Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt

Many thanks to David Wallace and Rosettes Direct for sponsoring this newsletter.

Summary of the Season by Jane Pighills

The hunting season is over, and as usual last Saturday evening I allowed my mind to wander back over the season and rest on the good days we have had. It seems a long time since the first Bye Meets in September which are always good; Meets to start a young horse and to get oneself back in the swing. We had some good fun from Broughton Hall, and of course the Hunt Breakfast from Coniston is always a winner. This Meet is always enormous fun, as David Coates organises a fun ride for us round the Craven ride before we go hunting. The following week was the Opening Meet from Airebridge. This again was a good day, and we finished up with an excellent barbecue provided by Nick Bannister. The hounds had hunted well, and all looked set for a fun season.

End of October, beginning of November saw some good hunting days. November 4th was our Newcomers Day. This was a day that I do not think people will ever forget! Ninety people left the Masons Arms in Gargrave to go for the hack we had organised. Sadly we could not do any proper trailing as the land we were due to go on was too wet for the numbers. It all worked out well, but I think that if we had a proper day’s hunting, there would have been several out of control horses! By the end of November the ground had started to go wet on us, but we managed to get a Meet at West Marton, and I remember coming down a hill near the end of the day and looking back seeing the mess we had made. Tony Spellman who is the Area Controller for that piece of country said that he hoped it would rain that night to smooth all the mess back in. He was right, it poured, and continued to do so for two and half weeks, stopping all hunting. The Pendle hunt country is the most wonderful country to hunt in, and ride over, as it is, by and large, all grass. There is nothing quite so exhilarating when the ground is dry as galloping over those wonderful old pastures around Stainton Cotes, Horton and Pendleton to name but a few, but when the ground becomes wet we have to stop. This is out of respect for the farmers land, and we all have to live with it.

Saturday 23rd December saw us start again, with a wonderful Meet from Rock Farm in Hetton given by Emma and David Wallace. It was a great Meet with wonderful hospitality, and set us all going again for Christmas.

Boxing Day went off very well, and those who took part in the ride after had an exciting and invigorating tour round the fields above Airebridge. It certainly got rid of my Christmas cobwebs!

New Years Day was a good day though we had to go carefully as the land was getting wet again. Indeed it was, and we lost the next few Meets. With a little alteration we managed the last January Meets, and finished with a wonderful day round Stainton Cotes. We had a great send off from Old Gledstone, and our thanks go to Armorel, James and David Nelson for having us.

Our final Meet was on Saturday 24^th February from Coniston. A short day’s hunting, and a good "brunch" to follow. It was great fun, and as I sat eating an excellent stew, a huge baked potato, a glass of wine (or was it two!) thinking of the wonderful day I had just had on a horse I have only just started to hunt, I looked round at all the smiling faces, the laughter and the jokes, and I thought how VERY lucky we all are to be part of this Hunt, and the fun we all have. Never mind the rain we still had a great season, and I am already planning the next card!

I would like to say a special thank you to the team at home namely Michelle, Emily, Ella and all the helpers and must not forget our four hardworking hunt horses.

Some images from recent meets (Photos Peter Tiley)

Hunting and the Cavalry by Steve Pickering

You may well be asking yourselves what the hell has our love of hunting and the history of British cavalry got in common, apart from the obvious equine connection of course. The answer, simply, is everything. Right from our dressing up in our distinct coloured coats (uniforms), to gathering in closeknit groups of eager individuals (regiments) which are led by various Masters (officers) who then chase off around the open countryside en-mass (manouvres).

These initial comparisons are not accidental as the esprit-de-corps of the riders and love of horses, whether in hunt circles or their military counterparts can be traced back down the centuries to the days when the two were very much interlinked. British cavalry, from Rupert of the Rhines flamboyant cavaliers during the civil wars through to the Cardigans glittering Light Brigade in the Crimea had a well deserved reputation for, shall we say, over enthusiastic tendencies. One of our greatest generals, Wellington, despaired at times of his mounted arm and had need on occasion to chastise the commanders and indeed whole regiments. His worst fears came to fruition at Waterloo as he watched helplessly as his heavy cavalry brigades charged off into the wild blue yonder after initial success!

