Secretary's Notes

WEBSITE AND ANSWERPHONE

The website http://www.groveruffordhunt.org.uk is updated regularly, particularly in the season, when cancellations, changes to meets etc are posted as soon as known. On occasion, urgent notices are emailed to those on the email list. Email me if you are not on the list. Answer phone 01777 872770 is used for details of cancellations in case of doubtful weather (do not telephone before 9.00 am), For details of meets in September see website.

COMMITTEE

There were two new members proposed for the committee and an election was held. See contact details for the list of committee members elected.

FINANCES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

Total income at £98,000 was up £7,000 year on year. Subscriptions and cap increased and the Supporters Club gave £10,000 (up £5,800), the Entertainments Committee £8,000, the Point to Point Committee £8,000 (up £4,000) and the Trustees £5,000. Overall costs at £104,000 were up on the previous year due mainly to the increase in horse expenses and establishment costs. Unfortunately the increase in income was not enough to avoid a deficit of £5,600 which however was a slight improvement on the previous year. The Trustees accounts showed a surplus of £3,000 for the year with cash at bank improving to just short of £5,000. The Committee have decided to increase the hunt subscriptions for the coming season - see subscription rates Remember that to take advantage of the standing order payment basis, forms must be in as soon as possible. - Do it now! - First monthly payment 15 October.

INSURANCE: MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE

The Committee expects all subscribers and supporters to be members of the CA. Membership provides personal public liability cover of £5m whilst engaging in recognised country pursuits. Subscription forms must either quote your CA membership or provide evidence of personal public liability of £5m which includes hunting. The Committee and Masters are not willing to allow individuals to hunt who are not adequately insured.

VISITORS

Visits are welcome from known persons or on introduction – the Secretary must be contacted beforehand. Note – Two days only per visitor, then a subscription must be paid.

AUTUMN HUNTING

As set out in the Hunting Act guidance notes on page 3, we shall be on hound exercise from late August, building up to full line hunting out of covert during October. Dress ratcatcher. See website for updates. Dress from the opening meet hunting uniform.

MEET CARDS

Meet cards are prepared by the Masters after consultation with farmers and shoots. This means that they are often only available shortly before the card starts, and take a further week to print and post. Meet cards are posted on the website as soon as available.

GATE SHUTTING

We no longer nominate gate shutters. The last through must ensure that all gates are closed.

DAMAGE TO GATES

A charge of £80 will be made to anyone breaking a gate whilst hunting

HORSE BOXES

Please park at least half a mile from the meet and do not obstruct private or public roads or gateways.

CAR FOLLOWERS

Should always follow and not be in front of the Hunt and should take particular care not to obstruct the highway, nor to go onto private property unless specifically invited. Car followers should pay a daily cap when requested or the £55 compound car cap which also covers meet cards. We would hope that regular car followers would respect this position and pay the compound car cap at the beginning of the season.

DISCIPLINE

Members and followers who hunt submit themselves to the authority of the Masters whose instructions, particularly with regard to avoiding damage to crops, must be followed. Avoid riding down tramlines which are there for a purpose and are damaged by riding, especially in wet weather. The Masters reserve the right to send home anyone not obeying their instructions, riding dangerously, or appearing at the meet incorrectly dressed. Under no circumstances must followers, mounted or otherwise, become involved with anti-hunting demonstrators or so called monitors. The Masters and Chairman alone are responsible for liaising with the Police on such occasions.

CORRECT HUNTING DRESS

Gentlemen: Either three-button red coat with brass buttons, white breeches, top boots; or three-button black coat, black buttons, buff breeches, and either black or top boots. Ladies: Black or dark blue three-button coat, buff or cream breeches, plain black boots, black or dark blue hat with hairnet if appropriate. Ear rings should not be worn. Children: Black coat or tweed jacket, buff breeches or jodhpurs. Autumn Hunting: Tweed jacket (ratcatcher) or wax / waterproof coat. Collar and Buttons: Green collar and hunt buttons are worn by invitation of the Masters. Headgear: Although bowler hats and top hats are traditional, it is recommended in the interests of safety that hunting caps or skulls to EN or BSEN 1384 or Snell E2001 with restraining straps should be worn. Black caps should be worn with plain black boots and grey caps with top boots. Only Masters and Hunt servants wear ribbons attached to caps.

POINT-TO-POINT

For a horse to qualify to run in point-to-points it is necessary to present to Weatherbys acting on behalf of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) a Hunter Certificate, signed by the relevant Master (Lt Col G. Vere-Laurie). A certificate will only be issued when the horse has hunted four times. Those wishing to qualify must first contact the Secretary and pay the relevant subscription, and then present themselves to the Field Master on each day’s qualification. Under MFHA and BHA Rules qualification cannot commence unless subscriptions have been paid. There is now a standard subscription of £380 to qualify one horse with a 15% discount for two. Horses may qualify from 1st October but only once the subscription has been paid. The owner of a point-to-pointer must be either a subscriber or member of the Hunt, or a farmer defined by the MFHA as "one who derives his principal and ostensible means of subsistence from farming within the boundaries of the Hunt". Under Jockey Club rules anyone may have a Rider's Certificate from the Hunt who has paid for one full day's hunting, £80. The Certificates are issued by the Secretary, which have to be sent together with the relevant insurance fee to the Jockey Club. The fee is notified by the Jockey Club later in the year. Members’ Race. In view of the shortage of qualified jockeys in the Hunt, a race for members only is not now run. There is a restricted race open to neighbouring hunts. The Members' and Farmers' Cup is presented to the highest placed G&RH member to finish.

FARMERS

Farmers in the country who do not hunt regularly but would be interested either for themselves or their immediate family are invited to contact me.