HIT REPORT : BSV
MEET : Stock Gaylard Park
Tuesday 12th Feb 2019
It would be nice to say we were surprised to see the BSV hunt out today with Mark Doggrell at the helm following his criminal behaviour on Saturday but we weren’t !! Killing a fox and then brawling in the street in Yeovil in the early hours with his two sons wasn’t enough to make him hang his head in shame …. nor deter the field of around 40 riders which was half of the turn out for last year ! We did have the pleasure of working with monitors today including Wildlife Witness and a big shout out to them !
Leaving the meet just after 11.30am the hunt headed West towards Bishops Caundle. A foot team went in at Rowden Mill Farm and heading south managing to keep ears or eyes on the hounds whilst they searched the area. Mark Doggrell was really urging the hounds on and they went into cry in Northfields Withy Bed. Heading north east to Middle Plantation this fox was lost and the huntsman carried on up to Ricketts Wood and cast the hounds through this area. Not finding their miraculous trail in here they continued north east to Warr Bridge.
Exiting onto the A357 at 12.15 which was, as usual rather busy didn’t make any difference to the huntsman as he turned left and cast the hounds through the thicket beside the road leading to the T junction with the A3030. Eventually he gathered the hounds and took them left down the A3030 where he repeatedly searched the areas beside the A3030 and the A352
( see photo ) causing traffic to build up in both directions. Last year at this meet there was absolute bedlam on the road, this year it was far worse ! Dorset police have allowed the hunt to go unchecked so if you were caught up in that today trying to go about your daily business please let Dorset Police know your thoughts ! Two foxes were observed in this area fleeing for their lives and the Landy patrolled the road spraying each side of the road whilst a foot Sab also sprayed either side of the road. Hounds spilled onto the road several times as the huntsman crossed over between Lydlinch Common and Brickles Wood trying to get the hounds on the line. Eventually the hounds found the line of a fox the monitor saw 30 seconds prior and they were speaking as they came down beside the road and around brambles on the common side but a foot Sab was ever present using citronella to prevent the hounds picking up and a monitor was ensuring it was all on film. This ruthless, dangerous and ignorant game continued until gone 1pm and the hounds crossed a final time to the Brickles Wood side and went into cry travelling south through Brickles Wood. A foot team went in to see what was happening as the supporters gathered along Hyde’s Lane.
From here the hounds headed east over to New House Farm area and all the support began to gather along Holebrook Lane. The Landy dropped a foot team in at Holebrook Green Farm where the bearded psycho was sitting in his vehicle. Another fox was seen away to safety here as it fled away from the hunts direction, we believe this to be the fox they followed from Brickles Wood. The bearded psycho told us we weren’t on a footpath but we knew better and continued on, just a meter or so from his vehicle there was a footpath sign on the gate !
The hounds were then heard speaking in the northern part of Deadmoor common and foot sabs made good speed in this direction. Penfold, a regular terrier thug for the BSV, gave sabs some grief about not being on a footpath but with the hounds in cry and footpath flooded we had to get around !
A female, we assume a foot supporter was heard hollering from the Sedge Copse area so the foot team pressed on.
By now it was 3pm and they changed horses on Holebrook Lane which gave the Landy time to come round to collect the foot sabs who had by now made it to Smetherd Farm.
With their fresh horses the hunt headed east over to Blackrow Farm but the landy was there to see the hounds on a line heading from Chickmead towards the A3030 which was very busy now. Thankfully the whipper in done the right thing and the hounds were turned towards Brickles Wood leaving this fox to see another day.
Heading East back in towards the Higher Hydes area the hounds were speaking again and the landy and monitors headed down to Kings Stag to head them off. A foot team went in at the sewage works and as they made their way along the footpath the huntsman was calling up by Ridge Farm. By now there were only 9 riders left – we think they even got bored of hanging around busy junctions waiting for the hounds to find the miraculous trail. After a good search around Ridge Farm the huntsman gave up for the day and took the hounds back to Hydes Farm where they packed up just before 4.30pm.
Without a doubt between us at least 4 foxes were seen away to safety today and a huge thanks to the monitors we worked with today !