Boxing Day Hunt Meet In Great Bowden Cancelled

The Fernie Hunt’s Boxing Day meet in Great Bowden will not take place this year.

Organisers say they had no option but to cancel the traditional event, because of the on-going Tier 3 restrictions, not least to ensure the well-being of the local community.

It’s the first time in recent memory the meet has had to be called off – even some harsh wintry weather in the 1980’s, and the Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001, failed to force a halt to the occasion.

Chris Parker, a Joint Master of the Fernie Hunt commented that “The Fernie are inevitably both disappointed and immensely sorry that their Boxing Day meet is not able go ahead this year, but we look forward to welcoming large numbers of supporters back again for the traditional occasion in 12 months’ time.

“And as we wont have the opportunity to do so this year, we would like to pass on our very best wishes for a Happy Christmas and much-improved New year to the many people who might otherwise have joined us in Great Bowden on Boxing Day.”

The hunt, whose kennels are in Great Bowden, is also thanking villagers for the support it has received in recent times, particularly during the two periods of lockdown this year, whilst it has been exercising the hounds and horses on farmland and roads in the locality to ensure their well-being.

The Boxing Day meet of the Hunt last year. Pic: Andy Carpenter