The 18^th and 19^th centuries were the hey day for both cavalry and hunting as we know them today. Surtees compared the two by giving his most famous fictional huntsman J. Jorrocks this to say “The sport of kings; the image of war without the guilt, and only five and twenty percent of its danger”. It was also the height of English elitism, when up and coming young dandies could still purchase a commission in one of the magnificent regiments of Hussars, Lancers or Dragoons the formed the backbone of Britains Georgian and Victorian armies. These young thrusters had been encouraged from a tender age to hunt with their local hound packs in preparation for later life in the cavalry. It was down to this pedigree that the sound of hunting horns and cries of Yoo Halloa, Tally Ho and To Today’s Fox were heard above the din of many a distant battle field. Indeed many of these headstrong officers saw the enemy as today’s sport and put spurs to horse in headlong charges to be ‘into them’!

This was the ‘Cavalry spirit’, a tradition you might think faded away with the passing of time and the army exchanging its loyal horses for tanks about seventy years ago. But you would be wrong; its alive and well, albeit on a much smaller scale, as re-formed regiment of mounted enthusiasts in their colourful uniforms get together to relive the pomp and splendour of the ‘good old days’.

Being a member of a few of these regiments I get to cover several periods of our history, from the English Civil War with the Sealed Knot, through to the Boer War with the 17^th Lancers. It is with the 17^th Lancers (the Death or Glory Boys) that I have gained a real insight into everyday life in the cavalry ranks whilst campaigning in foreign parts. In 2004 the regiment put on several displays in Malta. The regiment is the Queens Royal Lancers official display troop and is accompanied by a serving officer when abroad. This however was only a precourser to the 150^th anniversary celebrations of the Crimean War held the same year when the 17^th Lancers and the 13^th Light Dragoons rode down the Valley of Death as part of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade.

In June 2005 the regiment went to Belgium and rode and fought at Waterloo as the 1^st Kings Dragoon Guards in sweltering heat, and just for a contrast again at Amsterlitz in the Czech Republic in December amid drifts of deep snow and night temperatures of –20 degrees Celsius. For the Zulu War celebrations in 2006 we packed our tropical kit and headed for the dark continent where we had a splendid time charging across the South African velt on a most bizarre collection of local polo ponies watched intently by groups of bewildered natives! June the same year saw us closer to home, but nevertheless ‘strutting our stuff’ for the benefit of ‘Johnny Foreigner’. We were in London (devoid of any Englishmen as far as I could see at least) riding the Household Cavalry troop horses as part of the Waterloo Show week.

So back to comparisons; Hunting v Cavalry: both have almost succumbed to the huge pressures brought upon them by their antagonists, hunting most recently. But the sheer determination of enthusiasts who still live for such an existence, for that is what it

is, a way of life, have such deep rooted traditions to be enjoyed by those who still have a taste for such things. Nearly forgot, one last comparison, they are both very good fun!

For those of you who may fancy a crack at late Victorian/early Edwardian mounted Skill at Arms we are recruiting for next years show season. The Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry Cavalry is now being raised and trained to perform at local events. Uniforms, weaponry and tack will be provided. All you need is enthusiasm, a few spare weekends and most importantly a horse. So when the hunt season ends and your still itching for action take the Kings shilling and give me a call on 07799 416989.

Jottings of a Retired Hon. Sec. by Howard Pighills

As in life generally we have all seen a tremendous change in hunting in the eighteen years that have passed since I was appointed Hon. Sec. to the P.F. & C.H. Over the last couple of hundred years hunting has always adapted to meet the changes that have occurred. The construction of the canal system followed closely by the railways across the land and then the vast amount of tarmac to take the new invention the automobile caused the hunting folk of the last century to adapt to the changing landscape. The addition of wire to contain stock, and finally the law, has not stopped hunting folk in their pastime – they have just adapted. What has never altered is that the sport is totally dependant on the good will and cooperation of the landowners and farmers, and how supportive they have been over these years.

