Thousands turn out to enjoy the tradition of Boxing Day meets

Hunt supporters turned out in their thousands to attend Boxing Day meets across the country earlier today, with huge crowds reported at meets from Cornwall and up in to Scotland.

The popularity of this annual spectacle, which is an opportunity for hunts to welcome people who might only see a hunt on this one occasion each year, shows no signs of waning, despite more than 14 years operating under the confines of the Hunting Act.

The Countryside Alliance's Head of Hunting, Polly Portwin commented: "Boxing Day meets offer hunts the perfect opportunity to showcase their legal hunting activities to the public and the media. Yet again hunts have been welcomed by vast numbers of supporters who have gathered in town squares, outside pubs and in fields surrounding stately homes, to welcome hounds on Boxing Day."

"This has been an incredibly wet season so preparations have been made more difficult than in recent years, however it is testament to the determination of hunts and the generosity of landowners that so many meets have gone ahead again today to ensure that the thousands of those who turned out to support were not disappointed," she continued.

As in previous years, one of the largest turnouts was at the meet of the Heythrop Hunt in Oxfordshire which enjoyed tremendous support in Chipping Norton. Joint-master Nessie Chanter said: "The turnout, which is estimated to be over 5,000 people, is incredible. Regular hunt supporters and members of the public seem to turnout every year regardless of the weather and it never ceases to amaze us. We are so thankful to be greeted in this manner by such a supportive crowd here in Chipping Norton."

In Lancashire, the Holcombe Hunt also welcomed yet another bumper crowd. Joint-master Sue Simmons enthused: "I am always so delighted to see such a great turnout of riders and foot followers in all weathers. Our annual Boxing Day parade of hounds and hunt ride at Rivington Barn also attracts our landowners and farmers who are so supportive of hunting today in its modern-day format. It's a pleasure to see the hunt continuing to provide a social stronghold throughout the rural community of Lancashire, reaching out to young and old alike."

The North Cotswold Hunt held it's meet in Broadway High Street in Gloucestershire. Oliver Dale MFH, joint-master of the North Cotswold Hunt said: "We had a crowd of several thousand here again today to show their support for our magnificent hounds. People from all walks of life came to join us on this very traditional day, demonstrating the important part that hunts play within their local communities."

Camilla Swift, joint-master of the Surrey Union said: "We're so lucky to have hundreds of people joining us yet again at our kennels near Ockley in Surrey to show that hunting is still thriving. We are particularly pleased to see so many young people."