PIGEON SHOOTING—A Pigeon Shooting Party will meet at Mr. Wood’s, at the Waggon and Horses Inn, Rushden, on Tuesday, 24th of February 1880, when all gentlemen interested in the neighbourhood are invited to attend. Five traps on the grounds and first bird at 11a.m. A Hot Dinner will be provided.

CUB HUNTING —Cub hunting was commenced by the Oakley pack on Monday last, the bitches being taken to Henwick where the first blood of the season was tasted. From thence they were taken to Rushden Moors, at which place the pups were no sooner in than it was evident some sport was in store as they gave tongue, and after some good brushes up and down the cover a fine cub was killed inside the cover. They were again put in and several more were soon on the move, but the master wished every opportunity to be given for them to go away and after some had left up the clover field, and the cover had had a good storming up, the hounds were called out.

HUNTING—In consequence of the North Pytchley Hounds being advertised to meet at Rushden on Thursday, 11th inst., some hundreds assembled near the cross roads and Hayway, when they were told it was a misprint, the place of meeting being Rushton. Several horses were brought from Peterborough.

THE FIRST—Although "poor Rushden" is not blessed with a superabundance of game preserves, the opening of the shooting season invariably brings forth the latent shooting talent of the community, who generally score in some way or other. A few days prior to "the first" the matter was under consideration of a group of tradesmen and manufacturers of the place, and though one of the latter had often courageously shot a few tame rabbits when the exigencies of the kitchen or the furnishing of the mid-day meal required it, he had never yet proved his valour or exhibited his skill by laying low anything that could be called wild; and as he related this to the company it was evident, that to succeed in the slaughter of a wild animal, even though it might be a harmless "bunnie" was the summit of his ambition. A local farmer, who evidently appreciated the laudable ambition of the would-be sportsman, overhearing the conversation, resolved to gratify the desire of the "man of leather," and at once invited him to bring his friends and try his skill upon his farm. The eventful day at length arrived, and with it the eager sportsman, fully equipped, with gun, ammunition, and game bag complete. Fields were traversed, hedges beaten, and at length a real wild rabbit was espied apparently enjoying a siesta in the long grass. Our friend descended on his hands and knees, and cautiously approaching until a further advance might have scared the game, the gun was brought to the "present," careful aim was taken, and a loud report was followed by an exultant shout from the successful sportsman, as he gleefully announced that he had "knocked the crater over," and had killed a wild animal at last. The next business was the bagging of the game, but on attempting to do this our sportsman found the animal (?) tethered to a stump. Another remarkable feature was the absence of blood, but the entrails protruded in the form of a shoemaker's dirty apron; and as these articles are not generally found in such curious receptacles, it was at length discovered that a skin had been stuffed with this useful article to impersonate a wild animal; and the concluding tableau can be better imagined than described.

THE OAKLEY HOUNDS met at Rushden for the first time this season on Tuesday. There was not a large number of horsemen present, but this was counter-balanced by the hundreds of footmen who put in an appearance. From the "Oakley" a move was made to the Moors, where foxes proved plentiful, and a redskin soon broke cover, and made off in the direction of Knuston spinneys.

Pheasant Shooting – Owing to the favourable season there are more pheasants than usual in Northamptonshire. The birds are very forward and free from disease. Very few coverts were broken on Saturday, but the outlying birds afforded ample sport and some good bags were made.

Cubs Killed Near Irchester – The Oakley hounds met at Hinwick on Tuesday morning, and proceeded to Knuston, two cubs being found near the railway not far from Irchester station. One cub started across the field, but suddenly ran back into the covert from whence it once more emerged, only to run back again. Before it could regain the covert, hounds got hold of it and killed it. Meantime the second cub got away into some bushes, and here, after killing the first cub, the hounds soon found it. The cub ran into the brook, where it turned on one of the hounds, but it was soon overpowered by the pack and killed in the middle of the stream. Hounds then left for Wollaston Park. There was a fairly good company out.

The Rushden Argus, 7^th January 1921

A New Year’s Meet
Large Field Out with the Oakley at Farndish

Stopped at Rushden—The Oakley Hounds met at the Kennels yesterday week, and found immediately in Wigney Wood—running very fast for 30 minutes. Hounds ran well in the afternoon from Galsey Wood, through Temple and Knotting Fox, over Yelden open fields, and were stopped at Rushden.

Rushden Echo, February 8^th 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

Wymington—Hunting—The village was the scene of great animation on Tuesday afternoon following the meet of the Oakley Hounds at Bozeat. After a smart run over the fields from Podington and across the railway lines, hounds “killed” in the village street, the occurrence (without parallel in the memory of the oldest inhabitants) creating great excitement and interest.