Threats and attacks are nothing new to hunt sabs and hunt monitors in Cheshire, here are a few recent incidents:

On Christmas Eve 2002, during a meet of the Cheshire Forest Hunt at Mouldsworth, two hunt monitors were threatened with violence by eight men at Manly Old Hall as they watched the hunt from a public footpath. The ringleader Anthony Kirkham, a huntsman with a conviction for violence on a young woman, threatened both monitors causing a police officer to intervene. As the monitors tried to get away they were followed by the mob, several were now wearing balaclava's. They starting assaulting the monitors and threatening to to turn over their car. The police helped the monitors back to the car and made a member of the Cheshire Forest Hunt move his car which he was using to block the monitors escape from the mob. The same mob had earlier theatened the hunt sabs and almost overturned their van. So much for the hunt having nothing to hide.

In January 2003, the Cheshire Foxhounds chased a fox into a badger sett, as they did not pull the hounds away we went to film them from the roadside. As soon as we started filming the huntsman Mather, pulled the hounds off to make a retreat. As he did he spoke to Watson Junior, who then disappeared for a short time re-appearing in disguise with a balaclava over his head, making a sudden dash for me. Just as he got within striking distance he realised my friend was videoing him, stopped and lashed out at her completely missing. He then realised I was photographing him, turned away and disappeared as quickly as he came. The whole thing was getting worse by the moment as more and more supporters started at us. Then the farmer who's land adjoins the land where the fox had gone to ground, and is none too keen on hunting, appeared in a rather timely intervention. The hunters decided at this point that things were not looking so good for them and departed with their tails between their legs.

In February 2003, hunt monitors had to call the police when supporters of the Cheshire Forest Hunt cornered the hunt sabs van down a lane and four hunt supporter, wearing balaclava masks, approached the van. Luckily the van got away but was chased by two vehicles, one of which was swerving all across the road and narrowly missed an oncoming car at a main junction. Both hunt supporters vehicles were stopped by the police who are investigating the incident. These four men couldn't threaten protestors without the express permission of the Cheshire Forest Hunt Master.