Blencathra Foxhounds, Cumbria - The John Peel Hunts

There had been a shepherd’s meeting at the top of High Street, and such meetings were invariably accompanied by sports and hunts. During the particular hunt in question a man named Dixon fell from Blea Water Crag, about 300 feet high, and miraculously broke no bones, although terribly bruised, for he struck several times against the rock and so checked his fall. When he came to the ground he scrambled on to his knees, cried out “Lads, t’fox is gane out at hee end; lig t’ dogs on and I’ll come syn” and then fell down insensible.

50 copies of the 2nd Edition are now available

£17.00 inc post and packing

Available from:

Henry Roberts 01539 720524 or

Fred Holdsworth 015394 433388 or

Ron Black [author]:

cumbrian-lad@hotmail.co.uk

An Introduction to Fox Hunting is a 16-page document, designed to introduce the younger generation to hunting with hounds - and it is available now. Specifically focused at targeting the secondary school age range, the booklet covers a wide variety of topics including some facts about the fox as a species, a guide to a day’s hunting, some important hunting terms and a word search.

“We get numerous requests for material from young people taking part in school and college debates on hunting and so have tailored this document especially for them,” said Jim Barrington, animal welfare consultant for the Countryside Alliance.

“I attend many debates to talk about hunting and there is a real thirst for information from young people; it is up to us to provide the facts so that informed debate, and a healthy interest in the countryside, can follow.”

The booklet has an informative but fun tone and, with plenty of illustrations, has been designed to stimulate the younger mind.

For copies of the booklet please contact Henrietta Lee at the Countryside Alliance at henrietta-lee@countryside-alliance.org or visit the Countryside Alliance stand at the Royal Welsh, the Great Yorkshire, The CLA Game Fair (19-21 July), at Ragley Hall, Warwicks or other shows the Countryside Alliance is attending this summer.

Click Here to see/download a copy

The Snowy Weather [end of March].....at the Kennels

Yorkshire Tour 2013

DAY 1: Click here DAY 2: Click here

AND ANOTHER!! The RSPCA, the Avon Vale & the tax payer Thursday, 9 May 2013 Countryside Alliance Executive Chairman Barney White-Spunner writes: Another week, another spurious prosecution from the RSPCA, another long trial scheduled at great cost to the tax payer and then, surprise, surprise it all collapses. On Tuesday the RSPCA abandoned a high profile Hunting Act prosecution against the Avon Vale hunt on the first day of a scheduled seven-day trial. The charity had spent £50,000 bringing the private prosecution to Chippenham Magistrates Court, but the RSPCA backed down at the last moment dropping what District Judge Simon Cooper described as "not a strong case". READ MORE HERE
AND YET ANOTHER RSPCA STORY...... RSPCA fails in prosecution of Cheshire Forest Friday, 12 April 2013 The RSPCA has dropped a private prosecution of two supporters of the Cheshire Forest hunt in the latest in a series of embarrassing cases involving hunts. Brian Nuttall, 78, from Holmes Chapel and Justin Schofield, 42, from Crewe were out with the Cheshire Forest hunt on 3 March 2012 near Croton, in Cheshire, when they were filmed covertly by anti-hunting activists. READ MORE HERE Another Hunting Act case collapses Thursday, 11 April 2013 Countryside Alliance Executive Chairman Barney White-Spunner writes: This week brought more good news from the courts when the Hunting Act prosecution against the joint-master and huntsman of the Weston and Banwell Harriers, George Milton, was thrown out by Magistrates in Taunton. They ruled not just that George Milton was not guilty, but that he had "no case to answer" and that no jury could reasonably convict him having heard the prosecution evidence. READ MORE HERE

Local Girl Jennie wins the Silver Shears award At a catwalk show at the Merchant Taylors' Hall on London's Threadneedle Street on Monday evening [18th March] the Silver Shears trophy was won byJennie McWalter from Keswick.
The picture above is of Mr John Hitchcock, Managing Director of Anderson and Sheppard, Jennie and her Silver Shears award, model wearing Jennies outfit inspired by the Blencathra and David Gandy For more pictures of Jennie Mcwalter and her winning Outfit click here and scroll down the news page