When I first hunted in 1978 the Secretary was the formidable P.K. Wicksteed Esq. (not unlike our present Hon. Sec.) who controlled the members with a rod of iron! The lady members wore bowlers or hunting caps and the gentlemen top hats or in the case of farmers and hunt servants black caps. If not correctly turned out Phil Wicksteed would firmly advise the new member of their indiscretion! In spite of that we did have a waiting list for members wishing to join. Following his very sudden death in 1980 the role of Hon. Sec. was taken on by Messrs. Henderson and Rycroft for two seasons. At that time the Hon. Sec. also sent the warning cards to the farmers. Then John Rycroft continued as Secretary on his own for four seasons with John Henderson sending the warning cards to the farmers. At this time John Rycroft felt that a younger person should be in this role and failing at a Committee to find a suitable excuse I found myself appointed in the season 1987 / 88.

During the last eighteen seasons I have had the great pleasure of working with three very sporting Chairmen – Major Jock Yorke, Chris Hindley and John Henderson – all with long family connections with the Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt. I have also had the pleasure of serving with nine Masters during my time in office and on one occasion was very nearly sent home by one certain lady Master for jumping too close to her horse! To quote another Master ‘it has been a lot of fun’ and have had the opportunity to meet very many members and visitors over those years and have developed quite an ability to spot ‘a fumbler’! This is a member that has difficulty in remembering which pocket the field money has been placed and tries to conduct the transaction whilst crossing the first field!

Some of the pleasures in hunting are the memories of certain incidents that took place and these are revived as one visits that part of the country each season. I will never forget spending twenty minutes one cold December afternoon looking for Ian Haighton’s whip in a field near Gargrave, only for him to realise that it was hung round his neck! We all have special memories of days with friends enjoying our lovely country with our splendid hounds. I would also like to thank Richard Lloyd for producing good consistent sport over the last seventeen seasons that he has hunted hounds.

It only leaves me now to wish Tony Holmes the best of luck for his eighteen seasons !

We rely on your input to fill future editions and hope you enjoy reading your hunt related stories. Please submit your articles to Fiona Tiley by e-mail at fiona.tiley@blueyonder.co.uk or calling 07971 064010. If you are interested in advertising in future newsletters please contact either Fiona or the Secretary – very good rates available!

Obituary – Harry Hindle by Michael Bannister MFH

It is with great sadness that I write this obituary in the memory of a very dear friend, Harry Hindle.

Harry was an enormous supporter of our hunt, and he and Shirley did so many things from the Pony Club to eventing, and in helping with the Point-to-Point and also being a Treasurer of the hunt.

He originally in the mid-30’s was a member of the Holcombe Pony Club and joined the army in 1941 in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. In 1944 he was sent to France following the invasion to assist in looking after the horses that the retreating Germans had left behind, and in doing so they left them loose and they were running wild over the country. His team had the orders to gather them up and get them fit for the allies to use.

Harry was a beautiful horseman, all horses went well for him. He was a strong rider, and had a great feel for horses. After the war he went down to the New Forest into Phil Blackmore’s yard which he eventually bought, and his life revolved around hunting with the buckhounds and the foxhounds and running his very well known establishment.

He came back to Lancashire in the mid-50’s and went to live in Chaigley. At this time he was working for the family textile business and producing young horses.

It was during this period that he was lucky in meeting Shirley Gilbert, and in 1964 they were married at St. Mary’s in Gisburn and went to live at Chaigley.It was during this time that he opened up all the Chaigley/Waddington and Bashall Eaves area putting in hunt jumps all over the place and developing a lovely piece of country.

The timber he used was brought from Manchester racecourse. Harry went over to the sales when the racecourse was sold and he bought the original national hunt jumps and used the timber for hunt jumps. During that time he became the Pony Club Chief Instructor, which he did for many years and did it extremely well.

Shirley was still working for Reg Hindley and to make travelling less difficult they moved to Woodlands in Gisburn. After Reg Hindley died, Harry bought End House Stud in Gisburn from the Hindley family. This was previously the stud where Reg Hindley kept his colts. Harry built the riding school, which is there to this day, and he and Shirley produced young horses, bred their own well-known show horses and helped many trainers including the Dickinson’s to develop their horses for national hunt racing. They were there for about 12 years before moving to Paythorne.

He was a beautiful man to watch across country, totally fearless and had a great empathy with his horses and made crossing a country look very simple and easy. You never saw him looking harassed or being rough with horses. He was a marvellous amateur whipper-in, always in the right spot at the right time; he was a true hunting man.

