Competition

In these long winter evenings when all your livestock (human and non human) are finally warm and safe isn't it better to tax ones brain a bit rather than 'relaxing' in front of the TV?

There is a prize for the best and most complete answers to this two part puzzle which we will publish -if we get correct answers- otherwise the full solutions will be published in the New Year

Scenario

4 different packs of hounds have finished their exercise in the same place. Most of the hounds have been gathered, but unfortunately each pack is missing a mixed couple and two of the Whips have gone to find them. There is one mixed couple each of Bassets, Beagles, Foxhounds and Staghounds.

The missing hounds have been found and gathered together and are being walked back across some fields. They need to cross a river that lies between them and the hound trailers. The river is too wide to jump across, and is flowing too fast to swim – the only way to cross it is a small bridge that is not very safe. This bridge has a gate at each end so that it limits the number of people and/or animals on it at any time.

The Whips need to apply the rules below in order to cross the bridge.

1) There must be at least one person on either bank if there are any hounds waiting there, but hounds can be sent across the bridge alone.

2) The bridge can only take 1 person or a maximum of 2 hounds.

3) Hounds may be sent in either direction across the bridge.

4) The dog Foxhound cannot be left waiting with the dog Staghound as a smaller pack.

5) The bitch Basset and the bitch Beagle cannot be kept together in the smaller pack at any time without both Whips to keep them under control.

6) You cannot have more dogs than bitches waiting on either bank at any time.

What is the smallest number of moves required to get both Whips and all the hounds safely across the bridge?

Part Two*

Which pack is 'lucky' enough to count amongst its followers a Worn-out and shuddering choirboy (Anag)

Please send your answers to competition@bailyshuntingdirectory.com with your solution

The usual competition rules apply -

1) No correspondence will be entered into - in other words we are not going tell you how to solve either puzzle

2) As Editors our decision on the winner is final