Anti-hunt campaigners target meets
ANTI-hunt campaigners are appealing for evidence of illegal hunting in East Yorkshire over the festive season.
Observers from the League Against Cruel Sports will be monitoring the Holderness and Middleton hunts at their showcase Boxing Day meets.
Thousands of festive revellers will turn out to join in the popular countryside spectaculars on Beverley Westwood and at Driffield Showground on Friday.
Hunts will also demonstrate it is business as usual for them – despite the controversial ban on fox hunting imposed in February 2005.
Farmer Chris Richardson, joint master of the 250-year-old Holderness Hunt, said support for hunting with hounds was probably greater now than before the ban.
He said: "Although hunting with hounds or dogs was banned, the Holderness Hunt is operating within the law so our supporters can still enjoy the pastime.
"It is important people realise registered hunts, like the Holderness, are not operating illegally if they are seen in the East Yorkshire countryside."
The league, however, has warned it will be closely watching hunts up and down the country over Christmas with its team of professional and volunteer observers.
Barry Hugill, of the league, said a recent Mori poll showed 75 per cent of people believed the historic ban was right.
"We have no problem with hunts that act within the law, but we will have monitors out watching for those who act illegally," he said.
Major Tim Easby, master of the Middleton Hunt, said everybody was welcome to join the thousands of supporters at Driffield Showground on Boxing Day.
"We are getting fantastic support since the ban – it just shows if you want to make something more popular, then ban it," he said.
Both hunts meet at 11am on Boxing Day.
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by karl, USA
Sunday, December 28 2008, 5:54PM
“Ernesto & Pete HULL
Typical leftist bullchit. I left the UK because of guys like you, and having spent over 35 years living in Hull, born and bred there, and now living in the US for over 10 years, I now see that the UK will always be a place for apathy and whiners like yourselves.
So pleased to be away from guys like you 2. And just for the record, I do not hunt!
Oh and just for Ernesto, I gravitated to this country because after owning my own business in Hull for 15 years prior to leaving, and getting the shaft by the government for doing so, in exorbitant taxes,I can honestly say that the US is one of the few places left in the World where you can still have the standard of living that ones hard work deserves.
But then you probably haven't been outside the city boundaries, so you wouldn't have a clue!
The bear hunting analogy is funny though!
I thank you both for reinforcing my decision to leave, every now and again I get a little homesick, but I spend an hour or two reading some of the guff guys like you post and I know I was right.”
by Pete, Hull
Friday, December 26 2008, 11:46PM
“Bob Carter, Hull - I have never shown sympath for the fox hunters. I'm sure there are many reasons for why people go fox hunting or any other form of hunting for that matter but unlike what seems like the majority I don't just think it's done for blood lust.”
by Bob Carter, Hull
Friday, December 26 2008, 11:01PM
“Karen - The goal of fox-hunting is simple - to catch a fox and kill it. This is not the goal of angling or horse riding. I think that they should ban all activities were the sole aim is to kill a living thing for pleasure - including pheasant shooting. Pete - You say that you have "no sympathy for an animal that kills in a frenzy for no other reason than the fun of it. " So why have sympathy with the fox-hunters?”
by Jackie, Hull
Friday, December 26 2008, 11:00PM
“Watching, they already have chav hunts. The police do it quite often with specially trained dogs.”
by Bob Carter, Hull
Friday, December 26 2008, 10:50PM
“Oscar Wilde's description of a hunt - "The unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible"”
by julie, Beverley
Friday, December 26 2008, 9:13PM
“Why not hunt the people. With dogs. These people are obviously mentally ill. How is tearing an animal apart with a pack of dogs humane. Not only this but sending dogs down holes to get the fox out is shocking.
Ban the hunt full stop.
Julie”
by Watching, Nr Hull
Friday, December 26 2008, 8:37PM
“Lets forget foxes. Why not have a chav hunt. I'm sure that a few can be rounded up and let loose on the day for a good hunt.”
by john, anlaby
Friday, December 26 2008, 1:02PM
“to the people with comments from the usa if you are i dont agree with fox hunting but what i have just see on the tv it seems some people prefer to go on shooting sprees and mudering people in the states how many times do we here about that sort of thing over there we in hull have nothing to be ashamed of on that score you might be glad to come back one day if you dont ge t shot”
by Pete, HULL
Friday, December 26 2008, 12:20PM
“There are 2 petes on hear. I am HULL not Hull. aS FOR ex hull usa, you must be pulling our plonkers.
You live in the StATES, AND THEY CAN NOT UNDERSTAND OUT VOTE ON HUNTING
WAS THE DISCUSSION TAKING PLACE AS YOU WENT BEAR HUNTING OR JUST OUT SHOOTING FOR THE DAY.”
by Tom Hawksworth, Spain.
Friday, December 26 2008, 11:45AM
“This is not about cruelty to animals. I have spoken to manu of the anti hunt fraternity. They speak as much about the type of people who hunt as they do the hunt.
I was of the opinion after a while that it was as much about having a go at what they see as the upper class and the scenario of the hunt was incidental.
Those I spoke to could be all classed as generally anti establishment. In fact anti anything that they could jump on the bandwagon and support.”