HuntingThe Hunting Act 2004 came into force at midnight on 17th February 2005. Our relentless campaigning has guaranteed that the Hunting Act is now widely acknowledged to be bad law. It is no accident that many political commentators, Chief Constables, senior civil servants and a majority of the public have taken this view. The Countryside Alliance has worked tirelessly to expose the law for what it is: hard to interpret and enforce, illiberal, bad for animal welfare and a waste of police resources. Thanks to our determined efforts when working with hunts that have been targeted, there have been only a handful of successful convictions. However, it cannot be right that a large section of law-abiding citizens continue to live in constant fear of malicious prosecutions. In 2010 one hunt received 47 visits from animal rights activists armed with video cameras, aiming for prosecution. It is a terrible and vivid illustration of why things cannot ‘be left as they are’. Our campaigning has ensured that hunting remains firmly on the political agenda and the Coalition Agreement includes a commitment to a free vote in this Parliament. We need to remain vigilant in future and spot every opportunity to move our cause forward.
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 Simon Jenkins on urban foxesWednesday, 29 February 2012 On Tuesday 28th February the Evening Standard published a comment piece by Simon Jenkins which highlights the growing problem of urban foxes, and local authorities' squeamishness about dealing with them properly. In "Tally ho! Hunt down the capital's vulpine menace" Jenkins recounts his problems with a fox under his shed Read more CA dismayed by one parent's actions at Ashbeach schoolThursday, 23 February 2012 There is a story in the Hunts Post today about Ashbeach School in Huntingdonshire having to cancel plans to take a class of children aged 10 and 11 to a hunt meet because of one parent's protests. Some of you may remember Ashbeach shot to fame last December when a story emerged that the school had taken a class wildfowling.  Barney White-Spunner - from the Taliban to the hunting banWednesday, 22 February 2012 On Saturday 18th February, new Countryside Alliance Executive Chairman Sir Barney White-Spunner's first CA interview was published in the Daily Telegraph's Weekend section. In his interview Barney said: “The Alliance is absolutely committed to getting the Act repealed..... We think it is a ludicrous bit of legislation, shoddy in its design. It comes from being drafted by a government that objected to the kind of people who hunt, rather than what they actually do.” Read more The Hunting Act in the MidlandsWednesday, 15 February 2012 On Sunday the Sunday Politics show in the Midlands reported on the Hunting Act. The report revealed that, through a Freedom of Information Act request, the BBC has discovered there has been only one conviction under the Act in the region since 2005 - for hare coursing. Read more Josh GiffordThursday, 9 February 2012 Further sad news this week is that legendary trainer Josh Gifford has died. The Daily Telegraph reports on the CA member and legendary character: "Gifford, himself an accomplished rider who was crowned champion jockey four times, will be most remembered for Aldaniti's victory at Aintree 31 years ago after his jockey Bob Champion recovered from cancer..... Read more Pointer 2011-12Wednesday, 8 February 2012 The Point-to-Point Authority's 2011/12 Season Magazine is now available to view online. The magazine contains a welcome from Point-to-Point Owners' and Riders' Association Chairman Richard Fuller and features on use of the whip, on-line entries, hunt races under rules, ground conditions, the AGA Ladies' Championship and "Hunting and Pointing United", a piece which begins: " You don’t have to ride regularly behind hounds in order to take up point-to-pointing, but it helps." Read more Prime Minister is right to question the Hunting ActSunday, 15 January 2012 In response to the David Cameron’s interview for BBC1’s Countryfile programme, in which the Prime Minister says: "I always thought the hunting ban was a pretty bizarre piece of legislation, I think there should be a free vote in the House of Commons... My problem has always been that it was just taking the criminal law into an area of activity where it didn't really belong"; Alice Barnard, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, said:  Hunting Minister reaffirms support as Boxing Day meets take placeMonday, 26 December 2011 On the seventh Boxing Day – the biggest date in the hunting calendar – since the Hunting Act was passed; the Countryside Alliance has welcomed the visit of the Rt Hon. Jim Paice MP, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food with responsibility for hunting, to the kennels of the Fitzwilliam hunt as a ‘strong show of support.’  Making the Case for Repeal this Boxing Day - plus new filmWednesday, 21 December 2011 Boxing Day is almost upon us and I hope everyone will be attending a meet, wherever they are. A listing of meets has been published by the Hunting Office whilst our team is busy briefing the media on "where we are at the end of 2011" and organising places for Boxing Day filming, with the help and support of hunts. Hunts are keen to use this platform not only to show the country how unified and determined they are to ensure their long term future, but also to ridicule the Hunting Act at every opportunity. Read more Point-to-Point fixturesMonday, 19 December 2011 Point-to-Pointing is amateur horseracing over fences, contested by horses who qualify for the races by learning their skills in the hunting field. Horses running in Point-to-Points must be registered thoroughbreds (except in Hunt Members' races and certain other Club Members' contests).The horses have to obtain a Hunter Certificate from a Master of Foxhounds, stating that they have hunted for at least four days in the season, whilst Riders can only contest Point-to-Points once they have obtained a certificate from the Point-to-Point Authority. The season is currently underway and runs until June 2012, with each Point-to-Point being organised by a hunt. Attending is a great day out and an excellent way to support your local hunt. Find a local fixture here http://www.pointtopoint.co.uk/fixture_list_2012.html Read more |
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