Hunting with dogs - Hunting Act 2004

Hunt saboteurs driven at by terriermen in balaclavas on a quad bike

This dramatic video captures the moment a group of campaigners were driven at by masked men on quad bikes as they attempted to disrupt a nearby hunt.

The saboteurs had gone to visit Badsworth and Bramham Moor Hunt on the last meet of the season in Womersley, North Yorkshire, according to a social media post by the campaigners.

Targeted: A quad bike drove at a group of saboteurs while they were crossing a field in North Yorkshire
Targeted: A quad bike drove at a group of saboteurs while they were crossing a field in North Yorkshire

The group claimed they interrupted the hunt by calling the hounds off their scent, adding that at one point a supporter ‘took a swing’ at one of their heads with a walking stick.

Lashing out: At one point the passenger throws his arm out, as if trying to strike one of the campaigners
Lashing out: At one point the passenger throws his arm out, as if trying to strike one of the campaigners

But the campaigners said the day ‘turned nasty’ when they were ambushed by a masked quad bike rider as they crossed a field towards an area of woodland.

Shocking footage of the encounter shows the quad bike repeatedly driving towards the saboteurs as they run for cover. At one point, the driver appears to be threatening to shoot the campaigners. 

A quad bike was captured speeding towards three of the saboteurs as they crossed the field, forcing them to jump out of the way.

The cameraman is heard saying: ‘Quad bike driving at us, completely unprovoked’, as the driver turns the vehicle around and begins heading back towards the group.

Threatening: One of the men on the quad bike appears to suggest his friend turns a gun on the saboteurs. There is no suggestion the Hunt is connected to the incident
Threatening: One of the men on the quad bike appears to suggest his friend turns a gun on the saboteurs. There is no suggestion the Hunt is connected to the incident

At one point the passenger is seen reaching out at two of the saboteurs, as if to strike them.

Final drive-by: The quad bike speeds towards the campaigners as they head towards the trees for cover
Final drive-by: The quad bike speeds towards the campaigners as they head towards the trees for cover

Terrified, the campaigners start to sprint towards the woodland for cover.

As they pass the quad bike one of the men is heard saying: ‘Get that gun off! Get that gun off. Quick. Get the gun.’

Contact: The quad bike appears to crash into the cameraman, with the man claiming it was at 'full power'
Contact: The quad bike appears to crash into the cameraman, with the man claiming it was at ‘full power’

The quad bike makes one final drive-by and collides with the cameraman ‘at full power’, according to the commentary on the video.

As the saboteurs stumble into the woodland, the cameraman says: ‘They just attempted to run us over and then they turned and hit us. They were hitting us as they drove past’.

But the encounter did not stop the campaigners from pursuing the Hunt for the rest of the day. 

Shelter: The group eventually made it to the woodland and later continued disrupting the Hunt's final meet
Shelter: The group eventually made it to the woodland and later continued disrupting the Hunt’s final meet

The Facebook post adds: ‘It didn’t detract us from our work for too long and we managed to keep the hunt moving for the rest of the day.’

Hunt Details

Source: Daily Mail