They came in their hundreds. A steady stream of men, women and children with dogs in tow turned out to see what could be the final Boxing Day hunt after more than 200 years of tradition. As the crowds at Upton House on the Warwickshire/Oxfordshire border began to swell, along with it came jubilation, defiance and hope. For the ever-increasing crowd the message was the same: "We will be back next year and for many years to come". But behind the defiance was the continuing uncertainty surrounding the recent decision to ban hunting with hounds. Signs that the Government will not fight an injunction against the looming ban has brought a little hope and confusion to the hunting community. To the anti-hunting brigade it has brought much anger and with it promises of months of legal wrangling to come. At the Warwickshire Hunt traditional Boxing Day meet, held yesterday as there are no hunts on Sundays, there was little evidence of protests as up to 2,000 people turned out in support of the threatened pastime. Ironically, the hard frost prevented any hunting on horseback, so the dozens of horses paraded down the driveway were excused and a pursuit began with the hounds on foot. Cheers of encouragement echoed around the courtyard of the historic Upton House and the rolling fields surrounding it as Sam Butler, master of the hunt, declared the start of a civil rights war against the Government. As his scarlet coat glistened in the sun, Mr Butler spoke of his surprise by the groundswell of support. "I don't think I have ever seen so many people. There are 250 meets across the country and if they are all supported like this then hunting, the right to hunt and everything that goes on in the countryside that we stand up for has got a huge future." Along with the determination, there were also deep-rooted uncertainty at the long term future of the hunt. Mr Butler told the crowd: "We are facing one of the most difficult times that I think hunting has ever faced. There is an Act of Parliament to ban all forms of hunting in England and Wales and that is due to take place on February 18." Anthony Spencer, joint master of the hunt, said the pack would continue in some format if the ban comes into force. "This is not the last one. We will find some way of carrying on, he shouted as he sat firmly in his saddle. Simon Jackson, secretary of the hunt, said the group would not disband. "We will carry on because we want to keep the hunt together as much as we can. There is also the social side of it, the point to point. We are positive and we have got this legal challenge coming up," he added. Robert Waley-Cohen, whose wife's family owned Upton House before it was handed to the National Trust, questioned the ability to police any ban. "Do you know how many police are out in Warwickshire today? There are 200. And no policeman can come onto private land without a warrant anyway." And as the crowds drifted away, a lone policeman turned up and politely inquired about the meet. "Were there many people? Were there any protesters? Was there any trouble?"he asked. If there had been any trouble, he was perhaps just a little late. As for the traditional Boxing Day hunt, it looks likely to remain for at least another year. "I can guarantee we will be here next year and a few more years after that," Mr Butler declared as he waved the hounds off. | 
