Coakham Bloodhounds News

Important Information About Hunting This Season

The Hunt Committee met on Tuesday 1st September to determine the modus operandi for hunting this Season in the present Covid 19 pandemic. The guidance published by the Hunting Office has been adopted and will be applied until restrictions are eased. In essence these are:

• You must not come hunting if you, or anyone in your household, has Covid 19 symptoms or is self-isolating.
• Please take reasonable steps to observe social distancing.
• Please wash your hands before leaving for hunting and sanitise them regularly throughout the day where possible.
• Please ensure you have a facemask and hand sanitiser with you whilst riding in case you are asked to assist in an emergency and cannot maintain a social distance.
• As always follow the Field Master’s instructions and try not to crowd in gateways or at checks.
• Sadly, at this stage, we cannot offer a Stirrup Cup nor will we be able to offer Tea. You are welcome to bring your own refreshments and consume them at an appropriate social distance. We do not condone the sharing of hip flasks and the like in the field and ask that you respect this request until restrictions are eased.
• You must sign a current disclaimer and ensure we have your details so that we can observe track and trace requirements.

The Committee has determined that the field must be limited to thirty mounted followers who will form a “bubble”. Huntsman and staff will remain entirely separate throughout the day and will form a different “bubble”, as will the Quarry. Car and foot followers do not fall within the remit, but we ask that everyone respects the rules and guidance and endeavours to observe them at all times.

To meet the restrictions we will return to booking in, which will be done by email to facilitate track and trace obligations. Priority is given to Full Subscribers and Ticket Holders, in that order.

The Committee fully appreciates that for many occasional followers who hunt on Cap and have been huge supporters in recent Seasons this may mean that hunting opportunities are limited this Season. Wherever possible we will advertise vacant spaces and as soon as restrictions ease we may be able to accept more followers.

Booking in will be as follows:

Sunday meets – open to Full Subscribers the Monday before, to Ticket Holders the Tuesday before and to Caps (if there are spaces) on the Wednesday before. Booking closes at midday on the Thursday before to allow for administration. If you are coming out on Cap you must pay as soon as your booking is confirmed. This is not refundable.

Wednesday meets – open to Full Subscribers the Friday before, to Ticket Holders the Saturday before and to Caps (if there are spaces) on the Sunday before. Booking closes at midday on the Monday before. If you are coming out on Cap you must pay as soon as your booking is confirmed. This is not refundable.

The email account for bookings is coakhambloodhounds123@gmail.com we cannot accept bookings by any other medium or we will fall into chaos.

The Committee accepts this is both a draconian and cumbersome regime but if it enables us to hunt safely and within the guidance it will be worth it. As the pandemic plays out we hope to ease some of these requirements.

PUPPY HUNTING

Wednesday 30th September 4.00pm

at Pigdown Farm, Pigdown Lane, Hever TN8 7LX

Parking is by the farm buildings opposite the farmhouse. The "what3words" location is "posts.master.occupy"

Please make sure you have read and understood the guidance for hunting in the present pandemic available on our website, and have completed and submitted a disclaimer.

Bookings must be made to coakhambloodhounds123@gmail.com

Booking is open to Full Subscribers and Ticket Holders now, with priority given to Full Subscribers. We will take Cap bookings (if there are spaces) from Sunday 27th. Only Full Subscribers may attend without payment. Ticket Holders may use a ticket or pay the £20 Cap. Booking closes at midday on Monday 28th September. If you are coming out on a Cap (£20) you must pay as soon as your booking is confirmed. This is not refundable.

The dress code is ratcatcher (tweed/hacking jacket). You are NOT required to plait, but you and your horse should be clean and tidy.

We aim to move off promptly at 4.00pm so we recommend you are mounted no later than 3.45pm.

Hound Exercise - Every Morning

What3Words locator for the kennels:

disco.roses.trimmer

This ride is now fully booked.

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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