Lurchers & Stamina lol....

[FUJI 17,327]

Having kept lurchers for 30 odd years and done a wee bit in that time you think you've seen or owned dogs with certain traits that decipher good from bad etc:..one being stamina/wind call it what you will? I was at a Game Fair yesterday in Coniston in the heart of the Lake District and bought a book about the local Foxhounds that worked the Lakeland Fells...the book is full of "extracts" from the local newspapers of the day...something that would NEVER be seen in this day and age! ...anyway if you could take the time to read this excerpt then you'll see that when it comes to stamina then a lurcher is far from being a gold medal winner in that department lol...here goes folks..enjoy it as it's a good wee story from back in 1860 ....The Coniston Subscription Hounds threw off on Home Fell,about two miles from Coniston.Only seventeen dogs were uncoupled,all however,of the right sort,and in condition to run for a mans life.They quickly hit on a drag,and "Reynard" no doubt hearing them stole away and so got it is conjectured three quarters of an hours start before they dragged upto his resting place.They then settled on the line of scent at a rattling pace around the Fell to the Yew trees and across the country to the Tarns,near Hawkshead.He had been going upwind for this three to four miles and turned back over High Cross past the Lake residence of Mr Marshall and onto Yewdale crag.The ascent is long,steep and one of the roughest amongst the northern fells,from the great quantity of loose stones on the sides of the hill.When out on top it is probable "Reynard" thought he would bid a final adieu to his pursuers.He proceeded right on and over a long tract of moor and hill to near Black Hall the highest house in Seathwaite.Here he made round and steered back to Tilberthwaite mines above Coniston,turned again and boldly ascended Tilberthwaite High Fell,which he crossed and over a long tract of country to Wrynose a steep mountain pass well known to tourists between Eskdale and Langdale.On Wrynose he laid down amongst some furze and a second glorious unkennel took place.The hunt had continued without a check for fully thirty miles over some of the roughest hilly country of the north and went on at great pace by Red Tarn to the foot of Bow Fell with one or two exceptions the highest mountain in England.All the hardy footmen of Coniston were "tailed off".Reynard fearlessly ascended the mighty hill and crossed some little distance from the summit,then by the Stake at the head of Langdale and into Borrowdale.A few sheperds from Langdale followed and were joined by some Borrowdale men.After a round the gallant fox took Butterlikeld High Fell and all were "tailed off" again.Then by Esk Hause over Scawfell upwards of 3000 feet above the sea to Wasdale Head.This Dale with Mosedale bottom is a flat of between four of five hundred acres surrounded on three sides by the highest hills Scawfell,Lingmell,Kirkfell and Great Gable.They made several rounds on the hill sides and three dogs got crag fast on Scawfell.The chase had lasted six hours and it was getting dark.Again the gallant fox faced the hills over Stye Head some twelve miles of fearful ground to go over.The chase was however not near over.Leaving Wasdale the hounds were heard through Copeland Forest,Gillerthwaite and to Ennerdale Lake.They ran clear round the Lake.It was night and the residents on it's Borders could not join but listened with pleasure and surprise to the cry of the dogs awakening the echoes of the hills.About nine o'clock the inhabitants of the secluded dale of Wasdale about retiring to rest were startled by the cry of the hounds coming back from Ennerdale.They could of course make nothing out by following them but judged by the still cheerful cry of the hounds that they went through the valley and headed away by the long mountainous pass of Stye Head for Borrowdale.On such a calm night the deep tone of the fox hound was heard amongst the hills at a great distance.The Ritsons and others listened delighted awhile,till their practiced ears were greeted three different times with the sharp savage bark of the dogs,a sure indication that they were viewing.There was no further sound heard.Perfect stillness reigned over hill and valley.Next day some of the dogs wandered into Wasdale,bit about the face and bloody showing that the death fight had taken place between them and the stoutest fox remembered in the north.A young man named Burns and the Ritsons the day following recovered the crag fast dogs by lowering the former down the rocks with ropes.None but those accustomed to rescue sheep would of attempted such a hazardous feat as to be swung down the rocks to a narrow ledge and from the dizzy height several hundred feet of clear space beneath.The huntsman arrived next day at Wasdale and all the dogs were got together except one.This worn out and nearly dead did not arrive at Coniston till the end of the week.This small pack,hardly ever over twenty has been long famed for speed,stoutness and acute nose.Twelve years ago they killed 28 foxes in twenty nine consecutive unkennels.We much doubt if any other pack in the kingdom has done the same and what other dogs could have run the chase we have attempted to describe-certainly not less than 100 miles-across a terrific country with only a single check in Wasdale for eight or ten minutes.....Ulverston Advertiser December 27th 1860

 

 

Descendants of the aforementioned dogs in the story? These are todays Coniston Foxhounds

 

 

 

That is one of hundreds of hunts that are in the book "The History of the Coniston Foxhounds 1825-1925" "In the Steps of Mighty Men"

 

If you can grab a copy!!

