Hunts are split again as merger is mooted

The Bilsdale Hunt was formed in 1668 by the Duke of Buckingham, who lived at Helmsley Castle.

In 2004, after disagreements between members, the hunt split up, with the breakaway group forming the Bilsdale Farmers Hunt. Both were hunting the same country in North Yorkshire and last year local landowners wrote to both sides asking them to consider reuniting to form one hunt.

Progress was made to the extent that the Bilsdale Farmers and the Bilsdale hunted together last season and there was a joint mastership between the two. However, this meant there were still two packs of hounds and two huntsmen and a decision needed to be made about the way forward and how the hunt should be run.

"We needed to get to one pack of hounds and one huntsman for this season. We haven't got enough country to hunt three or four days a week," said Nigel Clack, master of the Bilsdale Hunt. "We needed to come to a resolution but we just couldn't reach an agreement."

He took over as master in 2008 and was keen to see the two sides get together.

But if this was not going to be possible, he felt he needed to secure a future for the hunt and members of the committee have been looking at the possibility of merging with neighbours the Hurworth. This proposal is to be discussed at an extraordinary general meeting on May 10.

The Bilsdale Farmers, however, feel that any merger with the Hurworth would threaten hundreds of years of history and do not want it to go ahead. They held an open meeting earlier this week to propose an alternative. Joint master Sheila Ashby said: "Together we can make it work. One Bilsdale is our aim."

Sara Allott, a member of the Bilsdale Farmers Hunt, said: "I have hunted with the Bilsdale for 20 years and I would hate to see it disappear. I feel quite passionate about it."

Nigel Clack said: "We are going to discuss this new proposal and my fervent hope is that it will be something that our members will support."

THE first foal by the top show- jumping stallion Peppermill, Mill River, was born at the Balinmore Stud at Bewholme near Driffield, which is run by Alison Ives.

Mill River is the first foal for the show-jumping dam Poshrat.

Yogi keeping careful watch at Badminton for future stars

YOGI Breisner, world-class performance manager for British Eventing and Great Britain's chef d'equipe, along with his fellow selectors, will be keeping a close eye on performances at Badminton this weekend.

William Fox-Pitt is on top form after winning in Kentucky on Cool Mountain, a horse which was making its debut in a four- star event. European champion Tina Cook is also a favourite for Badminton.

Breisner will also be assessing rising stars, including Lucy Wiegersma, Piggy French and Yorkshire's Nicola Wilson, who all performed well in the European Championships at Fontainebleu in France.

Last year's Badminton champion, the injured Oliver Townend, cannot compete for a mandatory 21-day period but Breisner said he was sure he would make a quick recovery.

The team for this year's World Equestrian Games in Kentucky at the end of September will be selected before July 14, said Breisner.

THERE are two point-to-points in different parts of the county this weekend.

The Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt hold theirs at Heslaker, Skipton tomorrow and the Zetland Hunt's point-to-point takes place at Witton Castle on Monday.

At Pendle Forest, racing starts with the hunt members' race, which is followed by the Point-to-Point Owners and Riders Club Members Conditions race for novice riders. There are 22 entries and most have been running well including Beauchamp Oracle, Smart Thinker and Pen Gwen.

The Yorkshire Area Restricted Championship could be a battle between Blazing Bulland Adieu Mari. The postcode for satellite navigation is BD23 3AB.

At the Zetland, the biggest race will be the Restricted race, which has 29 entries with Skarmanche looking likely to do well.

The Ladies Open could turn out to be hotly contested with Andre Chenier, Blandings Castle and Nawaadi all possible contenders.

The final two races are divisions of the Open Maiden race. The postcode for satellite navigation is DL14 ODE.

The York and Ainsty hunts held their point-to-point at Easingwold and raised 500 for the York and District Riding for the Disabled Association.

CW 1/5/10