Fernie Hunt’s Boxing Day meet in Great Bowden has been cancelled for the first time in living memory

The Fernie Hunt’s Boxing Day meet in Great Bowden has been cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic for the first time in living memory.

The nationally-renowned hunt, which is 150 years old, has been forced to call off their Boxing Day get-together as Harborough is still in the Government’s tough coronavirus Tier 3 zone.

Hundreds of local people, hunt enthusiasts and country sports followers traditionally flock to Great Bowden and the surrounding countryside from all over the East Midlands to attend the event every Boxing Day.

“It is the first time in many people’s memories that the traditional occasion has had to be cancelled," said the hunt.

“Even some harsh wintry weather in the 1980s and the Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001 failed to force a halt to the occasion.

“However, with a degree of inevitability in the current circumstances, the Fernie Hunt reached the straightforward decision to cancel.

“This is not least to ensure the wellbeing of the local community who are so supportive of the hunt and the occasion each and every year.

“With the hunt’s kennels having been in Great Bowden since the late 1920s, its connections with the community go back through many generations.

“The hunt is particularly grateful for the support which it has received in recent times from villagers.

“Not least during the two periods of lockdown in 2020 whilst it has been exercising the hounds and horses on farmland and roads in the locality to ensure their wellbeing.”

The hunt, which can trace its Victorian roots all the way back to about 1870, said it’s been able to carry on trail hunting this year after foxhunting was banned in 2004.

Chris Parker, a Joint Master of the Fernie Hunt, said: “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.”

He added: “And as we won’t 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 Tier 3 legislation does permit trail hunting activities to continue in the area, as an organised outdoor activity under the auspices of a national Governing Body.

Therefore the Fernie have been able to continue their activities in recent weeks in accordance with the legislation and guidelines on a “behind closed doors” basis.

On each such occasion specific protocols and requirements are put in place to ensure that the day is being undertaken safely and securely, and strictly in accordance with the Government’s Covid-19 requirements for the area.

Foxhunting was banned in 2004 and replaced by trail hunting with enthusiasts following a pre-laid scent with hounds or beagles.