HUNT SABOTEURS CLAIM VICTORY OVER HARE HUNT

Huntsman's highlight of the year foiled: "A great day for us and a great day for hares"

23 October 2000

Hunt saboteurs from Southampton are claiming victory following their attendance at a hare hunt this Saturday.  Members of the group attended the Opening Meet of the Sandhurst & Aldershot Beagles at Preston Candover, near Alresford (below).

A spokesman for the Southern Anti Bloodsports Society (SABS), known only as Nat, said "Following the recent dumping of a dead deer outside the home of an anti-hunt activist I do not want to reveal my full name."  

He went on to describe events on Saturday: "We had spent a successful  morning with the Hampshire Hunt, a foxhunt who were hunting cubs, when we were informed that a hare hunt would be meeting nearby."  

Along with activists from London, Reading and Dorset, the Southampton group attended the farm yard where the Sandhurst & Aldershot Beagles were holding their Opening Meet.  Nat continued: 

"This is the biggest day of the year for them, but because we were present they did not even leave the farm yard.  They have moved the meet following the last 2 years when we have successfully stopped them killing, but for them to not even attempt to hunt shows how effective our tactics are.  This was a great day for us and a great day for hares.  People tend to think that hunting is all about foxes, but hunt saboteurs are out in the countryside protecting hares, deer, mink and birds as well".

*The huntsman for the Beagle pack, Bryan Robinson, was recently the focus of media attention when he ran as the quarry for a Drag hunt trial in the New Forest.

*A League Against Cruel Sports activist recently had a dead deer dumped at his home near Southampton following a letter to a local paper.