Despite a police presence (which we doubt was due to other attacks on sabs throughout the season!) from the outset, and words from one of the red coats condemning ‘violence with the anti’s,’ the confrontations began as soon as the hounds set off.

Not happy with ‘merely’ slaughtering the wildlife, huntsmen and support tried to remove our right to use the footpaths, and later, the roads. Twenty sabs, intent on preventing the killing of foxes, entered the field were confronted with violence. Those remaining on the road were also attacked, a 48 year old driver of one of the vehicles was intentionally ridden down and kicked by a red coat. This happened in front of the police, although no immediate action was taken. The injured sab was taken to hospital by ambulance.

The next set of hunt aggression arose with sabs being attacked, thrown over walls and ridden at. The violence climaxed as the red coat, who asked his supporters to be peaceful rode towards sabs, exclaimed, ‘its my wildlife’ and with all of his might struck a saboteur over the head with a metal capped hunting whip, before riding away. This none violent protestor was knocked to the floor and quickly covered in blood from an arterial wound. He was clearly in shock, but the unbiased police thought he ought to be able to make a positive identification of the perpetrator. The sab was taken to hospital by ambulance, where his head has been glued and stitched. The injury was worse than originally thought.

Although one of the red coats was initially arrested, he was then released quickly as he attacked the first sab and not the second. Reports are that at least one of the offenders was arrested and interviewed. Though reports also say that the injuries that sabs sustained were minor, so who knows?!?