By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 09:09, Tuesday, 27 December 2011

Boxing Day is the red-letter day of the hunting calendar, when supporters turn out in force all over the country.

Joint Master of the Hunt Tim Brockbank at The Snooty Fox

The ban on hunting with hounds, introduced in 2005, has done nothing to dim their enthusiasm.

These days the hounds follow a scent rather than chase a fox, so-called drag hunting. There were at least two dozen followers on horseback and 100 or so on foot when the Cumberland Foxhounds met at the Snooty Fox pub in Uldale.

Joint master John Brockbank said: “Boxing Day is very much a social occasion. There’s always a good crowd out.

“I’m 84 now and I’ve been hunting all my life. If anything it’s probably more popular now than it ever was.

“A lot of children like to ride and they bring their ponies along.

“Because of the ban, the hounds hunt a drag. The followers don’t know where the drag is so it’s good sport.”

Hunt supporters are increasingly confident that the ban on hunting with hounds will be lifted.

Mr Brockbank added: “We are determined that the ban will be repealed. It was a bad law to start with.”

The Coalition Government has promised a free Commons vote on repealing the Hunting Act.

That was underlined when Agriculture Minister Jim Paice visited the Fitzwilliam Hunt near Peterborough yesterday.

He said: “The current law simply doesn’t work. I am in favour of hunting with dogs – and the coalition agreement clearly states that we will have a free vote.”

First published at 08:05, Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk