Newcomers' Week gets people hooked on hunting

The Countryside Alliances' annual Newcomers Week (18th – 25th October) has come to a close with a number of people now hooked on hunting! Hunts throughout the country saw huge turnouts at Newcomers' Meets and events, with many being oversubscribed, resulting in hunts deciding to organise a second event/meet later in the season.

The aim of hunting Newcomers' Week is to introduce as many new faces to the hunting field as possible and, due to the participation of many hunts, we have successfully managed to do just that. Hunts from the Jedforest in the North, to the Dartmoor in the South, ran a variety of newcomers' events from a meet to a pre-hunting talk, all of which were gratefully received by those wishing to find out a bit more about hunting.

The Seavington reported a great turnout of over 40 newcomers' and the Curre and Llangibby had a similarly well supported day with Secretary Charlotte Breese saying that, 'Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their day and it resulted in several who were intending to come out with us again plus some new subscribers.'

And it is not just those mounted packs that have reported an excellent number of new faces. The New Forest Beagles ran a very successful newcomers' meet with Jane Cleal reporting that, 'There were over 40 people new to beagling ranging from aged 7 to 70+!! Many of these joined us this week for our Opening Meet also.'

Thanks to Maxwell Ward for sending us this lovely video of the Badsworth and Bramham Moor Newcomers' Meet,http://youtu.be/PKAokf1ZiP0