Local Hunt Supporters Defiant Over Ban

TRAFFIC in the centre of Thame came to a halt on Saturday, (Feb 19), when a mass of horses, people on foot and assorted vehicles, passed through the town following a ?meet of defiance? by local hunt supporters.
On this, the first Saturday following the Government Ban on Fox Hunting with hounds, 210 horses, over 300 people on foot and a number of vehicles congregated at the Thame Show ground before hacking through the town centre and on to Moreton.
Alan Hill of the Aylesbury Vale with Garth and South Bucks Hunt, told ThameNews.Net: ?The aim of the Meet was to ensure that the people of Thame knew that we were still going to get together and that our intensions are to keep working and fighting to get our sport back.
?We are not going to lie down and let this happen but will work in everyway we can to make sure that everyone realises this and that we keep their attention. ?
Hunt supporters have mounted a legal challenge again the ban to the House of Lords and intend to take their cause to the European Court of Human Rights.
Mr Hill said that his Hunt will not be drag or trail hunting for what is left of this season, which ends in mid-March, but will nevertheless meet regularly for exercise and from then on, carry on with their social calendar, point-to-point racing, hound shows, sponsored rides etc., in order to keep the community together and to continue their fight.
?We look forward to the General Election and getting a Conservative government back in which will let us get our sport back.
?We will need to do a lot of soul searching and make a decision about how we aught to continue,? he concluded.