A Message from the Chairman of the Trustees. Redcar Farm Dear All, We wanted you to be aware that an opportunity has arisen to establish kennel huntsman accommodation alongside kennels at Redcar Farm in the valley near Ampleforth. After some initial discussions the Ampleforth Abbey Trustees indicated to us just before Easter that it may be possible for us to take on a lease for Redcar Farm although we should stress there is a long way to go before any final agreement is reached. Such an opportunity to establish a home for the hunt staff and hounds will provide us with a long-term stable arrangement around which we can plan our future and look towards the bicentenary. We will try to keep you informed as and when we can over the next few months. Should any of you have particular expertise/knowledge/ability in respect of the various issues which will arise such as planning or the building work that will be required we hope you will make yourselves known to us as we would be grateful for any assistance over the coming months. We should stress this is only an opportunity at present but, we hope you will agree, it is a very exciting one for the future of the Hunt. Regards, Michael Spencer Toby Pedley parades hounds at Exhibition 2016. L - R Ben Sanders, Henry Kirk, Xavier Wain-Blisset, Toby, Georgina Eglinton, George Crowder Forrard-on into the The Point to Point which Bicentenary! was first started in 1922 was won this year by Edward Plowden (D), in just 21 minutes, equalling the course When Paddy Dunne Cullinan’s mother sent record of James Channer D12 who four couples of beagles over from Ireland to was Captain of Beagling in 2010-11. Ampleforth in November 1915 people would have been thinking more about when the war would end rather than how long the new pack of beagles would last. So here we are at the end of our first season after our centenary in good heart and looking forward to the future. Links with Ampleforth College remain strong and Hounds paraded under new Huntsman Toby Pedley’s direction at Exhibition 2016 before a large gathering of students, parents and friends. College Hunt officials at the time were Henry Kirk (J), Capt. of Beagling, with Benedict Sanders (D), George Crowder(O), Xavier Wain-Blissett (J), George Boyle (J) and Georgina Eglinton (B). This year the team comprises Benedict as Captain of The Greenwood Point-to-Point Trophy modelled by Beagling assisted by Xavier, George Boyle D. H. Clarke in 1929 and presented as a silver trophy and Deaglan Hunter Blair (D). by Mr Herbert Greenwood. The Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles This is our parent body whose principal role is to act as the governing body of hunting by packs of harriers and beagles in England and Wales. Despite the Hunting Act 2004 the Association and its members remain resolute in their commitment to amend flawed legislation and to promote the management, welfare and conservation of the hare. Membership is open to all those who support hare hunting and wish to be involved in the Association. The AMHB welcomes young people under the age of 21 wishing to encourage greater involvement by the young in hunting and in order for them to share the knowledge, experience and skills of more experienced members, in the art of venery and the management and handling of a pack of hounds. Members of the Association receive: • a copy of the annual Association Handbook • a set of rules • an AMHB badge • access to the members section of AMHB website • regular newsletters and invitations to: • the AMHB Annual Conference • the Harrier and Beagle Show at the Festival of Hunting at Peterborough • Hunting seminars and events throughout the year, some especially designed for young hare hunters. The cost of membership of the AMHB for those who are not Masters of Hounds is £30.00 per annum, payable on 1st May. For those aged under 21 on May 1st, the subscription is £15.00. Young members also receive discounts on AMHB merchandise. All those wishing to apply for membership of the AMHB must be nominated by two people who have been members of the AMHB for at least two years. All applications must be approved by members of the Joint Committee. Application forms and direct debit instructions can be obtained from Hon. Secretary Claire Thompson at [email protected] and applications for membership should be accompanied by the annual subscription either by cheque or by completion of a direct debit instruction. “The first season’s always the worst.” Toby Pedley writes: A sentence I’ve heard numerous times throughout the course of what concludes my first season as Huntsman. The first time I heard it I almost felt put out, as though it suggested that once we got this first season out of the way then we could put it behind us, crack on and have some real sport! I’ve come to realise quite quickly that this isn’t the intended meaning at all! Rather that when you’re involved so deeply within the hunt it’s impossible not to learn on hand and upon reflection, notice areas for improvement. Whether it’s the preparations made in the late summer months leading up to the opening of the season or even in which direction to draw to get that run we are all hoping for, it all comes down to past experience, something hard to call upon in your first season! I’ve been extremely lucky to have such fantastic support from all the supporters, subscribers, friends and family throughout the entire hunting year not just on hunt days. Coming back to a few smiling faces at the hound trailer at the end of a blank day in bleak December weather and hearing, “Well done, you did everything you could.” means as much as the positive comments at the end of a successful hunt and for this I’m very grateful. I've been very pleased with how hounds have gone all season. They've hunted well throughout some testing times with hot days, poor scent and patches of fog that have really disrupted any momentum we seemed to gain. This is a credit to Mark Campbell’s thorough hound breeding, Tom Cranage my predecessor’s hard work and effort and to Brian Marshall at kennels It’s been good to see so much enthusiasm from the young college whippers-in and followers this season. They’ve provided some excellent information that’s helped keep hunts going during poor scenting days and they’ve put up with some foul weather to help see hounds safely back to the trailer at the end of a long day. A fine example of this was at the Oak Tree near the start of the season where, after a fast paced opening hour, hounds feathered away from a check left handed when Xavier Wain- Blisset and George Boyle ran over to tell me that not long before hounds had arrived at the check, a rabbit had run the left hand line that the young entry where beginning to feather on. With this hounds were quickly laid on the correct line and it was only through this information that the hunt was kept alive and I hope that as the students continue to involve themselves within the hunt their confidence will grow and allow them to have a more active and enjoyable time out hunting. One particular day that stands out in my memory was the meet at Cote Hill, Farndale early-February. A beautifully clear day that was both cold and crisp did the meet justice and this was reflected by a strong turnout of both regular subscribers and visitors. After the initial climb to the first draw we found well, getting things under way within 10 minutes of leaving the meet. 13½ couple flew downwards back towards the meet, giving those that were taking the hill at a more civilised pace a good view before swinging tightly back on themselves to climb up once more. Despite scent appearing to be red hot, hounds had to come down a gear to negotiate the line through the maze of field followers as they continued to travel up the hill. This was a blessing in disguise as it gave both me and Morgan Campbell (who was on peak form after a hugely successful debut hunting hounds at Lastingham just a week before) time to get to the Blakey road to see hounds safely across. Russell Yardley selflessly did a fantastic job all day, staying on the road stopping traffic numerous times keeping the pack’s momentum going. Hounds crossed the road without a check and rumbled on still tight up together despite the testing ascent. As they hunted on out of sight and deeper into Rosedale, Morgan and I were only just within earshot as we arrived at the brow of the hill to see hounds at a check just above Thorgill. It looked as though this might be a tough test for hounds with fresh lines emerging close to the check. It delighted me to see a first season hound doing the majority of the heavy lifting in getting the pack away again on the original line, back up the hill just aside from where we stood. We ran with them trying to keep well on terms as we neared the Blakey road. Again Russell had things well under control and we crossed without hesitation, keeping the pressure high.