News & gossip
The aim is to provide a portal to all riders in the Atherstone Hunt area to share information of horsey interest and keep you up to date with Hunt events.
Helen Milner - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
07989 431764
PUPPY SHOW 2010
Hounds were judged by Mr William Deacon - Huntsman from the Warwickshire and Mr Pat Dillon MFH from the Meath.
GRAND NATIONAL DRAW WINNERS
£10 TICKET WINNERS
1ST/£100 - Richard Woodward & Tim Selby
2nd/£50 - Rosalind Staples & Kim Turner
3rd/£25 - Julie Lee & Jo Jewell
4th/£10 - Di Mellor & M Carter
£5 TICKET WINNERS
1st/£50 - S Simmons, G Budd, L Murfitt & D Whitehead
2nd/£25 - A Weaver, L Mayne, R Tomlinson, B Windridge
3rd/£15 - A Simmons, J Armson, S Garland, L Livesey
4th/£5 - K Smith, M Cantwell, K Ward, L Wain
The Tumble Club
by Jane Herrick
Hopefully you will have all seen a new page on the Atherstone Hunt web site called The Tumble Club. For those of you who don't know, this is a fun way to collect money for both The Atherstone Hunt, and for The Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Rutland Air Ambulance.
Anyone who has a witnessed forced dismount whilst out hunting will become a member of The Tumble Club, and will be charged £5.00 for the privilege. Any subsequent forced dismount will attract a further fee of £5.00 and every time your name will be posted on the web site page, which will be updated once a week. And when you pay, that will also be updated, so anyone trying to wriggle out of paying will be known to everyone in the hunt! From personal experience I can tell you that the Air Ambulance is a fabulously worthy charity and I cannot believe anyone would begrudge a fiver.
I call it a witnessed forced dismount because a) we need witnesses to let us know - unless you are a very honest hunter who owns up even if there are no witnesses, b) it is forced i.e. not intended, so it can be your fall, a horse fall, a failed mounting attempt, a fall whilst walking etc, and c) it is a dismount, and that could be from whatever you are hunting on- horse, quad bike, your own feet. So the footies can become members, and anyone following on a bike, quad bike etc. It is all inclusive.
At the end of the season we tot up - and the person who has spent the most will win that coveted prize - the Tumble Club Championship. A picture and small article will be in the Covert to Covert Newsletter.
The Tumble Club has many eyes and ears - it is best to assume "there is nowhere to hide!"
BOXING DAY MARKET BOSWORTH
2009
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEV WRIGHT
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NEWCOMERS DAY
Here is a collection of photographs taken at our recent Saturday afternoon meet for 'Newcomers', held at Witherley.
Photographs kindly supplied by Mick Smith. Any Enquires please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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ATHERSTONE HUNT TEAM CHASE 2009
On the 27th September the Atherstone Hunt held its annual team chase at Highfield House Farm Bedworth thanks to Sam and Ann Arthers allowing us to disrupt their farm once again.
The competition consists of 3 classes, each run over our wonderful natural fences, which are mostly hedges. The event is one of the most popular of the season due to the beautifully presented fences, which in turn are due to the tremendous amount of hard work that Sam Arthers and Pete Clark put in prior to the event. The effort this year was tremendous due to dry spell but they still managed to produce a course and going that was complimented by many of the competitors who had come from all over the country to compete.
The Novice Class, over 3ft jumps, attracted an entry of 42 teams of 4 riders and is run against a bogey time. This class sponsored by Sharnford Tractors was won by The Holme House Farm Brew Crew from the High Peak, with the home team from Highfield Farm in 2nd and The Mini Wheatland Flyers, from Shropshire, in 3rd. The prize for the Best All Atherstone Team was won by the Funkey Fillies who were 4th overall and although out of the money each rider went home with a wonderful bucket of goodies thanks to the generosity of our local feed suppliers SLB Supplies whose continued sponsorship is greatly appreciated.
The Open Class, sponsored by Eddie "Farmer" Hill in conjunction with Chesterton Humberts, is definitely not for the faint-hearted since this is run against the clock over the largest and widest hedges on the course. The class was wonderful to watch with some outstanding riding and unfortunately, some spectacular falls. The class was won by Top Spec Hair Raisers who had travelled up from Wales, with last year's National Champions, The Art Hotel Chasers, in 2nd. Such is the attraction of our hedges The Herbal Junkies travelled up from Cornwall despite the 5 hour journey just to jump " our fantastic hedges ". Hope you got back safe and sound.
The Intermediate Class, sponsored by one of our Masters, Marian Carter of MJC Associates, attracted a field of 20 teams and was very hotly contested with The Top Spec Close Shavers emulating their Open team and taking the spoils. Rumour had it that the Champagne won by the individual fastest riders in these 2 classes would not be leaving the car park as they enjoyed their traditional post event meal prior to the long trip home to Wales. The Relentless Flyers had to settle for second place this time around closely followed home by Buster Marquees Details to follow in third.
