The Vale of Aylesbury with Garth and South Berks Hunt

Pang Valley Spring Ride - Click here for photos

Congratulations and thanks to everybody involved in the very successful sponsored ride organised by the Garth
and South Berks Hunt Supporters Club. Special thanks are due to the landowners and farmers that allowed the
ride to go ahead despite the overnight rain - Gordon Munro Ashman, Andreas Hempel, Willy Hartley-Russell and
the Fleming family.

150 riders completed the ride covering over 10 miles of park and farmland in the Pang Valley - an area of
outstanding natural beauty.   There were 80 optional jumps at a variety of sizes 3 river crossings and a long wade
upstream for those who wanted to. Everyone had fun and were really glad they had braved the weather.

The weather was so bad that John Bell stood in for the official photographer, who took one look at the weather
and ran.   Many thanks to John, his excellent pictures of the day can be reached by clicking the link at the top of
this piece

Hertfordshire Hunt Club Calendar and Notecards - Available Now

Click here to view Calendar

A few copies of the 2007 Calendar for 2007 are still available you can order:

By post from:
James Dickson, Grove Farm, Flamstead, St Albans Herts AL3 8BA

By Mail order (Credit Card):
Emma Pearse- 01582 873263

And from the following:
Amanda Stewart, Clive Gough, Ivor Gomm, Matthew Higgs

The cost is the same as last year £10.00 per Calendar + £1.50 postage.
Please remember if ordering by post to include your address!!

We will also be continuing sales of our notecards: these make great cards for general
correspondence, so please buy some from the above contacts if you can.

Click here to view Cards

The Vale have a whip called Josh
Then at Moreton, he needed a wash
He went off to the river
When his horse began to quiver
And they both went in with a scplosh.

With his attire all wet
He called to the vet
Who shouted "I'm already wet"
"I'm feeling a bit dire"
He said "Then you best not jump that wire."

So in a tangle again
He was now in real pain
So with nothing to gain
He fell back on the ground again (Anon)

There was a young Whip from the Vale,
Who with his horse, tried to set sail,
He got very wet,
Cold muddy and upset,
But he lived to tell the tale.
(Kate and Whitey)

JOSHUA, JOSHUA
WHAT A TERRIBLE MESS YOU ARE.
WHY ARE YOU EMPTYING YOUR BOOTS OF WATER?
EVERYONE’S HAD A GOOD OLD CHORTLE.
GET BACK ON AND STOP MUCKING ABOUT
OR THE MASTER WILL GIVE YOU A TERRIBLE CLOUT
AND WHILE YOU’RE ABOUT IT PLEASE KISS YOUR HORSE
BETTER
OR NEXT TIME (S)HE’LL MAKE SURE YOU GET EVEN
WETTER.
(Caroline Roy)

There was a young Whip from up North,
Who for the Vale kennels set forth,
Last heard shouting 'Bye heck,
I'm up to me neck,
And where the fuck's me horse'
(Kate and Whitey)

Josh, with water tried filling his boots,
To the sounds of laughter, screams and hoots,
He fell in the river,
Came out all a shiver,
And now his whip's made a nest for the coots.
(Kate and Whitey)

HALTON RIDE 2007 IS A HUGE SUCCESS!

Susie Bell, Secretary of the ride says:

The 2007 Vale of Aylesbury Sponsored Ride took place last Sunday at
RAF Halton near Wendover, Bucks. I had to stop taking entries long
before the closing date as the ride filled up so quickly this year and,
after a dull start, the sun shone for us all day. We had a
fantastic turnout as usual and the office was incredibly busy
processing entries without a break from 8am until 2pm!

The first riders set off at 9.30am and the last two came through the finish at about 4pm. In between, there were a few falls and a few
loose horses to be caught by mounted stewards and spectators alike, but nearly everybody came back into the office for their rosette
with a great big smile on their faces. It is great to see so many happy people in one room!

Do have a look at a few of John's photos at www.haltonride.org.uk. The official photographers, SF Digital, www.sfdigital.com were
also present at three fences so, if you went round, check out their website in case they caught you going over the plane.

We have approximately 80 volunteers on the day, most of them came from within the hunt, without whom we couldn't ever put on such
a big event. It's only thanks to these hardworking people who give up a whole day of their time - and many of them much more - that
we are able to stage this event year after year. It takes a lot of organisation but I don't think a single one of us goes home without
feeling satisfied that we've done something really worthwhile. If you have never been involved in the ride before and you would like to
enter it or be a volunteer next year, please do get in touch with me and we will make sure you aren't forgotten.
Susie Bell, Secretary, 01494 758408

Pang Valley X-C Ride - Schedule available now

The Pang Valley ride in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Suitable for all levels of experience. 10 miles in
beautiful countryside with over 50 optional jumps.

Click here for schedule

Political Activities

Want to help with the political effort? There's something going on most weeks and everyone who cares about
hunting and our countryside should help. We'd all like to get back to proper hunting. Please go to the "Fighting
the Ban" tab for contact information or contact Cathy Fleming on 01635 202219 or c_fleming@beeb.net.
There's lots to do - leafleting, canvassing, telephone canvassing, stuffing envelopes etc.