Sandy acts as super-sub

There's a last-minute change of huntsman for the Bedale opening meet, and hounds do their very best in less-than-ideal conditions

- By ANDREW SALLIS

TRAVELLING up to North Yorkshire for the Bedale opening meet was akin to crossing the Midwest. No cowboys or rodeo spotted, but I drove through the same rapidly changing weather – mild winds were followed by a hailstorm, crowned by a luminescent double rainbow, which seemed to land on the Gothic west front of Ripon Cathedral.

Sadly, this variance wasn't steadying the glass and unlikely to bode well for hounds.

Not that crazy weather fronts would dampen the mood in William and Anne White's kitchen at Manor Farm, North Cowton. Our hosts were generously plying allcomers with food and drink and the laughter could be heard across the farmyard.

“Oh, really, b****y good luck,” ribbed the poker-faced Guy Bostock, when I replied as to who was lending me horses for the day.

Pleased with my instant startled expression, he quickly offered reassurance.

Unfortunately Ross Crawford, their joint-master and huntsman since 2022, was indisposed due a sudden family emergency. His absence was felt keenly by everyone. Ross is undeniably popular.

“He's just what this hunt needed: a reboot,” said Paul Hodgson hunt chairman, “and he's doing a fantastic job on and off the hunting field.”

On a morning's notice, Sandy Wilson, their new kennel-huntsman, was to carry the horn. Helpers, including Henry Tweddle, the 16-year-old amateur whipper-in, were drafted into kennels for the morning so that Sandy could be given a lightning quad bike tour of the cleared country.