Here's another RSPCA story! [18th Feb] RSPCA private prosecution collapse reinforces need for scrutiny of charity An RSPCA private prosecution brought against a Cheshire hunt supporter, his partner and their nineteen year old daughter has collapsed on the first morning of a scheduled three day trial at Crewe Magistrates’Court. Keith Watson, a farmer, Tanya Norlander and Hannah Watson had been accused of interference with a badger sett on 16th February last year when Mr Watson was assisting the Cheshire Hunt . On the first morning of the trial RSPCA prosecutors admitted, despite knowing all the facts of the case for over a year, that there was no realistic prospect of conviction on the evidence and the case was dismissed. In March last year Mr Watson’s farm was raided by RSPCA employees and police officers who searched outbuildings and barns removing mole traps, clothes and Mr Watson’s legally held firearms. The costs of the three defendants, which are likely to exceed £10,000, were awarded from ‘Central Funds’ which means the taxpayer will pay for the defendants costs as well as those of the aborted three day trial. Tim Bonner, Director of Campaigns at the Countryside Alliance, said: “It is simply disgraceful that the RSPCA is using the criminal justice system to pursue a vindictive campaign against the hunting community. The Watson family have suffered more than a year of stress over a prosecution so unjustified that it fell apart within minutes of the trial starting. “There is no way on earth that the police and Crown Prosecution Service would have prosecuted on such flawed and weak evidence, but the RSPCA pursued Mr Watson and his family simply because they were part of the Cheshire Hunt. “Fundamental questions about the RSPCA’s use of private prosecutions were raised in the wake of the scandal over the £326,000 prosecution of the Heythrop Hunt. This case only reinforces the need for proper scrutiny of a charity which is using money donated to protect animal welfare to pursue a political, animal rights campaign.” For the previous story : Why did the RSPCA shoot dead more than 40 sheep in a grisly dockside massacre? The Daily Mail investigates horrific slaughter of animals unloaded from French lorry Click here & scroll down the page to see it in full

If you want to be kind to animals bring back fox hunting Countryside Alliance animal welfare consultant Jim Barrington has written for leading political website Politics.co.uk. Jim's article is entitled "If you want to be kind to animals, bring back fox hunting". Jim makes the vital point: "Critics say that hunting cannot possibly be a form of pest control as they kill so few compared with other methods. This is to fundamentally misunderstand hunting and wildlife management. Wildlife management is not about numbers killed, but the health and size of the population left alive. A hunt is perfectly suited to achieving this, being a combination of sport, wildlife management and pest control and not just any one of those things." Click here to read this article by Jim Barrington Jim Barrington is a former executive director of the League Against Cruel Sports and is now an animal welfare consultant for the Countryside Alliance and Council of Hunting Associations. he is also an advisor to the all-party parliamentary middle way group and an honorary member of the Veterinary Association for Wildlife Management.

Opening Meet 2012 *Check out Recent days out* or Latest news items pages click on picture for gallery**
DIARY DATES For galleries of the 2012 shows go to the shows page
June 11th	Supporters Group meeting 7.30pm ----Threlkeld Sports Pavilion
July 28th	Duck Race River Caldew 2pm
August 6th	Supporters Group meeting 7.30pm ----Threlkeld Sports Pavilion
August 10/11th	Lowther Game & Country Fair
August 15th	Rydal Hound show
August 21st	Threlkeld sheep dog/hound show
October 2nd	Supporters Group meeting 7.30pm ----Threlkeld Sports Pavilion
October 12th	Race night 7-30 pm Keswick Golf Club
October 20th	Lunch 12-30 pm – speaker Sir Johnny Scott – Caldbeck Village Hall
November 28th	Flower Demo - Keswick Golf Club 7-30pm
December 4th	Supporters Group meeting 7.30pm ----Threlkeld Sports Pavilion
February 2014	Auction of promises – details to be confirmed
Supporters Group Only a few 2013 calendars left Get Yours Now - £8 each or 3 for £20 Contact a member of the Supporters Group or Hunt Official to get yours while stocks last!!! *Also available cards and new for this year a range of mugs @ £6 each or 4 for £20* NEWSLETTER No 9 [20th MAR] is here click here to visit the Supporters Group page and read the Latest newsletter check it out for forthcoming social events!!	Check out: Latest news items page Recent days out page Social events/supporters group pages To keep up to date with all that is happening at the Blencathra	Members Draw 2013 click on picture for 2013 results Contact Stan or Marg Should you wish to join the 'new' & 'bigger' 2013 draw If you missed the Radio 4 programme 'Outfoxed' it is now available via YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=vVsv-6vP6uo
SPONSOR a HOUND 2012/13 Season We are continuing with Hound Sponsorship for the coming season. Each hound can be sponsored for £20 - or more! and will include a mug featuring a photograph of your sponsored hound. Contact a member of the Supporters Group or Hunt Official to renew or start your Hound Sponsorship click here for a full list of all the 2012/13 Hounds to choose which hound to sponsor		Kennels Coffee Morning:: Last of the Season Click here to read Extract from August edition of FIELD magazine featuring Barry & Ruler