17th February 2001 - Boars Head, Hoghton
The Hunt met at the Boar's Head next to Hoghton Tower on OS Map 102 reference 612277. A smallish field of about 20 riders set off at midday along the road to Stanley Grange. They cut off at 610278 and came back toward the Boar's Head crossing the road at 612273.

They headed west and then north toward Samlesbury Bottoms picking up the scent and sight of at least one hare before cutting back toward Bolton Hall. They had to wait here for some time as they had lost a few of their hounds.

They then went down to the river and as far as we could see completely lost the rest of the pack as they ran around the heavily wooded area chasing anything that moved. A wounded deer passed within 10 feet of us being chased by two of the hounds, witnessed by a group of campers. We don't know if it was killed but we don't think so as the riders didn't look particularly smug as they passed us going back to the pub at about 1530hrs.

10th February 2001 - Holcombe Have Ball
The Hunt held their Valentine's Ball today so no hunting of the animal kind.

3rd February 2001 - Holcombe Hunt at Mullbery Tree, Wrightington
The Holcombe met at a pub/restaurant at map reference 535135 on OS 108. They had several little children amongst the riders to start with, although they soon got left behind. It was interesting that a local paper's photographer was there to take snaps and he refused to even listen to our side of the case. He was very friendly with the hunt and seemed to be acting as their in-house personal photographer. We will be taking this up.

The hunt moved off toward Eccleston and turned down a path at 532143. They cast around all the area west of this for about an hour. They then went up to the path at 521161 and through the farm yard at the end of this path.

In the mean time we had been stopped by a farmer who gave us their name and address as they wanted someone to complain about regarding the hunt's trespass on their land. They had frightened the horses and themself.

They ended up at 512171 at about 1415 before calling for home. We don't think they killed this week.

14th January 2001
This week a few of us went to the Lakes to film a hunt who had been reported as mistreating their dogs. We can't report more than this as it is an on going situation.

26th December 2000 - Boxing Day at Rivington Barn
The Boxing Day meet of the Holcombe Hunt at Rivington Barn OS Map 109 reference 638147 was greeted by a very large crowd of anti-hunt campaigners which rather took them by surprise. It was a colourful and noisy crowd complete with drummer, the Mayor of Chorley and a group carrying banners saying horse owners against hunting. Normally the hunters would be quite arrogant and confrontational in their approach to us but this time they stayed their distance recognizing that this time they had met their match.

The riders did their turn around the green by the Barn then headed out towards the Anglezarke Moors gaining entrance at 629161 which is their normal spot. They followed the track round to the West and toward the road toward Belmont which is a natural ampitheatre where they showboated around for a time before heading for home shortly before 1400hrs.

They didn't kill but that wasn't the purpose today. There were some reporters and photographers about and the reality of killing wouldn't have made good publicity.

16th December 2000 - Cavendish Pub at Brindle
The Holcombe met at the Cavendish pub at Brindle which is on OS Map 102 at 598243. They initially seemed put off by the wet conditions underfoot and told us that they were sending the hounds back and the field of around 30 were just going for a ride. However, we know that they don't always tell us the exact truth so we went to the hound van and sure enough a short time later they turned up.

They went from 591233 and immediately into the fields to the West of the lane. They chased a hare up to the lane and tried to follow it up the track at 592231. The Sabs did a great job in preventing this happening by turning the dogs away. We were able to assist and the pressure of numbers slowed the horses down enough for that hare to escape.

They went round the quarry and back down to their starting point then across the fields again to the West. Here they killed.

They went back up the track again but this time headed off in a North West direction zig-zagging their way back to their meet point at Brindle. They killed again during this time.

The sabs had managed to remove the body of the first hare killed and in a joint effort we showed the remains to the riders and followers in the pub car park. Strangely, many of them had complete denial that they were responsible for their actions. Even a Red Coat said "That wasn't me". They really need psychiatric help.

It must be stated that we had strong support from people in the village who came up to us and queried how this was allowed to happen in their area.

2nd December 2000
Due to commitments on other issues today has been the first day we've got together as a group to monitor the Holcombe Hunt. They met at 782302 on OS map 103 which is between Accrington and Burnley just off the M65. As far as we are aware this is a new venue. There was a large field for the Holcombe with about 30 riders and many were new faces to us. It is a possibility that it was a joint meet with another hunt.

They went South East along the base of the ridge and then North East down towards the Lane Ends Pub. From there they cut to and fro between the two woods at references 791302 and 801306 trying both areas. We don't know whether they killed but we think not. They finished off at around 14.30hrs after a chase up the moorland East of the second wood mentioned above.