Harry was a renowned judge of horses. He judged at all the county shows, the Royal International – HOYS and Dublin regularly. He and Shirley were asked to judge in the premier shows five times in South Africa. He was a Pony Club Examiner in A tests which involved much travelling. He was a BHS Examiner to I exams and an inspector of riding schools and trekking centres.

He wrote many articles on horse care and management. He was an expert witness in both insurance and other horse cases. He was always extremely generous in his advice and in his help to people – nothing was ever too much trouble. He was always prepared to help however little or large the problem was.

Latterly we would see him at nearly every meet. He had this great ability of being able to be in the right spot at the right time, so that he could see hounds hunting the whole day. He loved his hunting and loved the countryside and he loved meeting people.

Harry had a wonderful sense of humour, and was always very charming. He was always beautifully turned out be it on a horse, going across country on foot or just when you met him in everyday ways of life.

He always upheld the highest of standards at whatever he did and he always gave of his best.

We will always remember his cheerful words at the meet, his lovely laugh and his wonderful stories. But above all, I remember seeing him and watching him crossing country so beautifully and always hoping that I would be able to do that myself.

We will miss a very dear friend and our sympathies and thoughts go out to Shirley.

THE HUNT BALL

17^TH FEBRUARY 2007

By Carol Dawson

“What a fabulous night”

“How it used to be”

“Intimate”

“Excellent Venue”

“Marvellous entertainment”

“At long last chilled champagne on arrival”

This is just a selection of the feedback I have received. So, I am pleased to say “It was a success” and a very HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED THE EVENT.

Just over 200 guests arrived for a champagne reception and were soon subjected to plenty of photographic shoots before dinner by the Yorkshire Life Magazine photographer and our very own Nick Gill. (Hopefully – according to the editor of Yorkshire Life Magazine – we shall be in the May issue). The selection of photographs in this newsletter is courtesy of Nick Gill.

Nick is setting up a website so you can view your photographs of the season and some of our social events. The website is: www.nickgillphotography.com

Thank You to the Rendezvous Hotel for sponsoring this 4 page social news special

A selection of photographs taken at the Champagne Reception

We were seated for dinner promptly, then Richard Lloyd, our Huntsman in full attire, kindly blew his hunting horn to the arrival of our waitresses for the evening and then dinner was served after grace.

The world premiere of ‘Thrills and Spills’ was shown during the start of dinner, much to the delight of everyone. Brian and Marilyn of B&M Videos brilliantly put together a half hour trailer just to capture the feel of the 2006/7 hunting season and, of course, to tempt you to purchase the two hour final edition!! Orders were soon taken on the night after watching the taster. The trailer was then played in a ‘quiet room’ throughout the entire evening. It is fabulous and well worth £25.00. Proceeds of the video go towards the hunt.

Just before dessert was served, we were interrupted by the Michelin Chefs – in the guise of talented opera singers – and they certainly entertained us in true style and the evening was now buzzing!

The raffle was drawn followed by Nick Bannister’s speech of gratitude to all those concerned plus an extremely amusing final story at our most Senior Master’s expense!

The band was superb and thankfully, due to the professionalism of Simon Farrimond and Lyndsey of Rendezvous, we were dancing the night way by 10.20pm. After the bacon rolls at 1am, and the disco, we finished the evening to the hunt gallop at 2am.

THANK YOU to all the sponsors, to the Rendezvous Hotel and their team, to my Social Committee and to the Masters, Hunt Members, Hunt Staff and Guests for supporting the Ball. We managed to raise just over £5000.

Next Year!! The date for your diary will be 23^rd February at the Rendezvous and I have already received some bookings based on the success of this year’s event! Places will be strictly limited so reserve your table soon...

Thrills and Spills DVD

If you haven’t already placed an order with me, please complete the attached Order Form together with a cheque for £25.00 made payable to PF&CH. If you do require it posting please add £1.50 for postage and packing. They will be available, all being well, at the Fashion Show. You can also download an order Form from www.bandmvideos.co.uk and also from the Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt website www.conistonhuntertrials.com. The DVD will also be for sale at the Point to Point at Heslaker on the 6^th May 2007.

