The Portman Hunt like to be out and about at Christmas time, first at Manston on Xmas eve and now secondly at The Blandford Crown Meadows on Boxing day...well The Blandford Buzz hopes that this time of "good will" in the perceptions and actions of this North Dorset branch of the Hunt extends to animal kind as well as humans...
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| Above & below - The first few Portman Hunt riders are the first to turn up to the Crown Meadows to show that despite the hunting ban they still firmly support the hunting tradition |
The Portman Hunt came to Blandford Crown Meadows today, to uphold their Boxing Day Hunt meet tradition. The first small group of hunt riders and their horses turned up at the Crown Meadows at round about 10.30 and they were joined by a small group of hunt supporters, including . Within the next quarter of an hour a lot more Portman Hunt riders on horseback also made their way to the Meadows and the crowds began to gather.
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| Above - 3 Hunt supporters smile for The Blandford Buzz |
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| Above & below - The Hunt Staff believe they're a cause worthy of making a donation to |
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| Above - The Hunt on horseback make their way to Blandford Crown Meadows |
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| Above - More riders approach the Crown Meadows |
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| Above - Hunt supporters and perhaps some interested bystanders gather at the Meadows
Within roughly three quarters of an hour from the advent of the first riders to turn up to the 2011 Boxing Day Hunt meet in Blandford the Crown Meadows was chock a block with Hunt supporters and interested onlookers, riders, their horses...and then the large pack of hounds made their entrance flanked by more hunt riders...though at one point a little earlier on a few of the hounds seemed to close to oncoming traffic for their own safety - the safety of the hounds themselves I mean (well the Hunt obviously think their hounds are invincible to road traffic)
Above - Hounds and a not headless rider
though judging by this video still
you could be forgiven for thinking so
With most of the the Hunt and the hound dogs in the Crown Meadows the Portman Hunt allowed the seemingly fascinated crowd to "mingle" round and about their pomp and tradition - allowing bystanders and pro Hunt sympathisers to take photographs and pose questions of interest to the Hunt.
Above & below - Hunt supporters or perhaps just interested onlookers
have a chat with a "red" rider
The Boxing day hunt meet rode on towards Bryanston to follow a "trail" - however not before the Hunt Master gave a pro hunting speech to the ( I must say to my bewilderment) supportive crowd, who at one point (much to my mortification) cheered and clapped the Hunt Master (though he did wish everyone a happy Christmas and a happy new year) who at
one point during his speech (in my opinion sadly) said that the fox hunting act (ban) was "unjust" however the Portman Hunt master told the crowd that the Hunt would stay within the law, presumably meaning that the Hunt would not be hunting and savaging live prey.
Upon exiting the Crown Meadows, one of the last Hunt riders in full gallop on his horse nearly collided with an oncoming car whose driver had to slam on the breaks in precision accident avoidance life saving time - when will the Hunt learn that they and their horses as well as the general public and drivers on the roads are not invulnerable to hazards posed by the ways of the Hunt ?
Disclaimer - The Blandford Buzz is of the opinion that the crowd bystanders in this above video caption aren't identifiable, however if you see your image in this said video and are not happy to be featured in it, please contact The Blandford Buzz
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