Glamorgan Hunt 2008.

  Historical facts. 

1961 - 1962  Joint Master with Lady Boothby.
1962 - 1967  Joint Master with Mr John Cory.
1967 - 1980  Master.
1980 - 1991  Joint Master with Mrs Anthony Martyn joined in 1986 by Mr Huw Jones and Mr Michael Thomas.

Hunted hounds from 1961 - 1986.

Ant kept diaries of every day that he hunted hounds, with the scent conditions, numbers of people out, horses that he rode, details of hunts etc. When he took the Glamorgan in 1961 the kennels were moved from Penllyn to the present Kennels at Llandough. This extract is the first page of his Mastership of the Glamorgan, which gives an insight into summer work at the kennels.

1^st April 1961.  The work at the new kennels has at last speeded up and Mike Rowe (the kennel huntsman) will move into his cottage on Wednesday 5^th April. Hounds will be moved over from Penllyn before the end of the month. After going through the hounds yesterday and putting down some old hounds we have 41 couple and three litters of whelps amounting to 12 ½ couple to date.

1^st May.  Moving hounds today. Two loads in the old hound lorry lent to us by Jack Thomas and one in my trailer. Also three loads of equipment etc. Fortunately a fine day.

2^nd May.  Diplomat 6 yrs old grey gelding and Melody 7 yrs chestnut gelding arrived from Brian Thompson by train.  Took them to the kennels and turned them out in Evan Cadwgan’s field behind the kennels. Owing to the stormy weather they must be brought in at night.

10^th May.  Point-to-Point at Penllyn, the first race at 5.30. A beautiful evening with good racing and a good gate. Mike rode Diplomat and Jack Howlett Roulette.

11^th May.  Took out 5 of Guiltless’s puppies.

13^th May. Judged the Castleton Beagles puppy show. One outstanding bitch.

 24^th May.  Traveller an unentered doghound has Yellows. Took 4 of Winkle’s puppies out to   walk.

28^th May. Traveller died of Yellows.

5^th June.  Wormed all the hounds today with Coopers worm capsules – 4 each.

28^th June.  Hounds now looking considerably better – still on walking exercise. Beresfords keeping up a reasonable supply of flesh. Received  from Ivor Treharne Ltd 5 tons + ½  cwt of oats at 22/-.

1^st July. Machen Show. Won entered Doghounds with Barrister’ 60, unentered Doghounds with Sportsman, 3^rd with Spaniard. Entered 1^st Lovely, 2^nd Bertha, 3^rd Bella ‘59. Won the couples with Bertha and Bella, the terrier class with Mick and the Championship with Lovely ’58.

4^th July. Puppy Show at Fonmon Castle judged by Brian Bell who stayed with me and George Holder. A bright day but not too hot and hounds showed well for a strange place. 1^st Speaker walked by Mrs Dennis Edwards 1^st Bitches Spitfire walked by Mrs Haydn Edwards. Tea and drinks in the long drawing room.

5^th July. Started hound exercise with Roulette and Gwyn White’s pony. 7.30 start, back at 8.45, all went very well.

31^st July. Hound exercise at 7am to practice for Barry Show.

3^rd August. Hunt meeting at the Bear Cowbridge to discuss the organization of the country. Al went well except for an outburst from a senior member who seemed quite reasonable afterwards.

4^th August. Hunt Club ball at Ewenny Priory which was a great success.

9^th August.  Barry Show. Roulette went particularly well and was 2^nd in the Cob class though pulled in 1^st. Diplomat was 3^rd of four in the Hacks. Hounds were very well in the parade but Diplomat napped like mad making it quite difficult. Somehow we managed to get away with it – more or less! He was completely confused by the noise, people , jumps etc.

18^th August. Diplomat fell on the road – not his fault. We were trying to retrieve a pullet from Sportsman, Not too much damage done except to the pullet but he will not be fit to show at Cowbridge.

23^rd August. Cowbridge Show. A cool day with a few showers in the afternoon. Roulette went like a dream and won the cob class. Hounds paraded well – all keen and active, everyone including me was delighted.

26^th August. 6am Welsh St. Donats – cubhunting.