a hunt supporters vehicle covered in pro-hunt stickers!).
The hunt then tried leaving the meet but soon had close to 50 sabs in pursuit of them and left them with one option: turn around and head for home (whilst following a trail for the last part to no doubt please ourselves and the police who were watching).
After 3 hours, the scum were finished with very little hunting done and no kills known so we all headed off for cake and drinks.
Wiltshire Police showed us what their version of ‘impartial policing’ looks like again today. Officers lied to sabs, admitted they had little knowledge of hunting (but still insisted that the hunt had been hunting within the law all day) and followed sabs around as passengers in hunt supporters vehicles. Only a few weeks ago this same police force refused to act after sabs were assaulted and hounds were seen chasing a fox at another hunt. An officer then lashed out at a sab who made the mistake of holding up a video camera! Hunting ban? What hunting ban!