Hounds season reaches its end

By John Walsh

Last updated at 14:59, Monday, 19 November 2012

ALL the seven HTA Areas have had their annual meetings and there have been some familiar names standing aside.

Victor Brownlee, a doyen of the sport, has stood down as chairman of the Keswick Area while long-serving Whitehaven Area treasurer Glenis Farren has also called it a day.

The Keswick meeting was attended by 13 members where the outgoing chairman, Victor Brownlee thanked all those who had helped to make it a successful year for the HTA’s smallest area.

Local hounds had done extremely well, especially those from the Bland and Barrow kennels with puppy champion Jenny’s Rascal and or champion Jenny’s Dream.

Unfortunately the weather had been unkind to several venues, notably the Bitch Produce in July, but this had been held in conjunction with the HTA Premier at Latrigg.

The new chairman of the Area committee is to be David “Spike” Loan, with Stanley Jackson as vice-chairman, with three new members co-opted onto the area committee – Christine Brownlee, Andrew Denley and Denise Bland.

The Area made its usual donations to local charities.

At the Westmorland Area annual meeting chairman Barry Laidler congratulated all the points winners, and especially the connections of Artisan and Capetown (runners-up in the senior and puppy championships), and Toytown and Davina, (veteran and senior maiden champions).

The area had staged the May Day trails, but the Classic had been a casualty of the appalling weather.

One Notice of Motion was carried, that there should be a limit to the number of trail meetings allowed at any one venue, and this will go forward to the main AGM in February.

At Ulverston 18 members attended and chairman Jayne Petersen thanked those who had helped and supported the area.

Congratulations were given to two HTA championship runners-up, Bowderdale Billy (veterans) and Wattmore (senior maidens), as well as Pip’s Lad and Simply Rascal for major trail wins, and Shauna’s Sugababes for taking Division 11 of the popular Team Competition.

A lively discussion resulted in several recommendations: all April trails should be puppy-length (but still count for the championship), the entry fee should go up to £1.50, and there should be no trailing on either Saturdays, Sundays or Mondays.

Carlisle and Penrith chairman Paul Airey welcomed 13 members, and thanked all the committee, with special mentions for Pat Mellon for doing all the raffles, and to Amy Chisholm for taking entries and doing the points.

Jim Little has joined the area committee, and will be a valuable member.

One notice of motion was carried, that meetings during April may have an All-In trail as the third trail, without the necessity of a lower grade trail as well. This used to be allowed, but was changed last year, and the area would like it to go back to how it was.

The area committee agreed to pay for the insurance for the 12 kennels in the area.

At the Whitehaven Area AGM 26 members attended, welcomed by chairman Maurice Bewley.

The Classic had been lost because of the weather, but had been held at a later date, and there had been a couple of horrendous evenings at Cold Fell. Unfortunately there had been little interest in the Presentation event, and it had been called off.

Two recommendations were carried, that the cut-off date for the birth of puppies should be December 1 instead of January 1 as at present, and that hounds entering the HTA from other associations should be allowed to run in their own grades instead of having to compete in senior trails for a year.

After Glenis Farren stepped down as treasurer, the job was taken on by new area committee members Tanya Hetherington and Nicola Cameron. Glenis was thanked for her dedication and valuable service, and received a gift from the committee.

For the Cockermouth and Workington AGM there was a good turn-out of 24 members who were welcomed by chairman Brian Church.

Unfortunately several trails had been lost because of the poor weather and he thanked all those who had helped during the season.

Treasurer Phil Graham gave a comprehensive report on the finances. There was a long discussion about donations while Nicola McMaster and Heidi Messenger announced they intend to start a Supporters’ Club.

The three notices of motion were all carried: the Fixtures Committee to have full control over the allocation of fixtures; one fixture to be allowed each week-day, and two each Saturday and Sunday; Produce venues, if used previously that season, to be advertised as such.

The Aspatria and Wigton AGM chairman Steve Fincher welcomed 11 members and he thanked all the committee, especially Colin Satterthwaite for putting on the very successful Dog Produce meeting at Ward Hall, the first time on a Sunday.

George Glencross had won the open maiden title with the very consistent Rush, while Colin Satterthwaite’s Thorn Dolly had been runner-up in that competition and also in the puppy maidens.

A recommendation was carried that other trails should be allowed on show days as long as they were not in an area adjoining that in which the show was being held. Members also supported the Carlisle and Penrith motion about All-In trails during April.

The question about major trails being given the option of Saturday or Sunday will go before the main AGM.

The Aspatria and Wigton Area 2012 points winners are as follows -

Local Points

Hounds: Hunter’s Rose

Pups: Get Up

Senior Maidens: Rush

Puppy Maidens: Thorn Dolly

Open Restricted: Rush

Open Maidens: Rush

ONW: Thorn Dolly

Next highest point Enoch

Oulton Points Winners