Christmas magic

Boxing Day may be hunting’s most visible day of the season, but there’s something magical about hunting on Christmas Eve – even if things don’t go to plan, says Frank Houghton Brown

- Catherine Austen

“CHRISTMAS EVE is invariably a good day to go hunting,” says Angus Mann, “and the Cattistock were having great sport. I had quite a few days there that season.”

Angus was master and huntsman of the Wilton in 1978 when his great mate Charles Stirling was hunting the Cattistock hounds. When he had time and enough horse power, he would pop down for a day.

The meet was at Holway Farm, home of Robert Atkinson, who is now chairman of the Cattistock.

“The sport lived up to expectation and we finished up in the dark at the kennels,” says Charles. “Angus wouldn’t stay and was short of diesel for his lorry, the Wilton hunt horsebox. I told him to take some from the kennel diesel tank.”

Angus backed up to the tank and took what he thought was just enough fuel for his journey home.

“I had only gone a couple of miles and I came to a grinding halt,” says Angus. “Someone came out to help and they had to drain the diesel tank. Eddie Chapman was the hunt terrierman at the time and I had filled up from his tank of renardine and diesel which he kept at the kennels. I had to return to the farm to fill up with diesel again. It was well into Christmas morning before I made it back home with the horsebox.”

Charles points out that whatever Eddie had put in his renardine mix must have been good stuff. It was not long before Angus’ engagement to Robert Atkinson’s sister Jane was announced. They have now been married for nearly 40 years.

NO PRESSURE

JAMIE CAMERON was master and huntsman of the Goathland “a long time ago” and is now a senior figure in the Zetland country.