In response to the new legislation governing hunting, the Bicester and Whaddon Chase Hound Club, in conjunction with Bicester based company E.P. Barrus Ltd has devised an innovative solution to enable them to carry on their activities within the bounds of the law.

A specially modified Barrus supplied trail bike, the MRX200 has been transformed into a mechanical fox designed to lay scent trails for the hounds to follow. The MRX200 with a 4-stroke, air-cooled, single cylinder engine has been fitted with a bracket on the rear wheel to carry a scent line.

Patrick Martin, Hounds Manager at Bicester and Whaddon Hound Club now finds he has a new role riding the aptly nicknamed bike ‘Fox 1’. “I have certainly put the MRX200 through its paces but it is has proved to be tremendously effective and easy to handle through water filled ditches and rough terrain”, comments Patrick.

E. P. Barrus’s Managing Director, Robert Glen comments, “As a local company we are very pleased to support the Bicester and Whaddon Hound Club by providing an effective solution in helping them to remain within the boundaries of the new legislation. We hope that other Club’s around the country may adopt this new method.”

Photo: Left to right, John O’Neil (Bicester Hunt), Robert Muir (E.P.Barrus Ltd), Patrick Martin (Bicester Hunt)