On 1st May 2007, Mark Stent became MBH for the second time in his life. However, this time he is Master of Bloodhounds and not Master of Buckhounds. We are very luck to have Mark joining the Mastership as he has a lot to offer with his knowledge both of hunting and the countryside.

Mark was Chairman of the NFU for a couple of years, on the British Wool Marketing Board for 8 years, a Point to Point Steward and on the Alresford Show committee for 17 years - including Chairman of the horse section for a couple of years. There can be no better definition of the term "Country Gentleman", when it is said as a term of endearment, than Mark Stent. His knowledge of the countryside and farming is broad and deep.

Mark and his wife, Nicky, came out with the bloodhounds last season and just a few drops of slobber was all it took to get them hooked! Read below Mark's CV, which we hope to follow later with some amusing stories from his past, once we have checked out the libel situation!

Picture right is of Mark Stent going to the Opening Meet of the New Forest Buckhounds 1960.

"I had my first day's hunting when I was fourteen, during the war, with the Devon & Somerset Staghounds.  It was autumn staghunting and of course we hacked to all meets then, which when it was some distance from kennels meant setting off at 9 a.m. in the morning or not long after.  It was one of those "Red Letter" days, though we never took a stag.  I had to stay with hounds as I certainly did not know the way home.  At the end of the day with few of the field left and no one going my way, the whip having somehow fallen by the wayside I found myself handed a heavy whip by the master and was packed off with the Huntsman and Hounds to hack back to kennels, my family were staying near bye.  We went back across country through various farms where we stopped, as every farmer had to know how hounds had run, which we had followed, how hounds had run the water and so on.  The enthusiasm was infectious.  I had various glasses of milk, though I think the Huntsman had something stronger!  I eventually rode into the stable yard just after nine,  I am told, though I don't remember I had to be lifted from the saddle. I slept quite well! I think.  After this, though I returned to Exmoor for many happy hunting holidays, my hunting consisted of Beagling and Otterhunting and later on various ponies & horses I got the odd days Foxhunting, eventually arriving in the H.H. country in 1954.

Picture Left is of Mark as Joint Master of The New Forest Buckhounds. Click to enlarge and you will see him with Joint Master and Huntsman, Mr Donald Egremont MBH.

I see from my hunting Diary I have hunted with 3 Packs of Staghounds, 3 Packs of Buckhounds, 20 Packs of Foxhounds, 6 Packs of Harriers & Draghounds, 13 Packs of Beagles & Basset hounds,   4 Packs of Otter & Mink hounds:  During which time I have actually "Hunted Hounds" with four different packs, though only on odd days or for a season.  Oh yes I was Master of three different packs for a season."  

Picture right of Nicky Stent in action. Click to enlarge.

We will hear from Mark's hunting diaries when we have something to blackmail him with!