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Unfortunately we have had a number of dates taken out of the fixture list in May despite best efforts to put these dates on, if any Area or Promoters are able to find alternative venues then please come forward as soon as possible. Details would need to be with the secretary at the latest seven days prior to the date of the event.

Thanks Fiona

Following last nights meeting a vote was taken by those in attendance regarding the need to change the name of the Association. This was confirmed. There was a second vote regarding the actual revised name of the Association this was between the original name proposed which was the Hound Racing Association and a second one which was proposed at the first Extra Ordinary General meeting which was the Trailhound Racing Association. The former, the Hound Racing Association was the one chosen by those in attendance. Therefore steps will now be taken to amend the name through Companies House and work will need to be done on this years Annual to change over to the new name so there will be a slight delay in the Annual being made available this year. Work will then need to start on reviewing the Rule Book and then the Web Page. The Executive Committee would like to thank those who took the time to attend the meetings.

Executive Committee

This year there is a brand new Challenge trophy to be competed for in the Senior Hounds. The Trophy is called the Warnell Hall Challenge Trophy and it was a gift from Nicolas and Kate Coulson who own the Hall to mark the retirement of one of their long standing gardeners at the Hall, William Mark. They wanted to give something to acknowledge the passion and dedication that William had for his hound trailing. William and his family have been involved in hound trailing for a very long time, to many years to mention and on his retirement along with other gifts they presented the Trophy to be used at the May Day Trails. William of course is heavily involved with the organizing and running of the trail and many other trails in the Carlisle and Penrith Area.

Following the Extra Ordinary General meeting that was held on the 11th April the following was agreed. Due to the low turn out of members and there not being sufficient members to make up the required quorum there will be a second Extra Ordinary General meeting on the 27th April at the Conservative Club, Keswick at 7.00pm. The meeting will be to discuss the proposal to change the name of the Association which was agreed and put forward by the Executive Committee. Following discussion on the 11th the proposed name change will be as follows Trailhound Racing Association. At the meeting on the 27th there will be a vote regardless of the number of members present in accordance with the Articles of the Association. So if you want your voice to be heard then you need to attend.

This proposal that was agreed and put forward by the Executive Committee was not done without due consideration. It followed discussions with local MPs who were aware that the Labour Party would be moving forward with their mandate pledge to ban trail hunting. Their view was that we needed to ensure that we did not get caught up with any changes and to help other MP’s and the general public understand that we race trail hounds, they felt that re naming the Association to include racing would be helpful.

On Tuesday, the 1st April, Defra Minister, Daniel Zeichner announced that the Government would be consulting on its manifesto commitment to ban trail hunting later this this year. This is the first confirmation of a time scale for new hunting legislation which we may well see in 2026. The minister was responding in an adjournment debate secured by Perran Moon, the Labour MP for Cambourne and Redruth, who was calling for the strengthening of the Hunting Act including banning trail hunting, removing exemptions and introducing custodial sentences for those who break the law. Please attend if you want your views to be taking in to consideration.

The Executive

The Area would like to let people know that John Pattinson is in hospital at the moment anyone wanting to contacting him and wish him a speedy recovery can call him on his mobile. Please contact Wak or Tina for his mobile number. We all wish him well and to be back at the trails.

Carlisle and Penrith Area

Confirmed Mating’s – 2024/2025

1. Thorn Dancer x Foxparke Billy Elliot – 4 x Bitches
2. Fire Lass x Maverick – 5 x Bitches – 3 x Dogs
3. Silver Streak x Cuckoo Lane – 2 x Bitches – 7 x Dogs
4. Sarah Jane x Cuckoo Lane – 5 x Bitches – 6 X Dogs
5. Oakbank Izzy x High Crag – no pups
6. Foxparke Bugga Boo x Foxparke Billy Elliot – no pups
7. Clementine x Reebok – 3 x bitches – 4 x dogs
8. Lucky Lottie x Miterdale Steele – 7 bitches – 4 dogs
9. Delta Supreme x Sir Robert – no pups
10. Adele x Bestmate – 4 x bitches 4 x dogs
11. Foxparke Parma Violet x Foxparke Billy Elliot – 1 x bitch
12. Miterdale Honesty x Overwater Jack – no pups

A big thank you to those who attended the trails today in memory of Dennis everyone had a great afternoon, the family would like to thank everyone who helped out on the day and who supported the trails today.

