Battle of the sexes

It’s rare for members of the mounted field to ride up to the huntsman at the meet and enquire as to how many hounds are out, never mind establish whether their sport is to be provided by a bitch, dog or mixed pack. When Nigel Peel put it to his hunt committee that he wished to convert the North Cotswold hounds to an all-bitch pack a couple of months into his third season, several members pointed out that hounds had been showing fine sport and that it would be unwise to rock the boat. But they were somewhat taken aback when the MFH revealed that he had not hunted a doghound since the opening meet.

“The bitches ran up together better, the sport was of a high order”

Peel’s decision was influenced by a conversation with Captain Farquhar’s kennel huntsman, the late Brian Gupwell, who recalled wonderful spring hunting with the Beaufort bitches when out of their comfort zone in the wild hills above Bath. He was also motivated