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Wansford: 1,000 join New Year's Day hunt
AROUND a thousand people braved a chilly winter morning to watch the start of the traditional New Year's Day hunt.
AROUND a thousand people braved a chilly winter morning to watch the start of the traditional New Year's Day hunt.Despite a thick frost and even some patches of ice, people of all ages from children to pensioners gathered outside the Haycock Hotel, in Wansford, for the start of the annual Fitzwilliam Hunt.
They were met by dozens of eager hounds as they rushed out of the hotel's grounds at midday. Half an hour later, the hunt began, with horse riders and dogs heading towards Elton and the Cambridgeshire countryside.
Organisers said it was one of the biggest turnouts they have ever had, proving the popularity of hunting in the UK is still strong, despite the 2004 Hunting Act, which made hunting with dogs illegal.
In fact, hunt master George Bowyer used his pre-hunt speech as a political platform ahead of next year's general election.
It has been rumoured that, should the Conservatives win the election, the Act will be lifted to allow hunting with dogs to be legalised once again.
Mr Bowyer said: "Hopefully, this time next year we will be hunting as we should be hunting, with a new government and with a repeal of the Hunting Act.
"We look forward to seeing more people watch the hunts going off to do what they should be doing in the countryside."
He said this year's event was a success. "It's an extraordinary turnout and one of the best we have had, there must have been 1,000 people.
"The weather was questionable in the morning because it was frozen and icy."
Mark Ringham (44), from Glinton, attended the hunt with his wife Jane (44) and their 14-year-old son Scott.
He said: "We are here to support the hunt because it's a British tradition. It's what many people have grown up with."
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
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