Point-to-Point Valets

Is there anyone out there who would be interested in being a valet for the lady and gentlemen jockeys at the point to point meetings in the southeast. It would involve being at a Saturday or Sunday meeting from middle of January to middle of May.

If someone is interested but does not want to commit for so many weekends then they could choose the meetings that they wished to attend. And more importantly if they only want to do Parham then that would be a great help!

Please phone Anna on 07747 163 261

Thanks

Sponsor Rocket 4/11/06

CONGRATULATIONS ROCKET!!
Many congratulations to Rocket who attended his first opening meet mounted, having never ridden before in his life (Apart from having a lesson on Wednesday and Friday!) Rocket had to ride to the meet and stay out until second horses wearing traditional hunting kit and carrying a crop! Thankyou to everyone who sponsored him to do this, we raised over £1000 for the Hunt.

See below for Rockets itinerary for the day!

ROCKET ITINERARY

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4TH 2006

6.45am Early morning wake up call after sleepless night of panic stricken fear.
7am Cold shower in the hope that it will wake you from this terrible nightmare.
7.25am Drag yourself downstairs in despair after the reality has hit you that this is really happening to you and that you are not dreaming.
7.30am Rock back and forth staring into space whilst you gingerly sip a cup of black coffee, trying your hardest not to be sick.
8am With your limbs now totally numb with terror, heave yourself back up stairs to change.
8.30am After 1/2 an hour of tying and re-tying your stock and having stabbed yourself several times with the stock pin, admit defeat and go back downstairs to sponge off the blood with vanish stain remover.
8.35 am Pour yourself a large glass of port and down in one in the hope that it will numb the pain. No it hasn’t, so pour yourself another one.
8.35am – 9am Pace the house until you have to stop because you’ve worn a groove in the floor and you think you might want to be sick again.
9am Reluctantly leave the house, knowing you are one step nearer to death.
9.15 Throw a whole box of nails over the driveway in an attempt to puncture every tyre on every vehicle so you cant go.
9.25am Get dragged kicking and screaming for mercy into someone's car and being driven to the yard while all the way scratching the glass in the window with your fingernails trying to escape.
9.30am Arrive in hell, no sorry, the yard! Take first look at the beast of Satan whose going to take you to hell and back over the next 2 hours.
9.40am Time for another large port, followed by a large whisky. You cry when you realise the drink hasn’t worked and you are still alive!
9.45. Nearly have a heart attack trying to pull your hunting boots on with a pair of hoof picks.
10am Putting your foot in the stirrup, wishing you were dead and looking around in desperation for any sign of rescue.
10.05 Leave the yard still looking for a way out.
10.10am A serious swig from the saddle flask.
10.20am Another serious swig from the saddle flask.
10.30am With death seeming ever nearer take another swig of the saddle flask and a swig from each of the hip flasks you have secretly stashed in every available pocket.
10.45am Arrive at the meet, request a clean pair of pants.
10.50am The first of Charlie Burrell's ports goes down a treat as does the whiskey mack and the glass of mulled wine you are offered, not to mention several swigs from the saddle flask and some sloe gin from Antony Sandeman.
11.15am Oh god, there's the dreaded son in law blowing his horn to say we are leaving the meet, visions of 4ft hedges and landing in them, on them or in front of them fill your mind. Another new pair of pants are required.
11.20am Hack away from the meet still wishing you were dead, your knuckles turning white from holding on to the front of the saddle for dear life.
11.30am Getting just about to the point of being able to take one hand off the reins to take another swig from the saddle flask.
11.40am Wish to god you could remember the way to the pub across country.
11.50am Wish to god that you had emigrated to Australia when you had the chance.
12pm Wish to god the clocks could go forward again and then it would be time to get off.
12.30pm Wish to god you hadn’t got so pissed that night in the pub and agreed to this harebrained scheme.
12.45pm Wish to god you could get off this devil worshiping animal that’s made the inside of your legs red raw and hoping that you will be able to feel your backside again one day
1pm The end is near, you can see the pub approaching after the next draw, to get there would mean this nightmare would be over forever.
1.30pm Arrive in heaven, dis-mount (If that’s what you can call it!) surprising even yourself that you could actually move that fast and get into the pub as quickly as your now crippled bones will carry you.
1.31pm Indulge in several large ports, sighing with relief with the happy thought that even if your body hurts so much now that you want to burst into tears and can hardly move, that you will be absolutely fine in the morning! (Oh dear! Poor mis-guided sole!)

