Countryside sport Pictures
Please note that I am neither supporting or condoning blood sports by their inclusion on this page. I simply record what I see in the countryside.
The large gravestone of huntsman Tommy Dobson (1827-1910) in St Catherine's churchyard, Boot in Eskdale, the Lake District, Cumbria.
'Laal Tommy' founded the Eskdale and Ennerdale Foxhounds. The headstone bears 3 heads - his own, and that of a hound and a fox, plus his hunting horn and whip.
Falconer with a peregrine falcon at the Lakeland Bird of Prey Centre at Lowther in Cumbria.
Admission charge.
A welcome food bucket at the end of the hound trail in the Ennerdale Show in the Lake District, West Cumbria.
Food buckets at the end of the hound trail in the Ennerdale Show in the Lake District, West Cumbria.
Crossing the line in the hound trail at the Ennerdale Show in the Lake District, West Cumbria.
Start of the hound trail at the Ennerdale Show in the Lake District, West Cumbria. Hound trailing has been popular betting sport in the Lake district since the 18th century. Specially bred hounds race along an artificially laid scent trail over a cross country course.
Competitors climb Murton Fell for the senior fell race at the Ennerdale Show in the Lake District National Park, West Cumbria. Runners cover a distance of 1.9 miles (3km) with an ascent of 656 feet (200m) to the summit of Knock Murton.
Competitors set off for the senior fell race at the Ennerdale Show in the Lake District National Park, West Cumbria. Runners cover a distance of 1.9 miles (3km) with an ascent of 656 feet (200m) to the summit of Knock Murton.
Crossing the line in the Hound Trail at the Lake District Sheepdog Trials at Ings near Staveley in Cumbria.
Approaching the finishing line in the Hound Trail at the Lake District Sheepdog Trials at Ings near Staveley in Cumbria.
A race for first place in the Hound Trail at the Lake District Sheepdog Trials at Ings near Staveley in Cumbria.
Sheepdog herding Swaledale sheep at the Lake District Sheepdog Trials at Ings near Staveley in Cumbria.
Lake District Sheepdog Trials at Ings near Staveley in Cumbria. Man and dog awaiting the signal to commence their trial.
Tossing the Weight over Bar at the Mull and Iona Highland Games, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland. A 56lb weight is used.
Tobermory Galleon Cannonball Throw at the Mull and Iona Highland Games, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland. The Galleon Ball is a cannonball recovered from the wreck of the San Juan de Sicilia in Tobermory Bay. This was one of the 130 ships that formed the ill-fated Spanish Armada of 1588.
Tobermory Galleon Cannonball Throw at the Mull and Iona Highland Games, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland. The Galleon Ball is a cannonball recovered from the wreck of the San Juan de Sicilia in Tobermory Bay. This was one of the 130 ships that formed the ill-fated Spanish Armada of 1588.
Tobermory Galleon Cannonball Throw at the Mull and Iona Highland Games, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland.
The Galleon Ball is a cannonball recovered from the wreck of the San Juan de Sicilia in Tobermory Bay. This was one of the 130 ships that formed the ill-fated Spanish Armada of 1588.
Tossing the caber at the Mull and Iona Highland Games, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland. The Caber Toss is judged by control and not distance. The caber must turn in the air and land on its heaviest end directly away from the tosser in the "12 o'clock" position.
Tossing the caber at the Mull and Iona Highland Games, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland. The Caber Toss is judged by control and not distance. The caber must turn in the air and land on its heaviest end directly away from the tosser in the "12 o'clock" position.
Tossing the caber at the Mull and Iona Highland Games, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland. The Caber Toss is judged by control and not distance. The caber must turn in the air and land on its heaviest end directly away from the tosser in the "12 o'clock" position.
Tossing the caber at the Mull and Iona Highland Games, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland. The Caber Toss is judged by control and not distance. The caber must turn in the air and land on its heaviest end directly away from the tosser in the "12 o'clock" position.
Falconer with a Turkmenian eagle owl at Castle Bolton in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire.
Admission charge. Photo taken within the castle grounds.
Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling at the Lunesdale Show, Kirkby Lonsdale.
Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling at the Lunesdale Show, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 2012.
Entrance charge.
Vale of Lune Harriers at the Lunesdale Show, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 2012. Admission charge.
The fifth fence at Cartmel Races 2012, Cartmel, Cumbria, UK. Visit the website
Ye Old Fighting Cocks, Arnside, Cumbria.
Ye Old Fighting Cocks dates in parts from the 17th century and is said to still have the cock-pit under the floor.
A 17th century fox trap overlooking Levers Water and Coniston Water in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Sometimes these rare stone traps are called fox bields or goose bields, but that is puzzling because the word 'bield' means shelter.
A 17th century fox trap overlooking Levers Water and Coniston Water in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Sometimes these rare stone traps are called fox bields or goose bields, but that is puzzling because the word 'bield' means shelter.
Riders set off for a trail hunt with the Three Counties Bloodhounds from the Barbon Inn in the village of Barbon in the Western Dales of Cumbria