The Field January 2018

“Taking home game is essential to the sporting contract we’ve made with our quarry” AT the start of every winter Monday the conversation in The Field office revolves around two topics: the sporting fun we had at the weekend – often jumping a decent hedge and making it to second horses in my case, returning with a bulging game bag in the Editor’s – followed by a discourse on how we prepared and cooked game, who we fed and the recipes we’ve tried. As we’re both keen cooks there’s a degree of culinary one-upmanship but the good-natured game recipe trumps has a serious, almost evangelical message at its heart. Every moment we spend in the field is done with an understanding of the sporting and conservational benefits of what we…

‘I was hungry for the sport… My technique came as a natural development, because every time I painted something I just wanted to work out how to paint it better’ WRITING about the enthralling paintings of equestrian artist Daniel Crane is difficult. This is not because of his neo-traditionalist compositions or his experiential use of light, or any of the other twiddly bits art critics talk about. It is, quite simply, because when you look at one of Crane’s hunting paintings every fibre of mind and muscle instantly wants you to pull on your boots and go hunting. Now! This makes it extremely difficult to remain seated in front of your computer. However, after three hours solid riding out and with no hunt meeting within 50 miles, it is possible…

New national centre for the RDA The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is building a new national training centre in Warwickshire to help reduce waiting lists among its 500 groups. Work begins on the 35-acre site at Lowlands Farm near Warwick this month. The riding school already has an indoor and outdoor arena, and four RDA groups are currently based there. The number of riders will double to 200 once the new centre is operational. A gallery and training rooms are being built and the RDA’s national office will move here when works are completed in spring 2019, the charity’s 50th anniversary year. An all-weather perimeter track will be added to enable the centre to introduce carriage driving and increase outdoor riding. “We hope this centre will reduce waiting…

SALMON CHAMPION REMEMBERED The life and work of Orri Vigfússon, who died in July aged 74, is being celebrated at Fishmonger’s Hall in London on 23 January. Vigfusson campaigned tirelessly to save the wild Atlantic salmon and was the founder and chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF). Anyone wishing to attend should contact Edwina Ord-Hume at support@frontierstrvl.co.uk DICK POTTS LEGACY FUND Innovative farmland ecology projects set up by farmers, keepers or young ecologists are being sought by the Dick Potts Legacy Fund. Projects should “be well thought out and address a recognised problem in conservation”, said the GWCT’s Dr Julie Ewald. Applicants for the first round of grants should send in an overview of their project, in less that 2,500 words, by 19 January to dickpottsfund@gwct.org.uk NEW MASTER…

3-5 Oxford Farming Conference Oxford University. Theme: “Embracing Change”. To book tickets, go to: www.ofc.org.uk 4-7 The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair The London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London W1. www.mayfairfair.com 7 Larkhill Racing Club Point-to-Point Larkhill, Wiltshire. Tel: 07789544498. 7 West Percy Hunt Point-to-Point Ratcheugh Farm, Alnwick, Northumberland. First race 12.30pm. Tel: 07748986394; www.alnwickraces.co.uk 8-9 Cocker Spaniel Championship Sandringham Estate, Norfolk. Tel 020 7518 1059; www.thekennelclub.org.uk 10-14 London Boat Show, ExCel, London E16. Tel: 0844 776 7766; www.londonboatshow.com 11-20 River Helmsdale Opening Ceremony Opening on 11th then 10 days’ free fishing. Permits issued from the Belgrave Hotel, Helmsdale. Tel 01431 821242. 15 Tay Opening Ceremony The Kenmore Hotel, Kenmore, Perthshire. Tel 01887 830205; www.kenmorehotel.com 20 Barbury International Racing Club Point-to-Point, Barbury Racecourse, Marlborough, Wiltshire. First race 11.30am. Tel:…

WHEN VETS UNDRESS 2018 CHARITY CALENDAR We all know alpaca wool is warm but the students at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies are taking no chances in this weather. This bunch of woolly thinkers have abandoned their white coats for All4Paws, a charity run by the students to provide free veterinary care to pets of the homeless. For a copy of the calendar, priced £15, go to: www.whenvetsundress.org. The Field has contributed to the cause.…