Atherstone Hunt

The Atherstone Hunt is a United Kingdom foxhound pack,[1] with hunting country of around 400 square miles (1,000 km2) within Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.[1][2][3]

History

The Atherstone was established in 1815 in Witherley, and known as the Atherstone hounds.[1] Between 1930 and 1950 the hunt was divided into North and South countries, but these were then reunited.[1][4]

Although "hunting wild mammals with a dog" was made unlawful in England and Wales by the Hunting Act 2004, which came into effect in 2005,[5] a number of exemptions stated in Schedule 1 of the 2004 Act permit some previously unusual forms of hunting wild mammals with dogs to continue, such as "hunting... for the purpose of enabling a bird of prey to hunt the wild mammal".[6] The Atherstone seeks to hunt within the law, and is a trail hunting pack.

However, the police are currently investigating the Atherstone Hunt following video evidence of hounds chasing and killing a fox near Grendon, Warwickshire on 14th November 2015, which was taken by local animal rights activists West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs. Atherstone Hunt states it had been ‘hunting within the law’ when the injured fox came across their path and the hounds 'instinctively' chased down the prey and killed it. The video footage shows the dogs chase a fox across a field. As the hounds tear into the fox with their teeth, a member of the hunt reaches down and pulls the lifeless body of the animal from underneath the pack and slings it over the back of a colleague’s horse. http://metro.co.uk/2015/11/16/police-investigate-fox-hunt-regarding-the-killing-of-a-fox-by-pack-of-hounds-5506147/

On 28th November, hunt sabs were with the Atherstone Hunt at Sheepy Magna where they filmed the hunt draw and 'put' up a fox and huntsman puts the hounds on the fox's scent line. During the activity, the sabs claimed that hunt supporters assaulted sabs who were trying to help foxes get away safely from the hunts illegal activities.

It is important, and interesting, to note that as a result of the evidence submitted by hunt saboteurs, and a lengthy Police investigation, no charges were brought against The Atherstone Hunt, or any member of it regarding these allegations. It should be remembered that the 2004 Act recognises that Foxes may be killed in certain circumstances.

According to an Ipsos MORI poll, a majority of the British public are in favour of keeping a number of activities banned in The Hunting Act 2004 illegal: fox hunting (80%); deer hunting (86%); hare hunting and coursing (88%); dog fighting (98%); and badger baiting (95%).

Country

The hunt country lies within Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire,[1] with major centres including Atherstone, Nuneaton, Coventry and Rugby. It adjoins the country of the Quorn.

Point-to-point

The hunt hosts its annual point-to-point event at Clifton-upon-Dunsmore,[7][8] with proceeds going to local charities, such as the regional air ambulance.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Atherstone Hunt". Master of Foxhounds Association. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  2. ↑ "Hunting countries of UK and Ireland". BBC News. 1999-09-16.
  3. ↑ "About Us". Atherstone Hunt.
  4. ↑ "Written evidence: Atherstone Hunt". Burns Inquiry.
  5. ↑ Hunting Act 2004, text online at opsi.gov.uk
  6. ↑ Stephen Moss, The banned rode on: Eighteen months ago hunting was banned. Or was it? from The Guardian dated 7 November 2006, at guardian.co.uk, accessed 29 April 2013
  7. ↑ Taylor, Graham. "Atherstone 2009". Jumping 4 Fun.
  8. ↑ "Atherstone Point to Point". pointtopoint.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16.
  9. ↑ "Hunt supports air ambulance". Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance. 2009-07-01.
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