Black Combe Beagles
Stan Elwood
Happy little bunch of people that they are - there’s no doubting the key figure in the long-running story of the Black Combe Beagles is the mighty Stan Ellwood: Stan played a major part in founding the Black Combe, hunted them with distinction for many years, and has been a Black Combe master since day one.
We will be featuring a profile of Stan Ellwood in our TMV March Issue: those of you who know Stan will understand when I say…don’t miss it!
BLACK COMBE BEAGLES: the first 50 years...
The Black Combe Beagles this year celebrate their 50th year. To mark this milestone, the Black Combe are holding a dinner at the Bridge Inn, Santon Bridge, Holmrook, on Saturday 21st March.
The committee are trying to inform and invite as many officials, hunt staff, committee members and supporters from the past 50 years as possible. Tickets are limited and cost £20 each; the evening will feature a three course dinner, followed by singing, auction etc: a 50th anniversary badge has been issued, and all funds to go to the BCB.
Based in West Cumbria their hunting area roughly stretches from Cockermouth in the north, down to the South Lakes, westward to the coast, and to the east - inland to Keswick and Ambleside.
l to r Mark Wilkinson 14, and Ben Cloudsdale 15, both still at school and very good young whips.
The other is Michael Cummings BCB huntsman for 3 years, who is an electrical engineer at Sellafield in Cumbria
©Betty Fold Gallery
There is a history of hare hunting in West Cumbria dating back to 1837 when the Whitehaven Harriers commenced operations at the instigation of Mr Joseph Harris of Greysouthern. This was a mounted pack although many people attended on foot, hunting an area between Bridgefoot and Gosforth.
Various packs followed including the St Bees Beagles and others based at Moresby, Haile, Cockermouth, and Furness. In 1920, Mr Harry Boys founded the West Cumberland Beagles and extended the old St Bees country with the help of a ‘new-fangled motor van’ to Blencathra, Buttermere, Ennerdale and Eskdale from their kennels at Seascale.
Huntsman Michael Cummings leads the Black Combe hounds to draw
©Betty Fold Gallery
In 1959 Stan Ellwood, Bruce Porter and other keen local beaglers got together and formed the Black Combe Beagles. Mr T J Cowman of Eskdale was Master from the first season until 1971. Stan Ellwood was the first huntsman, previously being the huntsman of the West Cumberland. Stan Ellwood is currently the Senior Joint Master of the Black Combe Beagles; Stan Miles being the other Joint Master. Michael Cummings is in his third season as huntsman, following a fair spell as a whip.
In October the Black Combe were invited to take part in the Alston Festival on the opening day. We all had a great day out with Michael and his hounds making a good start at this fine annual event. We have recently made our annual visit to the Bradfield area near Sheffield by kind invitation of Mark Davies MFH.
We have three meets in the area mainly on grouse moors which are unfamiliar to our beagles but they put on a great show for a large number of followers. We had visitors from the Trinity Foot and South Herts, Ecclesfield, Colne Valley, and Holme Valley Beagles. Also from the Pennine, Coniston and Lunesdale Foxhounds. This is also a great social event with two evenings of singing etc.
Black Combe took champion stallion hound at Harrogate Show with Grafter: Picutued is David Hurley who walks the hound is a Telecoms Manager at Sellafield. David is a committee member and he and his partner Pam Hayton have walked hounds for a number of years. The boy is Ethan Clements aged 5.
So far this season, we have had some great days out despite the very wet early part and severe frosts over Christmas and NewYear. This year we have bred our first pups since the Hunting Act came into force and have found walkers for them all. We continue to get some good support but more followers would always be welcome to follow the Black Combe.
Our main fund raiser is our Country Fair held annually on August Bank Holiday Monday: in 2009 this will be Monday 31st at Millstones, Bootle, Cumbria. This usually includes foxhounds, beagles, terriers, lurchers, and gundog shows. Children’s pets and sports, terrier and lurcher racing, along with trade stands etc.
Despite being a small pack based in a largely foxhound area, the future of the Black Combe Beagles as we celebrate our 50th year looks bright. We have a keen young huntsman in Michael Cummings, supported by an experienced and well know master in Stan Ellwood. We also have a small but hard working committee under the leadership of chairman Graham Dicker.
If you would like more information regarding the Black Combe Beagles in general, the 50th dinner in March, badges or baseball caps etc. Please contact Stephen Lowthian, Secretary/Treasurer on 01946 841030 or email stephen.lowthian@sky.com
Stephen Lowthian