Kennel Open Day 23/09/06

KENNEL OPEN DAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2006
The Crawley & Horsham Foxhounds hosted a kennel open day on Saturday which was a huge success. The weather was wonderful and the event was well supported by the public and hunt supporters alike. Andrew and Freddie did a marvellous job, introducing the hounds to everyone and giving guided tours of the kennels. Brian and his band from the Bridge House played live music in the background as people enjoyed a cold beer and something to eat. After the hounds were put to bed, the auction began with some excellent lots, including a half days hunting with Andrew which went for £200.00! (No he didn’t buy it himself!!) In all we had 62 lots ranging from jars of homemade jam and fresh, home grown vegetables, to a watercolour portrait of your dog or cat and a clay shooting lesson. The auction made an enormous amount of money for the hunt and we would like to take this opportunity to thank every one who, helped on the day, donated lots for the auction and everyone who supported the event.
SP

Geoffrey Sparrow HC v The Hunt Skittles Final 18.01.06

A huge crowd filled the stands on Wednesday evening to witness history in the making. The prestigious skittles challenge trophy took pride of place (probably being used as an ashtray) on a table somewhere in the pub, while the epic battle commenced on the alley! The tension in the room was immense and the atmosphere was thick (with smoke and the smell of pizza). Never before had such tension been felt, the score was one game all and the pressure was on The Huntsman's team to ensure they won or else witness the sad effect losing would have on their team captain and also to avoid having to spend hunt funds on counselling sessions! The scores were level in the last game and someone needed to save the Huntsmans team. Surely the huntsman could do it himself, being by far the best skittles player in the universe! But alas, it was not to be, for he was sabotaged by a stray GSHC team member's foot on the run up to line and it was inevitable he should trip and fall, causing the ball to fly up into the air and away down the gutter! (That is Andrews version, we all know that he just plain missed!) However all was not lost and Nathan somehow managed to knock down 16 pins in one go (Had I really drunk that much???) and subsequently the hunt team held onto the coveted trophy for another year. Everyone went home having had a very enjoyable evening, except for Andrew who stayed on shouting "We are The Champions" and running up and down the alley doing back flips with his t-shirt over his head like David Beckham! (I wish!). No doubt he was expecting champagne in the hot tub and to watch the highlights of the match on Sky Sports, but alas after all it was just a game of skittles at the local pub and a great fun evening. Thanks to everyone who played and supported and thanks to the Geoffrey Sparrow Hunt Club for organising the 3 matches. The hunt team looks forward to beating you again next year!!

Ploughing Match 17/9/05

Fun was had by all at the West Grinstead Annual Ploughing Match, held at Westons Farm on Saturday, where the Crawley & Horsham Hounds were in attendance with our very own hunt stand and 2 1/2 couple of hounds in a pen for the public to meet. Bandit, Lola, Measure, Locksmith and Hatchet enjoyed the attention from many people, some of whom had never seen hounds before and we received huge support from young and old alike. In the afternoon the terrier racing attracted a good crowd with Spike and Stuart in charge as usual. At 4pm Andrew brought the rest of the pack out into the main ring to meet everyone, which was very well supported by the public and well commentated by Antony Sandeman MFH. A lot of the children had a go at horn blowing and the best were Laura Healy and Jack Feakes who must have been practicing!

We also managed to raise the equivalent of 4 ponys for the fighting fund after Ron very kindly donated a ticket for the Goodwood revival meeting for which we asked for donations! The successful bidder was Jason Kanabus, so thankyou very much to both Ron and Jason for their generosity.

It was a great day and having a hunt stand there was a huge success, giving the public the opportunity to meet the hounds and the people who are most affected by the ban on hunting. The whole event was very well attended (many people saying it was the best ploughing match they can remember!) and other attractions included, gun dog trials, clay pigeon shooting, steam and tractor ploughing, local produce stalls, licensed bar and of course the livestock showing.

Thank you to everyone who helped before, during and after the show and also a big thankyou to The Ploughing Match Committee for allowing us to attend.

Success at Peterborough

See the gallery section for photographs and a full account.

Puppy Show Gallery

New gallery up-loaded with report to follow.

New Galleries

Click on the 'Galleries' link to the left to view the Terier Show and South of England Show Galleries.