Hounds chase men in charity hunt to raise cash for injured jockeys
It's hunting, but not as you know it.
Instead of a fox it was people running around Staffordshire farmland.
Hounds from the Burne Bloodhounds group then set out to find them as part of the charity hunt with members of the group following close behind on horseback.
The event was held to raise vital funds for national charity the Injured Jockeys Foundation.
No one was hurt and over £500 was raised in a day of 'clean boot' field sports at Lower Drayton Farm, Penkridge.
Volunteers from the group were given a 25 minute head start to jog into the woods before the hounds tracked them down using just their nose for human scent.
When they found their target they were given a big fuss and a minute to relax.
Mark Gilbert, hunt master for Burne Bloodhounds, said: "The hounds are people loving animals.
"They have done us proud again today.
"They tracked down our volunteers impressively and deserved their well earned rest once they did.
"Bloodhounds really are wonderful animals, their sense of smell is incredible."
The money raised from the event will be grouped together with various other donations and sent to the Injured Jockeys Fund over the coming weeks.
Hotly tipped local apprentice jockey Jack Duern, from Rugeley, attended to show his support for the charity, alongside other professionals from around the country.
Mr Gilbert said: "It is great to have jockeys like Jack here because they are the reason we put the event on.
"The Injured Jockeys Fund does such a fantastic job for what we call sporting jockeys, who have to work very hard, do a lot of travelling and put themselves in dangerous situations during each race, for little in terms of money.
"If anything happens to them while they are working they may not have a safety net to fall back into.
"The fund helps them and their families recover from hard times or if they can't go back to racing, teach them new trades."
The event was the first hunt of its kind organised by Burne Bloodhounds, who aim to return next year and raise more money for the good cause.