The Team Chase Committee would like to thank all of our many sponsors and all the people from fence judges to car park attendants who freely gave up their time to ensure competitors and spectators all had a marvellous day out. Special thanks to Ann and Sam Arthers for their hospitality and hard work, because without their support and efforts we would not have course that is the toast of team chasers across the UK. The event was a successful fundraiser for the Hunt and we will be able to make a sizeable donation to the Air Ambulance as well. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.
CASH DAW RESULTS
1. Tony Day - Wolvey - £300
2. Peter Roche - Arley - £200
3. Michael Grindal - Catthorpe - £100
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Jacob Smith winner of the day out with John
Kennelley from the hunt ball auction -prize draw . What a worthy winner
from start to finish (crack of dawn to dusk ) he was essentially John's
2nd Whip and he thoroughly enjoyed himself and from what I saw was very
competent .
photos courtesy of kev wright
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VALE OF AYLESBURY HOUNDS VIST TO THE COCK AT SIBSON
photos courtesy of kev wright
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Visit of HRH to Mkt Bosworth R.D.A.
AND
Mrs Holderness Roddam C.B.E. L.V.O.
Presents RDA badges to
Atherstone hunt pony club members
photos courtesy of kev wright
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A LETTER FROM H.M.S. ATHERSTONE
Sir,
This may well be an unusual greeting from your namesake Royal Navy Minehunter but I thought I would take time to find out about our affiliated hunt. I am the Gunnery Officer onboard HMS Atherstone at present. We have just arrived out here in Bahrain where the Ship has been at high readiness to conduct operation throughout the Arabian Gulf since March. The Ship's Company changes over every 6 months or so and we are now out here until July. We will be updating the RN website regularly in case you wish to keep track on our news. On a personal note, the British Government may not be keen to advertise the links between Fox hunts and RN Warships but I am a definite supporter of countryside sports. The Cattistock hunt is my local in Dorset but I tend to spend more time on the pheasant drives. Our wardroom has one or two pictures of foxes and your hunt and so it is pleasing to keep even the subtlest of links.
'All the best from Bahrain where fox and mine-hunting combine!'
Lt Tim Montagu RN
HMS ATHERSTONE
If you would like to write to tim and the crew of HMS ATHERSTONE to show them our support and give them hunting news the address is
Gunnery Officer
HMS ATHERSTONE
BFPO 215.
AMINGTON TUES 30TH DEC
OUR THANKS TO MIKE AND JO GILMANFOR PUTTING ON A SUPERB MEET.
PHOTO'S COURTESY OF David Tricklebank [ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ]
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ANGELA JAMES 1951-2008
Angela first became involved with the Atherstone Hunt in 1984. She and Ian owned a racehorse that Sam Arthers offered to qualify for them. At this stage Angela nor Ian knew anything about hunting. However, Croft Dale won the Atherstone Maiden race the following spring. Their enthusiasm for our way of life had been ignited.
Sam and Anne have kept and trained several horses for them, notably True Tip and Wrekin Lad. Both of these were Point to Point winners. Wrekin Lad was a birthday present to Angela from Ian and was without doubt, her favourite.
Angela became more involved with the affairs of the hunt during the mid nineties when she began collecting the car caps, making many friends amongst the footies. It was not long before she became secretary to the Supporters Club and on the retirement of her nephew Andrew, as chairman, she succeeded him. Both these roles meant being responsible for very many social and money raising activities, earning several thousands of pounds for the hunt. When Felicity retired as secretary the post was divided, Angela being responsible for the Hunt telephone. There were numerous enquiries and she dealt with all these with great charm and the easy manner that we loved her for. During the policitical fight post 1997, she was a great help to the Masters and was responsible for booking the coaches and organising hundreds of people to and from London, Brighton, Bournemouth and several other smaller events. She must have been well gratified that after all her efforts and despite legal set backs, we still meet at 11.
It was fitting that Angela's last enjoyable event was the Atherstone Point to Point on 20th April, and this was virtually where her love for point to pointing and hunting all started some 24 years ago. Although not riding to hounds, for the last 15 years, she has worked tirelessly for the hunt.
We thank her all that she has done for us, we miss her enormously.
MORE PHOTOS FROM AUTUMN HUNTING
PHOTO COURTESY KEV. WRIGHT
CHLOE RETURNS TO HER HANDLER COUNTRYMAN DARREN WINTERS FOR A REST BETWEEN FLUSHES
BELOW RECENT ACTION THIS AUTUMN
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEV WRIGHT & AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE