Hound Trailing by John Walsh

Published at 15:51, Wednesday, 28 January 2009

NEW HTA chairman Ian Beck says he won’t be rushing into any dramatic changes after being confirmed as the new man at the head of affairs.

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Approximately 120 members attended the annual meeting on Sunday when the highlight of the day was the hand-over of the role from long-serving chairman Roy Laidler.

Later the new chairman told me: “I think some of the old timers in the sport are a bit concerned that I’m going to be coming in to change things.

“That couldn’t happen anyway as we are a democratic organisation with members, Area committees and Executive committees who make the decisions.

“However, it is fair to say that I think there are changes we could be looking at, although from my point of view I believe in a slowly, slowly approach.

“I know it’s been on the agenda before but one of the items I believe we should be looking at, are the number of Areas – seven of them which might work better nowadays if they were contracted.

“Reducing the areas might help with the fixture situation which some people are concerned about. I am sure we would all like to see bigger fields, more competitive racing and the creation of a more interesting sport for a wider audience.”

Ian will have an interest in two of the pups which will be running this season as he’s taking a share in Inmeway and Onmeway – out of Blueprint by Monarch of the Glen.

“I’m just helping with the costs of keeping the two hounds so that I have a bit of an interest when they are running. I think perhaps it’s something some of the older members might consider.

“If they are not up to keeping and training, and all that entails, they might like to get involved with some of the younger people who have hounds. It gives them an interest and keeps the running costs down,” he says.

Vice-chairman Geoff Irving had contemplated standing down at the same time as Roy to allow a complete new pairing at the top but will be staying on to provide the new chairman with as much help as he needs.

“I thought the change-over went very well and after working alongside Roy for so long I know we had a very good man at the helm. I’m sure that Ian is going to prove a worthy successor and he will do an excellent job for the Association,” said Geoff.

“The meeting itself went well. The main discussion from the floor concerned the change in qualification for certain hounds. I thought we had a very good discussion with some very good points being raised on both sides.”

Although some voices were raised against them, the proposals to change the qualification for restricted and maiden trails were both carried convincingly.

This means that hounds which have not won more than a total of three open plus restricted trails in a season may run in restricted trails in the following season and may win three. As far as maiden trails go, hounds may win two maiden trails and two open maiden trails each season.

The idea behind both of these was to give members with lower-class hounds more opportunity to keep their hounds going all season, and the support showed that they were welcome innovations.

In addition, members may withdraw hounds before entries close without having to have the permission of the area committee. Once entries have closed, however, permission must be obtained.

Bookmakers will not be allowed to be ticket catchers if they are standing to take bets on that occasion.

One proposal was withdr-awn because the wording was incorrect, and this will be put right at the Executive meeting on February 8. The Executive will also consider the HTA’s finances at that meeting.

This is something that happens every year with the Executive looking at the budget, and all that entails, especially in the present economic climate and in the knowledge that a £500 sponsorship has already been lost from Cumbrian Newspapers.

Geoff Irving said: “Really we just want to hold our own. We are not interested in making huge profits but at the same time we do need something to fall back on.”

Honorary membership was conferred on Michael Renney (posthumously), the tankard being collected by his grandson Ryan Scott, and on Michael Oldcorn from the Ulverston Area.

In his final duty as the outgoing chairman Roy Laidler was asked to present the championship trophies and the Junior Club prizes.

A reminder this week that the Keswick presentation evening is on Friday, February 13 at Keswick Labour Club. Tickets cost £10 from Christine Brownlee (01768 777647) or Carole Jackson (01768 777677).

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