‘This hunt lives on goodwill’
Dulverton Farmers, Five Cross Ways, Somerset
THE reporters’ curse befell yet again. This time: dense fog. A thick layer of moisture carpeted Exmoor and there wasn’t a wisp of a breeze to disperse the cloud hovering just above the field at Five Cross Ways near Dulverton.
As was the case elsewhere on Exmoor, the Dulverton Farmers’ meet was fairly protracted in the hope conditions would improve. It didn’t take long to appreciate this hunt is in tremendous fettle. The backdrop of relentless banter was a sure sign there was a strong relationship between foot followers and riders.
Port and whisky were in abundant supply. Hot pasties, cheese and ham sausage rolls as well as roast potatoes went a long way towards fending off the insidious damp. Only hunting folk can produce piping-hot food for more than 30 riders and a swarm of foot-followers in a field in the middle of nowhere. Hosts Steve Hyde and his partner Louise Barnett are to be congratulated.
