Coakham Bloodhounds News

Socially Distanced Spring Ride

at Barons Grange, Iden on Sunday 14th June 2020

Now fully booked with a waiting list in place.

Report from the AGM

It is my pleasant duty to report on the AGM for the 2019 to 2020 season, which was held by Zoom on Friday 29th May, 2020.  Six Masters, the Honorary Treasurer, two Committee members, the Chairman of the Supporters' Club, four Members, two Subscribers, and myself, as Chairman for the meeting, were in attendance.

Our Chairman, Jo Field, has retired and we put on record our heartfelt thanks for her support and contribution over the past several years.

We received and approved reports from the Huntsman, the Treasurer, and the Chairman of the Supporters' Club. The Treasurer recorded her grateful thanks to Sam and Chris Field for collecting monies and undertaking the banking. This latter point was endorsed unanimously by the assembled company.

Financially, the Hunt is in good order and we have sufficient reserves to weather the pandemic for now, thanks to economies at the kennels and the success of past hunting. We hope (with the emphasis on hope) to be hunting as normal at the beginning of the Season, although you may see changes to meets and tea with less hospitality than usual for safety reasons, and limits on field numbers.

We approved some changes to the Constitution, which tightened the definitions and set some time limits on tenure of office.

In other business we discussed sudden changes to meets and how they are publicised, and general behaviour in the field or elsewhere which could bring the Hunt into disrepute, and which could warrant disciplinary intervention from the Masters.

Finally, the meeting was delighted to learn that Celia Savell, Nigel Goddard, and Andrew Wickens have been invited by the Masters to wear the Coakham Bloodhounds' button. I am sure everyone will join me in recognising their contributions and wishing them well to wear their buttons with pride.

In respect of the Season just past the AGM and Quarry Supper is normally where we meet and gather to review and discuss our activities, to thank our gallant Quarry, our farmers and landowners, and the many people who help behind the scenes and on a hunting day. The Coronavirus has robbed us of this lovely social event. Nevertheless, on behalf of us all, those thanks are recorded here and are no less warm and sincere than they would be had we been able to do it in person.

We have our fingers crossed for a Puppy Show, and we have the Socially Distanced Ride at Baron's Grange on 14th June to look forward to. How lucky we are to have horses, hounds, the English countryside, and our many wonderful friends to see us through these unprecedented times.

On behalf of the Masters and Committees I hope you stay well and safe and we all look forward to seeing you soon.

Katrina Arnold

Honorary President

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