Crowds turn out for Boxing Day hunt meets across Leicestershire
People from across the East Midlands enjoyed spending Boxing Day morning in the company of horses and hounds.
Boxing Day hunt meets took place in towns and villages across the country, including in Market Bosworth and Great Bowden in Leicestershire.
The Atherstone Hunt gathered in the town square in Market Bosworth before trotting off to the cheers of the large crowd.
One person at the meet said: “The hunt didn’t have as many hounds or horses as usual because they don’t do much any more but they did promise to be back again for a Boxing Day meet next year. They all gathered in the town square before trotting back to the old folks’ home down the road, as they usually do. Everyone stood on the side of the road and cheered them as they went by.”
The Atherstone Hunt decided in October to cease hunting activities for the 2019/20 season.
Ahead of the Boxing Day meet it confirmed that the group would be visiting old people's homes in Market Bosworth before parading the square, but would not be going trail hunting.
There was also a hunt meet at Great Bowden, near Market Harborough, where the Fernie Hunt gathered on the village green and mingled with local people and supporters from across the area.
The Countryside Alliance, which represents rural traditions, said that even after 14 years of the hunting ban, Boxing Day meets were as popular as ever.
The alliance’s head of hunting, Polly Portwin, said:
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