Hunt DVD 2007/8

I have organised another year’s recording and Brian and Marilyn will start earlier this time beginning with the Point to Point on 6^th May 2007. Keep smiling for the cameras!

Social News

Sunday Lunch and Fashion Show

This event is taking place on 11^th March 2007 at the Coniston Hotel. I will be reporting on this event in the next newsletter, but as we go to print, 136 tickets have already been sold and we can only seat 140. So it is going to be a good turn out!

The Hunt Scottish Christmas Party

This event took place on the 9^th December 2006 at Newton Hall Barn, Bank Newton. To start the evening guests were serenaded into the barn by the Celtic sounds of the Piper, who gallantly played outside despite the freezing conditions. After the champagne reception, dinner was served; a delicious hearty dish of venison with a puree of parsnips, celeriac and potatoes with braised red cabbage, kindly supplied by the head chef at the Inn at Whitewell. Next to follow were homemade mincepies and a pineapple and ginger fruitcake, donated from my kitchen, accompanied by a tempting selection of delicious cheeses and oatcakes kindly donated by Jane Pighills.

The Cracker Jocks soon got underway and we danced to the instructions of Roy, the caller, to Strip the Willow, the Gay Gordons, the Dashing White Sergeant, the Flying Scotsman and many more. The disco followed which soon took us through to the early hours of the morning.

Everyone looked fabulous and some had really gone to town with the Scottish theme, especially Tim Smith, John Howard and William Wallis to name but a few!!

150 people attended the evening and we managed to raise £2500. My sincere thanks to all those who contributed one way or another and special mention must go to Philip Green for allowing us to use his magnificent barn again. (Don’t forget the Hunt DVD has captured some of the moments of the evening).

Country and Western Show Down

This is a date for your diary: 16^th June 2007 at Newton Hall Barn, Bank Newton, Gargrave. This is going to be another colourful event! Great food, live “Red Sky Rodeo Band” and Andrew Marshall’s disco. There will be a prize for the best rider who can outride the Rodeo Bull! So all you Country Folk, Sheriffs, Indian Chiefs, Outlaws, Saloon Girls make your way to the Newton Hall Corral! More information shortly about the Saloon opening times etc but I know for a fact that the last Stage Coach will leave that evening at 1.00am. Lets go back to the days of Bonanza, The High Chaparel, The Big Valley, The Virginian and, if my age is showing now, Alias, Smith and Jones!! Call me if you would like to secure a place. Invites to follow.

The Christmas “Apres Ski” Party

In December 2007 our Christmas Party is themed in Austria. Newton Hall Barn, Bank Newton, Gargrave will be transformed into an Alpine winter wonderland with ski wear, fur coats, log fires, gluhwein, sleigh bells, crisp apple strudels and lots more with entertainment by Baron Von Rhinestein’s Bavarian Band “oompah mitt oomph!!” The food will be spectacular as I have booked Paul Heffernan again who did the catering for the Medieval Banquet. Put the date in your diary...

Lapwing and Larder by Kimberley Howard

Lapwing and Larder arrived in the Spring when we were still training for the P.P.C (Prince Philip Cup Mounted Games) so in my eyes I thought I could get slightly fitter by taking the hounds for walks. Little did I know, being my first hounds, that it would be them taking me for a run! P.P.C came and went but by this point I had become rather attached to them so I decided to carry on taking them for their now well-established sprint!

In some ways I was exceptionally lucky and probably the envy of some of the other helpers at the yard because it meant that after herding in the trekking ponies in the morning I was able to dash off with ‘the girls’ as I liked to call them. This meant being able to avoid the novice children on pony weeks asking for help picking up ponies hooves and putting in ponies bits for at least another hour.

Then at the end of what seemed a long, hot day once the children had gone home, walking along to see them, knowing that they wanted to see you.

