04/10/2026
NEW SEASON, SAME OLD WHALLEY
With the cub hunting season now well underway we thought it was about time we paid Jacob Whalley and the Grove and Rufford Hunt a visit. As many of you are aware, the Grove and Rufford huntsman, Jacob, has been charged with interfering with a badger sett and is due to appear in court next month. Judging by yesterday's events, he has no plans to change his ways.
The hunt sett off from the meet at 3:30pm in a small field north of Copthorne Farm, Laxton. Jacob cast the hounds into several patches of scrubland and hunted watercourses in fields just south of Laxton. The hounds briefly began to speak on a few occasions but soon lost the scent with the unseasonally warm weather making difficult scenting conditions.
After a couple of hours Jacob took the hounds to hunt the large Egmanton Wood. Here, sabs heard the hounds in cry several times, with Jacob using his horn to hunt them on and the paying field riders stood surrounding the northern side of the wood and clapping their saddles to scare and prevent any fox cubs from leaving the wood. Once they became aware our cameras were filming the field riders sheepishly moved off as if nothing had happened.
After over an hour in Egmanton Wood and with daylight fading fast Jacob took the hounds back to the meet to pack up at 7pm. What yesterday has shown is that no matter what criminal charges are brought again the Grove and Rufford huntsman he will continue to hunt foxes regardless, and the paying field riders are completely complicit and actively involved in allowing this illegal activity to continue. Rest assured, the Grove can expect to see a lot more of us from now on, as long as they're still hunting, we'll still be sabbing.
