Members and supporters welcomed at Badminton

The Alliance welcomed hundreds of members and supporters into their hospitality area at Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday, 7 May, where the sun shone on cross country day.

Despite testing conditions underfoot for those braving the shopping aisles following heavy rainfall on Saturday, those who made it to our stand while walking the course were rewarded with refreshments throughout the day by fence 5AB, the Countryside Alliance Stick Pile. They also enjoyed the opportunity to take a seat up close to the action and to meet our Chief Executive, Tim Bonner, as well as other members of the Alliance’s Campaign for Hunting representatives.

Ian Farquhar, who recently-launched his book called The Way It Was, spent several hours chatting to supporters whilst signing and selling copies inside our marquee throughout the day. For those who missed the opportunity to purchase a copy, they are available at www.ianfarquhar.co.uk

Alongside our hospitality area, we were delighted to host a display of hounds courtesy of the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt and the RAC Beagles. Thousands of passers-by greeted the hounds beside our hospitality area which was situated in a fabulous location. The Alliance is thankful to both packs and their representatives for bringing hounds and for engaging with so many people throughout the day.

“Cross country day at Badminton is one of the largest one-day gatherings of our supporters so it is an absolute joy for us to be able to welcome so many of them into our hospitality area,” explained Polly Portwin, the Alliance’s Director of the Campaign for Hunting. “We are incredibly grateful to the organisers for enabling us to host our members out on the course and to all the wonderful volunteers who assist us on the day, making it possible to offer this facility to members.

“We are also very lucky to benefit from donations made after the hound parade takes place following the conclusion of the show jumping. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t quite as kind on Monday so we particularly appreciate the generosity of those attending, as well as being extremely thankful to all those who gave up their time to collect donations whilst standing in the pouring rain.”

The Duke of Beaufort’s hounds received rapturous applause as they paraded in the main ring shortly after Ros Canter’s faultless round on Lordships Graffalo sealed their victory of this prestigious 5* event.  

Representatives from the Campaign for Hunting will be attending many of the major hound shows again this summer, with the South of England Hound Show at Ardingly on 9h & 10th June the next event on the calendar. We are also delighted to be a key sponsor of the Festival of Hunting at the East of England Showground on 19th July which features the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show, one of the major highlights of the summer. Further details can be found here.