A Family Sport…

Rossendale has been declared one of the best areas in the North West for drag hunting. Paul Fletcher, Master of the North West Drag Hounds, claims that because of the large amount of wide open spaces and farmland in the area, Rossendale is perfect for the sport.

Drag hunting follows the traditions of fox hunting, but instead the hounds follow the trail of a man-made scent and are rewarded at the end of the day with meat and biscuits instead of the customary “kill.” Mr Fletcher said: “The hounds follow a scent made of aniseed and animal urine painted onto the hooves of a horse which sets off along the route about 15 minutes before the hounds and the main field of horses.

“Because the hounds then pick up the scent laid in a relatively straight line around the countryside, and do not go back on themselves as if they are in pursuit of a fox or hare, it means that we can cover up to 20 miles on a days hunting.” The rolling Rossendale countryside provides the ideal ground and so the sight of a group of smartly turned out horses, led out by the red-jacketed master and his hounds, is becoming more familiar in the area.

Animal rights protestors do not seem to have an argument against drag hunting and have not followed the pack to Rossendale. Mr Fletcher said, “We meet on Sundays when the hunting of live quarry does not take place and drag hunting does not pose any danger to wildlife of livestock at all. If we do damage any fences or farmland, we make sure it is repaired straight away.”

After hunting across Owd Bets last season, the master is hoping to put on more days in the area in the near future. He said, “We see our sport as a family sport and want to make it available to as many people as possible and we cover areas from Merseyside, through Manchester and Lancashire all the way to Yorkshire. Anyone from the age of six to sixty can enjoy a healthy day out with us.”

By Amanda Killelea, Rossendale Express, 17.4.96