Llangeinor Hunt

The following is taken from Foxhounds of Great Britain and Ireland and their Masters and Huntsmen, written by Sir Humphrey F. de Trafford and published in 1905

The origin of this Welsh pack was the renowned Lianharran kennel, established by the celebrated Welsh hunting Squire, Richard Hoare Jenkins, of Pant-yr-Awel, in 1805. Mr. Jenkins shortly afterwards took up his residence at Llanharan House, and augmented the pack by a yearly importation of fresh blood from some twenty of the then best Welsh and English kennels, and continued this procedure for upwards of fifty-two years. The old Squire had some grand, big, all-white hounds, which colour was at first the predominating one in his pack. At his death in 1856, the hounds and country passed to his niece, Mrs. Blandy Jenkins, and Mr. John Blandy Jenkins, the present Squire, and were hunted during the latter's residence in Berkshire by the Thomases, of Brach-y-cymmer, and the Tate Air. William Morgan, of Penylan. Latterly, Mr. Jenkins came to reside in the district, and took up the Hunt again, and after a while the Llanharan and the Ystrad were amalgamated, with kennels at Ty Robert. Mr. George Davies and Mr. J. D. Williams, of Ystrad, carried the horn, Messrs. Edwin Price and Morgan Davies being joint Honorary Secretaries.

This continued for some time with much success, fresh blood being regularly imported from the Glamorganshire, Llangibby, and Carmarthenshire kennels. About ten years ago, Mr. Blandy Jenkins found that his time was too occupied with estate and county matters to allow of his continuing in the mastership, and accordingly retired. The partnership of the Hunts was thereupon dissolved, and both packs reverted to their old status, becoming separately the Llanharan and the Ystrad. This latter pack still exists, in that it is amalgamated with the Pentyrch, under the Mastership of Colonel Henry Lewis, of Greenmeadow, near Cardiff.

The Llanharan then became the Llangeinor, with kennels at Pant-yr-Awel, Ogmore Valley, and a strong Committee and membership (Mr. Blandy Jenkins being still one of the chief supporters, and almost the mainstay of the pack). Mr. William Lewis was elected Master (1895), and Mr. J. T. Salathiel Honorary Secretary. These hounds retain all their Welsh characteristics, and hunt a country that is very varied, consisting of uplands and rough mountains - indeed, a truly Welsh country, which they hunt in true Welsh fashion. They have plenty of cry, and show excellent sport, almost invariably accounting for their fox.

Mr. William Lewis hunts the hounds himself from the King's Head Hotel, Tynewydd. Evan James whips-in to the Master, and is deserving of no small praise for his share in the success of this trencher-fed pack of twenty-five couples of rough and smooth-coated hounds. Mr. Morgan Morgan, of High Corner House, Llanharan, is now the Field-Master, and one of the oldest and most active supporters of this Hunt.

The country lies in the hilly area of Mid Glamorgan and includes some lowland and forestry plantations, but is mainly open mountain. It is between Margam in the West and Llanharan in the East, the M4 in the South and Nantymoel in the North. It is easily accessible and varies between common ground, farmland and forestry. The Northern part of the country is hilly with spectacular views and horses need plenty of stamina on a good day there. Further South the hills are more gently undulating but the going can get quite deep on the lowlands.

Llangeinor Hunt use a mixture of both smooth coated English Hounds and the rough coated Welsh Hounds.