As Jane encourages all the hounds she takes on to be as independent as possible this often meant seeing them dart over a neighbour’s garden/field wall and me scrambling over after them, very red in the face and screaming their names. A notably funny memory of them was when I took them down to Jane’s show-jumps. They didn’t have a clue where to start and it made no difference how many times I proceeded over the fence and may I add at what speed, in attempts to trick them they still continued to sit at the other side like a rather stubborn old nag does at a show! Swimming also didn’t seem their forte. I attempted getting them in the river several times with major failure I suppose being the conclusion of it all! Larder didn’t mind it too much at first but she soon found it became incredibly boring and jumped out up the bank and usually ran off after an imaginary object with me and Lapwing running after her. Lapwing hated the river and normally sat with me on the bank. Thankfully they never chased any of the cattle or sheep in and around Conistone.

They made my day when they won best couple at the kennels’ open day. Whenever I go to Jane’s house now I can’t help but to look at their kennel and wish we still had them but I know they enjoy it more and it’s a pleasure to watch them work on a day’s hunting, even if Lapwing still does her own thing a bit. And its better still that they do still recognise me.

Thank you to everyone who made this one-in-a-million chance available to me, they are two in a million and especially to Jane and Howard for letting them live in their kennel.

Hound Raffle by Tim Smith

This season we ran a hound raffle to raise funds. The badges were very kindly produced by Simon Batterham, and people paid £20, drew a hound and received a badge with its name on. The final draw took place at the Hunt Ball. The winner was Philip Green who had drawn ‘Charlotte’. He won £100! The raffle made £760 for hunt funds! Overall the raffle was a success and we will be running it again for next season starting at the puppy show and drawing at the 2008 Hunt Hall. Thank you to everyone who took part.

Other Fundraising Events by Tony Holmes

On New Years Day we held a collection for the Countryside Alliance. This collection raised £406.

At the final meet of the season at Coniston Hall a collection was made at lunchtime for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. This is a service which is vital for our sport in the event of an accident in a remote location. We raised £330. Thank you to everyone for your generosity.

‘Thrills & Spills’ by Carol Dawson

B&M Videos have created a DVD of our seasons hunting and some of our social events. Some of you may have seen a preview of it at the Hunt Ball. This is a super keepsake including footage from the Breakfast Meet, Opening Meet, Pony Club Meet and Christmas venues. They also visited the Kennels at the end of a typical hunting day and attended the Christmas Party and Hunt Ball. Please order your copy directly from Carol Dawson. They are selling quickly so get your order in soon!

Racing Quiz by Michael Murray

This is the same quiz that we had in our Winter newsletter. Much to Michael’s disappointment we received no entries. Rather than give the answers now we are going to run the quiz again in the hope that some of you will have a go!

Grand National legend Red Rum, who won the famous race a record three times, landed first over the last fence an unprecedented five years in succession, finishing second in the two races he did not win. He also slashed the course record by an incredible 18½ seconds.

1 When was the Grand National first broadcast on the radio?

2 Can you name the winner and his jockey of that race?

3 In what year was the Grand National won by a furlong?

4 From where did the ‘grackle’ noseband derive its name?

5 How many different trainers did Red Rum have in his racing life?

Please send your answers to Fiona Tiley, The Old Barn, Clough Lane, Oakworth, Keighley, BD22 7HP. The first correct answer pulled out of a hat on the 22^nd April 2007 will win a bottle of Irish whiskey kindly sponsored by Craven Livery, Gargrave. Get your entries in now!

The Yorkshire Point to Point Club by James Ilott

It all started for the contributor four or five years ago when he was seated next to Jo Foster at a P.F. & C.H. Point-to-Point committee meeting and she told him about her club and invited him to join, which he was pleased he did as it has given so much pleasure to him and his family.

Some of the highlights of the season have seen Jo winning the Yorkshire ladies Championship at South Durham.

At the Vale of Lune at Whittington we ran Cadrillion in the mens race with Nigel Smith in the plate. Jo was riding at another meeting so Tom Bannister was asked to give Nigel, who had a tight fit in Jo’s colours, a leg up, which he did with gusto. Nigel landed over the other side in a heap to everyone’s roaring laughter! In spite of this Nigel and Cad did the club proud and won the race, getting all our pictures in the local press to boot!

We have had runners all over the North and Midlands as well as Hunter Chasers at Wetherby, Sedgefield and Ludlow.

