Hound Trailing by John Walsh

Published at 11:12, Thursday, 09 February 2012

FORTUNATELY the snow did not cause too much disruption to the AGM on Sunday, and 91 members attended at Hundith Hill.

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With the balance sheet showing a considerable loss on the year, there were plenty of questions for the officials.

There was criticism from some quarters about the HTA’s accounting system, and also regarding the role of the secretary, with a call for more transparency.

The accountant stressed the need to keep costs down and to try to increase revenue, and hopefully the HTA would break even this coming year.

Chairman Barry Laidler conferred life membership on Roy Laidler and honorary membership on Geoff Irving, and these two then presented the trophies.

The Team Competition prizes, Top Tipster money and the 18 - 30 prizes were also presented.

Two notices of motion were carried. Promoters will no longer be allowed to have hounds, pups and all-in during April – they will have to include a lower-grade trail as well as an all-in. This will apply for every month of the season.

Also, if a trail is void, just the entry money is to be returned to the hounds, the prize money being retained by the promoter.

The deadline for entries remains at 10 minutes before the advertised slipping time.

There was lively discussion about the fixtures, opinion being divided between those who wanted the fixtures committee to have more clout, and those who thought that the promoters should have most say.

It was agreed that the best method was to have co-operation between areas and promoters to avoid clashes from the outset.

The Executive is also being asked to have the rule book properly assessed with regard to disciplinary matters.

Vice-chairman Victor Brownlee asked all to use common sense, to work hard to ensure that the areas worked together, and to remember that the farmers had to come first.

There does seem to be a need for new blood on the various area committees and certainly many feel that those who tend to carp from the sidelines would be better served, getting stuck in and taking a seat on an area committee.

Youngsters need to be encouraged, which is why it was disappointing that the junior club members did not receive their prizes alongside the 18-30s at the AGM.

Barry Laidler thanked all for attending the long meeting which lasted over two hours and confirmed that the executive committee will hold its annual financial meeting on Sunday, February 19.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk