Howard-Vyse used all the balance left over from the expenses of the two previous years in building a cottage for Champion and in raising oak palings round the kennel paddock. Both of these innovations were necessary; it was a good thing that he decided to build a cottage, as Champion would not otherwise have remained with the E.C.H.
These are Howard-Vyse’s personal recollections:
“It has been great fun to read my accounts over again, but I fear I have little or nothing to add to them. In fact I can think of two comments only:
(a) I fancy I was the first Master to get permission for the field to come out beagling during the Winter Half; in the year after me it was dropped, because the Master was also first keeper of the Field; but it was continued afterwards, I see, though I don’t know whether it still goes on. It seems rather ridiculous to keep a pack of hounds all the year round for nine weeks’ hunting.
(b) The running capacities of the staff of my second year (1901-1902) were rather a record:
| Self | Winner of | Steeplechase | 1901. |
| Wilson | 2nd in | ” | 1901. |
| Lambert | Winner of | ” | 1902. |
| Drake | 2nd in | ” | 1902. |
“My first year was undoubtedly a very moderate one; we had some baddish hounds and it was a shocking scenting season. The second season was much better, and at the time I thought it very good indeed. But as a matter of fact I should think, looking back with my present experience, that the E.C.H. have probably had many even better seasons since.
“This I should put down to an improvement in the hounds, which began from the time of the Grenfells, two years before me, but did not bear full fruit till after my time. In this connection it was probably a big advantage, apart from any personal ability, that in six years there were only four Masters—myself and Wroughton each twice, and Romer Williams was a good hound man.
“Before the Grenfell twins the whole thing was a very scratch concern, and it would be difficult to exaggerate the debt which the E.C.H. owe to their memory. It requires tremendous push and energy to start the whole thing on a fresh basis, and to raise £1000 for the purpose, which is what they did.