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Boxing Day Hunt pulls in crowds
Middleton Hunt (East) Traditonal Boxing Day Hunt Meet 2011 at the Driffield Showground.
A HUNTSMAN’S horn could be heard blasting out in Driffield on Boxing Day as hundreds of people gathered to uphold a long-standing tradition.
Crowds made the most of the unseasonably mild weather on Monday to gather at Driffield Showground, Kelleythorpe for the Middleton Hunt (East) annual Boxing Day meet.
The spectacle was witnessed by people of all ages, some of whom got the chance to pet the hounds as they made a tour of the main arena led by the masters of the hunt.
Boxing Day is traditionally regarded as the biggest date in the hunting calendar.
And Driffield’s event appeared to re-affirm the Countryside Alliance’s belief that support for hunting is as popular as ever seven years on from the introduction of the ban.
Agriculture Minister Jim Paice MP has said that the controversial legislation “simply doesn’t work.”
The minister, who has overall responsibility for hunting, said: “I personally am in favour of hunting with dogs – and the Coalition Agreement clearly states that we will have a free vote on whether to repeal the Act when there is time in the Parliamentary calendar to do so.”
This year the huntsmen and women in Driffield were once again able to enjoy the event on horseback, in contrast to last year’s meet when heavy snow meant that the horses were unable to participate.
After circulating the main arena the crowds were thanked for their support before the horn was blown as the hunt left the showground to follow trails, used to simulate the scent of a fox, that had been laid earlier that morning.
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Weather for Driffield
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: East
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