Following the Extra Ordinary General meeting that was held last night the following was agreed. Due to the low turn out of members and there not being sufficient members to make up the required quorum there will be a second Extra Ordinary General meeting on the 27th April at the Conservative Club, Keswick at 7.00pm. The meeting will be to discuss the proposal to change the name of the Association which was agreed and put forward by the Executive Committee. Following discussion last night the proposed name change will be as follows Trailhound Racing Association. At the meeting on the 27th there will be a vote regardless of the number of members present in accordance with the Articles of the Association.

This proposal that was agreed and put forward by the Executive Committee was not done without due consideration. It followed discussions with local MPs who were aware that the Labour Party would be moving forward with their mandate pledge to ban trail hunting. Their view was that we needed to ensure that we did not get caught up with any changes and to help other MP’s and the general public understand that we race trail hounds, they felt that re naming the Association to include racing would be helpful.

On Tuesday, the 1st April, Defra Minister, Daniel Zeichner announced that the Government would be consulting on its manifesto commitment to ban trail hunting later this this year. This is the first confirmation of a time scale for new hunting legislation which we may well see in 2026. The minister was responding in an adjournment debate secured by Perran Moon, the Labour MP for Cambourne and Redruth, who was calling for the strengthening of the Hunting Act including banning trail hunting, removing exemptions and introducing custodial sentences for those who break the law. Please attend if you want your views to be taking in to consideration.

The Executive

The International Hound Trails will take place on the 21st June 2025. The Committee have asked for nominations to host the trails to be with them by the 21st April. Can Area Committee’s please contact Andy Horn or Lee Wall direct please.

Thanks Andy

Just to say that there will be home made catering available on both Helton Trails

Thanks Amy

Just a reminder regarding the above meeting to be held this Friday 11th April at 7.30pm at The Conservative Club at Keswick – open to all members so come along and have your say.

At the Executive meeting on Sunday 30th March the Chair Paul Airey and the Vice Chair Edward Crosby reported on recent discussions with two of the local Labour MP’s Marcus Campbell-Savour’s and Josh McAllister regarding the inclusion of a proposal within the Labour Manifesto to ban trail hunting. Both MP’s were very supportive of our sport and were keen to understand in more detail what the sport was about and they have agreed to join forces with the other Labour MP’s to write a letter to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, with a view to avoid our sport being affected by any changes that may be brought in. One suggestion that they felt might be helpful to our cause was to look at re branding the sport to help the general public differentiate what we do from trail hunting, drag hunting etc. This is something the Executive have already discussed in previous meetings and following further discussion last night there was agreement that the Association should move this forward at pace and to change the name from the Hound Trailing Association to the Hound Racing Association. Therefore, it was agreed to call an Extra Ordinary General Meeting where all members will be invited to have their say and to vote regarding the proposal to change the name of the Association. This meeting will take place on the 11th April at 7.30pm at the Conservative Club at Keswick. The Executive would urge members to attend and have their say.

Confirmed Mating’s – 2024/2025

1. Thorn Dancer x Foxparke Billy Elliot – 4 x Bitches
2. Fire Lass x Maverick – 5 x Bitches – 3 x Dogs
3. Silver Streak x Cuckoo Lane – 2 x Bitches – 7 x Dogs
4. Sarah Jane x Cuckoo Lane – 5 x Bitches – 6 X Dogs
5. Oakbank Izzy x High Crag – no pups
6. Foxparke Bugga Boo x Foxparke Billy Elliot – no pups
7. Clementine x Reebok – 3 x bitches – 4 x dogs
8. Lucky Lottie x Miterdale Steele – 7 bitches – 4 dogs
9. Delta Supreme x Sir Robert – no pups
10. Adele x Bestmate – 4 x bitches 4 x dogs
11. Foxparke Parma Violet x Foxparke Billy Elliot
12. Miterdale Honesty x Overwater Jack – no pups

Can all those who won trophies last year at the May Day Trails please return them to me as soon as possible. I will be at Oulton on Sunday

Hounds – Embrace

Maidens – Croft Lass

Pups – Huntsman’s Time

Puppy Maiden – Thorntoon

Open Restricted – Sarah Jane

Thanks Fiona

There will be no catering at both the Helton trails on the 19th April and the 5th May so picnics will be required

Thanks Amy