[chartpolski 23,985]

These are Coniston Hounds. Reckon they've got feet to match their stamina !!

 

 

 

Cheers.

[ferret features 289]

the fox must have some stamina too.

[FUJI 17,327]

Brilliant those Cp..i think you bought them the day i met you down there a couple of years ago? There was a tent with hundreds of pics from the early 1900's of the foxhounds,i was taken aback with them and on seeing them i bought the book...over 100 miles over and around the highest peaks in the land,around lakes and over terrain like you've shown in those pics..now THAT is stamina is it not?...amazing dogs and MEN too...makes us guys look like a bunch of fanny's

[weasle 1,119]

Got up there just once,Fit as a flea i thought i was till i tried to keep up with tod hunter

The agility of the hounds and steadness to deer impresed me the most.

Chartposki great photos any one still selling them?

[chartpolski 23,985]

Brilliant those Cp..i think you bought them the day i met you down there a couple of years ago? There was a tent with hundreds of pics from the early 1900's of the foxhounds,i was taken aback with them and on seeing them i bought the book...over 100 miles over and around the highest peaks in the land,around lakes and over terrain like you've shown in those pics..now THAT is stamina is it not?...amazing dogs and MEN too...makes us guys look like a bunch of fanny's

 

You have me at a disadvantage !! LOL !! Yeah, I think it was about 4 or 5 years ago, I was there with ASD. I used to have a craic with an old guy in his 's who ran with that pack. He allways had an old hound at the shows with him. He told me how they used to bring their Lakies over here to put a bit of Beddy in them "to add fire" !!! A grand old chap, sadly passed away now, one of a dying breed of hound men !!

 

Cheers.

[FUJI 17,327]

Got up there just once,Fit as a flea i thought i was till i tried to keep up with tod hunter

The agility of the hounds and steadness to deer impresed me the most.

Chartposki great photos any one still selling them?

 

Thats exactly what i was saying about the pics from the early 1900's Weasle,these guys and dogs were out hunting on the fell tops in 100+ mph winds and snow upto the waist or on sheet ice atleast a thousand feet up...dedicated hunters for sure .

[KING PUCK 14]

some imagination in them days :D

[FUJI 17,327]

some imagination in them days :D

 

Have yourself a wee trek up Scawfell,Great Gable and a march over Stye Head mate let alone where else they got to ..you'd more than likely die

Edited July 23, 2012 by FUJI

[KING PUCK 14]

100 mile trek :whistling:

[FUJI 17,327]

100 mile trek :whistling:

 

Well Coniston to Ennerdale is just shy of 35 miles mate without going up and down mountains and around lakes,Ennerdale to Wasdale is about 10 miles where the hunt ended,take it from me there won't of been too many green flat fields it's been ran over..it was some run no matter what by both hounds and fox too wouldn't you say?

[KING PUCK 14]

why would a fox run that distance and not go to ground

[FUJI 17,327]

why would a fox run that distance and not go to ground

 

Not all do mate as you know..hunts like that would not be common but it shows what both hunted and hunter are capable of? Truly fantastic imo?...this is Sty Head where the hunt passed which runs for 12 miles..not easy on the feet ..

 

[KING PUCK 14]

why would a fox run that distance and not go to ground

 

Not all do mate as you know..hunts like that would not be common but it shows what both hunted and hunter are capable of? Truly fantastic imo?...this is Sty Head where the hunt passed which runs for 12 miles..not easy on the feet ..

 

dare say it would'nt mate

[chartpolski 23,985]

When I was hunting in Australia last year, the Master of the Barwon Hunt asked me if we hunted the same type of land. The land they hunt is like a prarie, stubble as far as the eye can see. I tried explaining about the foot packs of the fells, but you have to see it to believe how rugged them Cumberland fells are !!

 

Cheers.