Battle of the Hunt

One man was arrested after violence erupted when hunters clashed with hunt saboteurs in Rivington. Police arrested one man after a vehicle owned by a member of the hunt saboteurs was damaged.

Scuffles broke out as up to 50 protesters from the North West Hunt Saboteurs gathered at Rivington to protest at a meeting of the Yorkshire based group, Pennine Foxhounds, at Wilcox Farm.

Members of the hunt saboteurs group say they were jostled and kicked as they attempted to prevent the hunt from taking place. The vehicle was attacked, and reportedly had all its windows smashed, as the protesters were leaving the scene – under police escort. One man has been charged with criminal damage in connection with the incident.

Today Mark Greenwood, spokesman for the hunt saboteurs, bitterly condemned the violence. He said: “This sort of intimidation has been increasingly lately but it will not stop us from protesting about these hunts. We do not want confrontation with the people involved,” added Mr Greenwood. “Our aim is to protest in a peaceful manner – and we will use legal means to stop them.”

By John Horne, Bolton Evening News, 24th November 1992

Note: The Pennine Foxhounds have a reputation of being a potentially violent hunt.