Flying falcons at live quarry amongst the crags and tors of Dartmoor must be the purest form of venery practised anywhere, and Martin and Philippa Whitley are true masters of this art. Indeed, Martin Whitley serves as Master of the Dartmoor Falcons. This private pack dovetails neatly with his day job, performing stunning public displays with his Dartmoor Hawking roadshow.
When I joined the pack for its opening meet at Alex Warne’s historic moorland home, a stone’s throw from Postbridge, there was an ancient tang of excitement in the air. Although Warne hosts several meets of foxhounds here each season, this gathering felt quite different. The mounted field was drawn from Dartmoor’s hunting hardcore; those who hunt for their own pleasure, not to astonish others. Thoroughbreds were out in force, as Whitley only hunts his falcons from the back of retired racehorses. Indeed, he has become famous for rehoming thoroughbreds, including three ex-Godolphin horses, one of which won a Group Two race and was placed in a Group One.
“We love to show them off in public to prove how versatile they are in life after racing,” says Whitley. “Speed and temperament are crucial in a horse as falconry is fast. These thoroughbreds pick it up quickly.”
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av The Field.
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Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av The Field.
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Rory Stewart - The former Cabinet minister and hit podcast host talks to Alec Marsh about the parlous state of British politics, land management and his deep love of the countryside
The gently spoken 51-year-old former Conservative Cabinet minister is a countryman at heart. That's clear: he even changes into a tweed waistcoat for the interview, which takes place at his London home and begins with a question about his precise career status. Having resigned from the Commons and the Conservative Party in 2019, the former diplomat and soldier has reinvented himself, first with an unconventional but promising run as an independent for the London mayoralty (abandoned because of COVID19 in 2020) and then as a media figure, co-hosting one of the country's most popular podcasts, The Rest Is Politics, alongside Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spin doctor.
Fodder
Local fare with the feel-good factor.
Celebrating the game changers
Once served only in the traditional manner, the fruits of our forays now find their way into all manner of diverse and delicious dishes, say Neil and Serena Cross
The first civil engineer
John Smeaton left an indelible mark on the field of engineering and, three centuries after his birth, his legacy remains as strong as ever
School spirits
From grey ladies and ghostly gardeners to more malign entities, public schools are a rich repository of unnatural phenomena
'A long way from Piccadilly or Pall Mall'
Marking 150 years since the birth of Sir Winston Churchill, Dr Conor Farrington explores this eminent statesman’s often-overlooked 1907 tour of British East Africa: a journey rich with enchanting natural beauty and sporting adventure
Top of the pups
Canines in all their guises were celebrated at The Field Top Dog Awards lunch at Defender Burghley Horse Trials whether eager on the peg, patient at home or perpetually making mischief
Angling for success
It’s never too early to shape up for next season’s salmon and trout, and these top fishing schools are here to help
Talking scents
The canine nose is an astonishingly complex piece of biotechnology that man has harnessed for sustenance and sport for thousands of years
Wall-to-wall excitement
Criss-crossed by formidable drystone walls, the High Peak Harriers’ scenic country provides a day out with an exhilarating difference