It can also be money making. The club leased a horse to run in an amateur race on the flat, with Jo up in our colours. The horse was called Agribaa trained by Alan Lockwood at Mallow. He came in first at odds of 33/1 and for a lucky few the tote paid out £78. We drank the hospitality room at the racecourse out of champagne and went home into the early hours!

We also attended when Jo ran a good race in the Aintree Foxhunters at the Grand National meeting in 2006 although Jo was pregnant with Felix at the time. Carrie Ford won the race the year before shortly after giving birth.

The club also has a social side – visits to gallops followed by a pub lunch. At Cartmel we have a picnic after the racing with the Pimms flowing freely and meet all the other owners in the yard.

When Jo got her permit her first runner was in the last race at Uttoxeter, a bumper. In the parade ring when the bell for jockeys to mount, Gina Carenza, who is 6’4” was bucked off twice so the horse was led to the start in the dimming light. It was an evening meeting and drunken yobs hurled abuse and even empty beer cans at Jo leading the horse. Despite this he finished 5^th.

Jo’s first winner was Noussou in a hurdle race at Cartmel. We had a very good picnic that day!

This summer, Jo, with a public licence, formed the ‘Golden Syndicate’ with Sandy Gold a novice chaser. He finished third at Catterick at odds of 200/1. Some lucky punters got 500/1 on internet betting. His best race was 2^nd place at Kelso in October. The aim is to qualify him for this year’s Aintree Foxhunters.

The Point-to-Point Club horses are now trained by Jo’s father, Peter, since Jo was granted a public trainers licence. This season we have three horses: Come Ashore (Ash), Poach in Again who beat Hardy Eustace (Champion Hurdle winner) in a bumper in Ireland and a maiden who has been placed four time in Ireland. We are looking forward to a successful season and hope the horses remain sound.

Farmers Hunt Party by Elizabeth Adams & Susan Chapman

On the 27^th January we held a very successful party at the Royles Royce Sports and Leisure Club, Barnoldswick, for our farmers. We received this lovely letter congratulating us for the evening:

“Dear Liz, Susan, Alison and the girly committee also helpers,

Congratulations on your splendid evening on Saturday, first class well done.

The room was tastefully decorated warm and comfortable. The food was delicious, the comedian brilliant, it was great to have such a laugh. The waiter service was spot on, in fact one of the better evenings. We thank you very much for your generosity and wish you all the very best for future hunting, long may it last.

Very many thanks again.”

Cycling for Charity in Ireland by Richard Lloyd

In June 2006, myself and seven hunt staff and supporters from the Holderness, South Notts and Fitzwilliam Foxhounds cycled over 1000kms in the emerald isle raising funds for two charities. The Martin House Hospice at Wetherby and the Hunt Staff Benefit Society shared the £8000 raised through sponsorship.

The cycle took just seven days. Hunt staff at kennels throughout Ireland were our hosts providing welcome beds or lunch en route. The tour began at the Louth kennels just outside Dublin. Travelling west we visited the Sligo Harriers, the Galway Blazers and the Limerick Foxhounds. We stopped briefly at the Dunhallow kennels before moving on to the Macroom and then to the Waterford. We also took a break at the Callow Farmers in Kilkenny before continuing to the splendid Co. Kildare kennels at Punchestown and concluding the journey at the Co. Meath.

The hospitality we received from everyone in Ireland was unbelievable. Staff and hunt supporters at all the hunt kennels where we stayed overnight expected us to party. Not easy night after night when you have cycled up to 110 miles that day but the friendliness and hospitality was unbelievable.

The trip also meant that we had the opportunity of seeing lots of hounds and kennels. The Black and Tans at the Limerick kennels were very special. The Kildare kennels at Punchestown were out of this world and the Dunhallow kennels where hounds are kennelled not as a pack but in small lodges holding two or three hounds each were fantastic.

The hospitality and the opportunity of seeing so many packs of hounds were the upside of the trip. The downside? The fact that in true Irish style it rained every day and it was impossible to dry clothes at night. I am also convinced that road signs in Ireland flip round the wrong way every time an Englishman looks at them for direction (what do you think leprechauns do in their spare time Richard?!).

Although the best moment of the trip for me was when we completed it I am still cycling. I now have a bike which you can lift up with your little finger and cycle regularly.

A Photographic Round Up of the Season