Hundreds turn out for Powys' David Davies Hunt on Boxing Day

The festive meet is one of the highlights of the hunting calendar for people in the community and is an event members look forward to each year.

The David Davies Hunt held its annual Boxing day meet at The Angel pub in Llanidloes where more than 700 supporters reportedly gathered to have punch, mulled wine and mince pies supplied by the hosts.

A pack of hounds made their way down Long Bridge Street and were followed by dozens of horses and their riders of all ages after passing the iconic Old Market Hall in the centre of town.

George Lewis, a retired field master for Lord Davies, watched the 67th-consecutive David Davies Hunt in Llanidloes with his family. 

"It is indeed still a highlight in the community," he said. "We're very grateful to the town. The Angel Hotel had put on wonderful punch, sausage rolls and mince pies. 

"When the hunt leaves outside the Angel, we go to Maesywennol care home and sing carols for them. It's really nice because some of the people on the hunt have parents in there and they come to the window. The hounds and horses stop at the care home and we sing a carol before setting off."

Horses in Long Bridge Street (Image: George Lewis)

Huntsman (Image: George Lewis)

David Davies Hunt Chairman explains to the gathering how the trail hunt works. (Image: George Lewis)

The number of hunts has now begun to decline, with the former fox hunt having been made illegal nearly 20 years ago, to be replaced by trail hunting in which a scent is placed for the hounds to follow.

Last year, the historic Tanatside Hunt announced that it would be folding after several decades. The hunt, founded in 1935, covered the area between Llanfair Caereinion and Welshpool. 

Its annual Boxing Day Hunt usually began its route in Welshpool and had become a recognised tradition in the town on Boxing Day, with crowds turning out onto the streets to watch the horses and hounds prepare to head across the countryside – although the atmosphere between supporters and opponents of the hunt was notoriously fractious.