European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 21, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Fox Hunters set off through the Essex Countryside. Fox and hounds Hunting on traditional Grout Story and photos by i. King Cruces . Bureau for some of Hunting is the most quintessential of English pastimes. It May Well be the Only remaining reality of that mixture of fact and fantasy that comprised the Jolly old England of times gone by. Other see it As a cruel anachronism. They View Fox Hunting As a Bloodthirsty entertainment the unspeakable in full Pursuit of the unbeatable. Whatever the viewpoint the fact is that Fox Hunting is a highly skillful sport with a Noble tradition dating Back to Norman times and it is on the increase. More and More people Are taking it up and there Are More packs of foxhounds registered on the British Mainland this season 193 at last count than at any time since the turn of the Century. The increase has come about despite the fact that there Are 11 anti Field sport societies with a degree of popular support. Why Are so Many people Hunting and what is the attraction of the sport to find out i joined the Essex Hunt on a fair but quite frosty morning last week. The Hunt was set to begin at 11 . On an estate near the Cambridgeshire Essex Border and by 10 30 a farm Road near the starting Point was lined with Hunters their land rovers and trailers. The Huntsman Graham Sutton was one of the first there with the Hunt s 40 foxhounds. The hounds have been specially bred by the Hunt and their Studbook go Back for generations. After introductions were made i soon Learned that Hunting is not the exclusive pleasure of the Leisure class. There was a Butcher an undertaker a greengrocer a very Chic veiled lady who whispers had it works As an exotic dancer plus a Large number of Farmers. Hunting today continues to exist because of the Goodwill of Britain s Farmers Over whose land most of it takes place. A townsman might quite sincerely see the Fox As an innocent dumb creature but to England s Rural population it is a pest to a Farmer an undisguised vermin that kills his livestock. Some Hunts do things on a grand scale. England s traditional Shire country contains the smartest Hunts such As the Pytchley Cottesmore Quorn Crafton and Belvoir. The cotswolds contains some Chic packs notably the Beaufort with both Prince Charles and Princess Anne As subscribers. For the Scruff Ier packs subscriptions an annual fee paid to ride with the Hunt Start at around 100 pounds about $144 per rider and for the grandest go Well Over 1,000 pounds. With an annual subscription costing 315 pounds about $450 per rider the Essex is in the mainstream. In theory anyone who can ride competently can Hunt. In practice because the sport has become so popular there Are certain restrictions placed on entry to the better known Hunts. These take the form of limiting membership to the Hunt s own country or to the county of residence. It s obvious after watching a Hunt and listening to the riders talk nonchalantly about the unseating a that take place As they crash across country and the broken legs ribs and Collar Bones received in the process that unlike shooting and watching television Hunting requires courage. Some pre Hunt courage appeared to come from the flasks of whisky that were freely proffered prior to the 40 riders setting off up a Hillside for the Start about a half mile s warm up Gallop away. It would be difficult to find a More picturesque background for a Hunt Start than the one they set off from on that Day. The Hunters gathered on a greensward in front of a red Brick mansion. The estate is owned by the master of a neighbouring Hunt and with due neighbourliness his servants distributed the traditional pre Hunt Stirrup cup glasses of Sherry served on a Silver tray to those in the Saddle along with bite size sausages. The riders were not the colourful assemblage that i had always imagined they would be. Most of the riders wore Black outfits. Few red jackets the so called Hunting pinks were in evidence. Hunting Pink is reserved for those members who have been invited to Wear their Hunt Button. The Hunt Button cannot be bought. No amount of Money or currying favor will hasten its arrival. The invitation to Wear it comes quite out of the Blue in the mail Hunters Are served a Stirrup cup of Sherry. In the form of a letter from the master. It is recognition for contributing to the welfare of the Hunt and its Good name. Farmers do not Wear Pink. They traditionally Wear Black Coats. Ladies again by tradition do not Wear Hunting Pink. Shortly after 11, Graham Sutton the Huntsman moved off with hounds and the Field led by Hunt masters Chris Thorogood and mrs. Pat Harrington followed. Novices were at the Back where they would stay for this and several More meetings while they got to know the ropes so As not to make too much of a nuisance of lie selves. I took up the kind offer of Graham Purser who was sitting out the Hunt while his horse was on the mend to follow the Hunt in his station Wagon. Not following the Hunt on Hoof in t As Odd As it May seem and some Hunts have hundreds of people turning up to follow on foot or on wheel. Huntsman Sutton is a professional and he is assisted by his Whipper in who performs any Little Job that does not require his sole attention. They Are the Only paid members of the Hunt. The Huntsman is the Only person who actually Hunts the Fox everyone else is simply a Mobile Spectator. Even the Whipper in is not allowed to take the initiative in directing hounds but Only to turn them to the Huntsman at his Behest. The Huntsman leads the pack to a Covert one of the Small Woodlands that Dot the Countryside and were planted by Hunting people expressly As sanctuaries for the Fox to make the first draw. The hounds Don t pick up a scent and that scene is re enacted time and again. As the Hunt moves along another myth is quietly dispelled the one about Hunting being All go go go. The non Hunter holds a picture much like those on the place Mats we have All seen so often of Fox hounds and Hunt in hot Pursuit. In reality much of the time even on a Good Day when Pursuit is heavy is spent walking trotting or simply standing around the Covert waiting for hounds to  when they do explained my guide they Start speaking and by the tone of the Way they speak the Huntsman will know whether it is a Fox or a Deer. Following the Hunt was like trying to record a Distant and disorganized Battle. Groups of riders would come and go. From time to time we heard the holler of the Huntsman the deep throated voices of hounds and the Horn urging them on. During the 3vi hours i followed the pack i never did hear a tally to never did see a Fox although one was killed quite Early in the Hunt and never i did see horses and riders in full flight Over fences. The country the Essex Hunts starting in the South about 20 Miles North of London and running northwards for another 30 Miles or so to the Saffron 10 stripes Magazine november 21,1915