Lancashire Hunts cover an area of North West England from north of Manchester to Lancaster and from the west coast to the Yorkshire borders. The Hunts are quite territorial and disputes have occured when it is perceived that one hunt has gone into another's territory. None of the hunts in Lancashire are highly regarded in hunting circles as they are all hare hunters which is looked down upon by fox hunters. Unlike hare hunting in Cheshire and Cumbria which takes place mainly on foot with beagles, Lancashire Hunts are mounted and use harrier packs. Bloodsports in Lancashire:

Holcombe Hunt [Full Details]
Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt [Full Details]
The Vale of Lune Harriers [Full Details]
Bleasdale Beagles [Hunt Details]
Hodder Valley Foxhounds [Details]
Waterloo Cup [Full Details]
Hoghton Tower Shoot [Full Details]
 

NEWS - 7.11.03: Shocked Dad's Hare Hunt Fury

A CONCERNED father of three has said his children were left terrified after witnessing a hunt which passed near their home unexpectedly. Peter Hughes said his three children had been upset by witnessing the Holcombe Hunt which passed through the village without warning. The Joint Master of the hunt has apologised to Mr Hughes and said the hunt had strayed from its route after hounds picked up the scent of a fox.

Mr Hughes said: "We are really angry about this. We went out to find out what was going on and ended up being followed by some of the hounds. Some of the hounds had lost their way and were trying to jump across the river. Some of them were hitting the banking and falling into the river which wasn't very nice to watch."

"Deer were also being chased because the hounds were out of control. My neighbour who has small children said he was fearful that they could have bitten the children." [Full Story]
 

A Isuzu 4x4, registration M6 CHL, driven by a Holcombe Hunt supporter tried to hit three hunt sabs standing by the roadside. The totally unprovoked incident occurred during a Holcombe Hunt meet at the Dresser Arms at Wheelton near Chorley. Having failed the first time and the vehicle returned a minute later and just missed the hunt sabs again, the driver then idiotically tried reversing into them. This seemed a totally needless incident and totally out of keeping with the relatively good relations between the hunt and the hunt sabs.
 

VALE of Lune Harriers huntsmaster Clive Richardson has broken his neck in a riding accident and will be immobilised for the next six months.

Mr Richardson, who looks after the hounds for the Harriers, was hunting near Kendal when his horse did a somersault as it jumped a fence. He was flung to the ground, breaking the top bone in his neck. Ten minutes later the North West Air Ambulance was launched and Clive believes the paramedics saved his life. Just over an hour after the accident happened he was receiving treatment in the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
 

After a hectic four months the 'Banner for a Ban' campaign finally came to an end. And no better place to finish than at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral at an 'Ecumenical Service for Animal Welfare' organised by The Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals.

The summer campaign was attended by MPs: David Borrow, Ivan Lewis, David Chaytor, David Crausby, Dr Brian Iddon and Peter Pike. Plus we received messages of support from several other MPs who couldn't attend due to prior arrangements. The most successful events were at Blackburn and Clitheroe where both sitting MPs, Jack Straw and Nigel Evans, are pro-hunt. At the last count over 10,000 petitions had been signed but more importantly we brought the campaign to a wide audiance.
 

5.1.01: Lancashire - I'll Shoot My Hounds

THE MASTER of an East Lancashire hunt today warned that its hounds will be shot if their blood sport is banned by MPs. Arnold Greenhalgh, head of the Holcombe Harriers, which hunts foxes and hares, spoke out just a day before Parliament is due to vote on the issue for the third and final time. His statement has been slammed by the RSPCA, which said it had called on hunts to reduce the numbers of hounds being bred ahead of tomorrow's crucial vote. And Dawn Preston, from the North West Hunt Saboteurs Association, said: "This is just another attempt by the hunting fraternity to divert the hunting debate from the real issue -- that of animal cruelty."

Full Story
 

18.11.00: Hunt Upsets Driver

THE Holcombe Hunt resounded to another horn at the weekend, one sounded by an irate car driver. The angry woman blasted her horn after her Range Rover was held up by the hunt at Harwood, Bolton, on Saturday. Police say the blasts resulted in two young riders having to swiftly dismount and calm their horses. "They were forced to do this as their horses had become disturbed by the noise," said a spokesman for Bury police. The unnamed woman was then involved in an angry verbal exchange with the master of the hunt.
 

26.12.99: Lancashire - Arnold Greenhalgh in V-sign Storm

THE huntsman who flicked the V-sign at anti-blood sport demonstrators has been attacked by members of his own hunt. Arnold Greenhalgh, Joint Master of Holcombe Harriers, was photographed on the front page of the Bolton Evening News giving a two-fingered salute to demonstrators at the annual Bank Holiday hunt at Rivington Barn last week.

Full Story
 

Pro-hunt activists attack MP's office
Hunt Monitoring Summary 1999
Pendle Forest and Craven Master Convicted 1997
Rossendale Drag Hunting 1996
Pennine Foxhounds Attack Sabs 1992

In Brief:

Village organised a petition to get rid of the Holcombe Harriers. (Rossendale Free Press, 15 Dec 1991)