Latest from Horse & Hound in Minehead-harriers

Inquest held into whipper-in’s hunting death

Horse & Hound — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:27:43 +0000

A whipper-in suffered a huge stroke after being dragged his horse into a tree, an inquest has heard.

Gary Bradley, who whipped-in to the Minehead Harriers, was hunting in Wheddon Cross, Somerset on 15 January 2011 when his horse was spooked and careered down a steep hill (news, 3 February 2011).

Mr Bradley was hanging from the saddle by one stirrup and was dragged down the drop until he hit a tree.

He suffered a severe pelvic fracture, broken ribs and a head injury and died on 27 January in Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.

At the inquest at West Somerset Coroner’s Court, in Taunton on Tuesday (28 August), West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose recorded a narrative verdict.

He said 55-year-old Mr Bradley, from Timberscombe, Somerset, had died from a large stroke caused by significant swelling to the brain.

The post-mortem had shown significant trauma to Mr Bradley’s head, he said.

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Hunts donate £8,300 to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance

Charlotte White — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:10:18 +0000

Hunts have presented the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance with £8,300 in memory of former whipper-in to the Minehead Harriers, Gary Bradley, who died on 26 January.

Mr Bradley was airlifted following an accident out hunting on 15 January, but died in hospital.

The money was raised from a charity race at the Minehead Harriers and West Somerset Hunt point-to-point in May.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (11 August, 2011)

Minehead Harriers’ whipper-in dies following accident

Horse & Hound — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:42:19 +0000

Gary Bradley, amateur whipper-in for the Minehead Harriers, has died following an accident out hunting.

Mr Bradley, 55, was out on Saturday, 15 January when the accident happened. He died from his injuries on Wednesday, 26 January at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

Joint-master Caroline Clifford was unable to tell H&H how the accident occurred, but said: “It was a tragic accident and he sadly died from his injuries. It’s a terrible shock.”

A spokesman for the South Western Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at around 1.12pm and a man was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital with head injuries.”

Mr Bradley and former Minehead Harriers huntsman William Goffe were both fined in 2007 after admitting breaching the Hunting Act on 7 February 2007 by allowing hounds to pursue a fox with mange.

An inquest is due to be opened later this week and arrangements for Mr Bradley’s funeral are to follow.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (3 February, 2011)

Minehead Harriers duo admit Hunting Act breach

Horse & Hound — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:17:48 +0000

The Countryside Alliance (CA) and Council of Hunting Associations (CHA) have voiced support for two staff from the Minehead Harriers who broke the law by allowing hounds to pursue a fox with mange.

Appearing at Bridgwater Magistrates Court on 7 January, huntsman William Goffe and whipper-in Gary Bradley admitted breaching the Hunting Act on 7 February 2007.

CHA chairman Stephen Lambert said: “Mange in foxes spreads fast, and causes suffering, baldness and a slow death to infected animals. The prosecution of the Minehead staff demonstrates how the Act fails to protect the welfare of the fox. There is no exemption in the Act for a full pack of hounds to hunt a sick or injured fox or deer.”

Monitors from the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) filmed the pair in February encouraging hounds to chase a fox suffering from mange.

The hunt’s solicitor, Tim Hayden, told the court that hounds were following a trail but picked up the scent of a fox. Mr Goffe allowed the chase to continue when he realised the fox had mange.

Mr Goffe and Mr Bradley were each fined £300 for breaching the ban and ordered to pay £500 towards costs incurred by LACS, which brought the prosecution privately. The balance of the costs incurred by LACS (amounting to some £11,000, plus counsel fees) will be met from its own resources. Mr Bradley was also fined £100 for a public order offence — riding his horse towards a LACS monitor.

Further charges of unlawful hunting against William Goffe and master Sidney Wescott in January 2007 were dismissed.

“The judge and LACS accepted the Minehead Harriers were trail hunting, which was crucial,” said Mr Hayden, “and that they set out to hunt legally and something went wrong.”

Tom Gliddon, chairman of the Minehead Harriers, said the hunt has sought to operate within the law since the Hunting Act came into force.

“William Goffe and Gary Bradley have acknowledged that during a trail hunt on 7 February there was one short pursuit of a mammal which was in contravention of the Act,” he said, adding: “There was no suggestion that a fox was killed.”

A LACS spokesman said the organisation was “very pleased” with the guilty pleas.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (17 January, ’08)

Minehead Harriers three in court

Charlotte White — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:53:11 +0000

Three members of the Minehead Harriers have entered not guilty pleas in a private prosecution for illegal hunting being brought by the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS).

Huntsman William Goffe and Amateur whipper-in Gary Bradley appeared at Taunton Magistrates Court yesterday (9 October) to answer charges brought under the Hunting Act.

The third man, master Sidney Westcott, was not in court but his not guilty plea was recorded.

Mr Bradley is also accused of a public order offence, which he denies.

The case has been adjourned until November 12 when a date will be set for trial.

Harriers pack accused of illegal hunting

Charlotte White — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:35:38 +0000

THE Minehead Harriers are the latest pack to be targeted by the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) for alleged illegal hunting.

The LACS claims to have footage showing the hunt breaking the terms of the Hunting Act while trail hunting in January.

Minehead Harriers master Sydney Westcott, huntsman William Goffe and amateur whipper-in Gary Bradley were summonsed to appear at court today (Thurs) but the case has been adjourned.

Mr Bradley is also charged with a public order offence.

It is the first case to involve a pack of hounds carrying out trail hunting – rather than huntsmen taking part in exempt hunting.

Joint master Caroline Clifford said: “We have not seen the footage.

“The League is out with us almost every day and they have taken a lot of footage of us but I don’t know what of.

“We just have to wait for the new date to be set.

“The Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) and the Countryside Alliance (CA) have been tremendously supportive of us.”