Claire Wright © Alastair Wharton
Claire Wright is a 26 year old trainee land agent who lives, works and hunts in Cambridgeshire. She whips-in to the Eastern Counties Minkhounds, and also hunts with the Fitzwilliam (Milton) on a bike, or goes beagling with the Trinity Foot & South Herts. Claire is Cambridgeshire County Chairman for the Countryside Alliance
As with all British minkhounds, the Eastern Counties continue to practice with artificial lines along the river banks in the anticipation that the Hunting Act 04 will be repealed in due course.
On the Riverbank | December 2009
I’m not sure why this has been titled ‘On The River Bank’ as only a mad man would consider taking hounds near a river in weather like this!
Even though we haven’t been able to go hunting (our season finished back in September) that hasn’t stopped us getting on with another important aspect of the hunt – raising funds and socialising. After all just because the hunting season has stopped, the hounds still need to eat and be cared for.
One of the highlights of the winter is the end of season meal. In recent years this has been a pub supper held at a local public house on a Friday evening in November. Not always the ideal timing for those travelling distances or who have commitments to fox hound or beagle packs during the winter. This year we altered it to a Sunday luncheon at a new venue.
It was rather odd to see everyone wearing their best clothes for a change, and there were many comments from the terrier men, along the lines of ‘Oh my God she’s actually got legs’ as I arrived in my skirt and heels trying not to stamp on anyone’s foot or fall flat on my face before I reached the safety of the bar.
In the end we filled the function room, squeezing everyone in, all 50 of us for a wonderful meal which gave numerous choices. There were regular followers, occasional followers, land owners, hosts, hunt staff and supporters, which contributed to a wonderful atmosphere. The youngest was still a babe in arms, the eldest, well let’s just say I’m not getting into that one!
To raise additional funds we held a raffle, by sending round two young followers in skirts we were able to mug, or should that be charm pretty much everyone into coughing up a fiver or more in some cases to the funds. Next time Steve, one of our terriermen will have to believe me when I tell him I’ve flogged him the winning ticket!
Before the afternoon drew to a close we turned our minds to more serious matters. The masters stood to address the followers, thanks for the season were vocalised and then we were reminded that there was a long struggle ahead of us if we were to protect the activity and the hounds that we hold so dear.
Thoughts are already turning to a new season on the riverbank in 2010 but before then we have an election to fight and I hope that everyone whether they hunt with stag hounds, fox hounds, harriers, beagles or mink hounds will play their part.Claire Wright