The Field May-2018

 SINCE joining the Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST) two years ago, I have been asked the same question again and again: “What is happening to our salmon populations?” “We need to heighten awareness of the critical plight of one of our nation’s most iconic species” Unquestionably, the answer is a combination of the known and the unknown – getting to the bottom of the “unknown” bit is the challenge. The AST exists to pick up this challenge and our latest and most ambitious project aims to do this – with your help. We all know that every year wild salmon start one of the planet’s greatest natural migrations, travelling thousands of miles out to sea to return to their natal river to spawn. It’s a journey this incredible species has been…

VIEWING a James Ward oil painting of a stallion can be confusing at first. Is it a Stubbs? The composition, the subject matter, that pose with exaggeratedly arched neck and flared nostrils all seem very familiar. However, Ward (1769-1859) was working a generation later, during the Regency period. Viewed in isolation, some of Ward’s work can seem derivative but this will be contested by the new exhibition at Newmarket’s Palace House National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art. Palace House curator Dr Patricia Hardy feels that seeing a Ward in isolation can give a false impression of his work as a whole. She explains: “People know about George Stubbs but we feel that Ward has been rather neglected and there hasn’t been an appreciation of the versatility and the…

IMAGE OF PILOTS RAISES FUNDS FOR AIR CADETS The last four surviving Battle of Britain pilots have been drawn to raise funds for the RAF Air Cadets. To celebrate the RAF’s centenary, artist Jeremy Houghton was commissioned by the City Livery Companies to portray Wing Commanders Tom Neil, Tim Elkington, Geoffrey Wellum and Paul Farnes in a group picture. Houghton used grey wax pencils for the drawing, similar to those used by the pilots to plot positions. “There’s a heavenly, spiritual quality to the monochrome palette, which represents the fallen as well as the few,” he said. The pilots are the oldest living members of the few. “This is the last opportunity to hear the stories and experiences of these great men and etch in their legacy,” said Houghton. Instead…

NEW GTA HEAD Former Army officer Simon West joins the Gun Trade Association in May as its director designate. He takes over from John Batley, who is retiring at the end of 2018 after 19 years as director. In the Army, West spent most of his time as a weapons staff officer. He is a registered firearms dealer and makes bronze cannons for customers in the UK and abroad. BRITISH CHEESE AWARDS Cheeses from across the country will be judged on texture, aroma, flavour and balance at the 25th British Cheese Awards, held on 30 May – the opening day of the Royal Bath & West Show. This year there are 136 classes of cheese in nine categories, including a new award for Best Sheep Cheese. The 24 previous supreme…

2-6 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials Badminton, South Gloucestershire. www.badminton-horse.co.uk 3 GWCT Scottish Auction Prestonfield House, Edinburgh. Bidding opens on the website on 13 April for the 130 lots. Tel 07594 929783; www.gwctscottishauction.co.uk 3 Diamonds and Dinner The Talbot Hotel, Yorkersgate, Malton, North Yorkshire. Jewellery talk and dinner £25. Tel 01653 639096 5-13 Sculpture Exhibition Kingham Lodge, West End, Kingham, Oxfordshire. www.sculptureatkinghamlodge.com 9-13 Royal Windsor Horse Show Windsor, Berkshire. Celebrating its 75th year. www.rwhs.co.uk 11 Black-necked Pheasant Charity Clay Shoot Acorn Shooting Grounds, Compton Manor Estate, Kings Somborne, near Stockbridge, Hampshire. A team of four guns is £700, individuals £175. Email: khowman@ashgame.com 13 The National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair The Abbey Stadium Sports Centre, Redditch, Worcestershire. Tel 07980274383 18 GWCT Clay Shoot Goodwood Estate, Chalk Pit…

MOST VIEWED Beware of bloat Our March Sporting Dog column warned of bloat, a rare but often fatal condition, after our 2017 Best Family Gundog Charlie died. Readers are sharing the warning signs to raise awareness. “Sad to see Charlie in The Field. Well done for raising the bloat warning,” commented one. We were pleased to hear from Charlie’s owner that Wellington has joined the family. “Like Charlie, he is a show bred golden retriever and I am hopeful that he will become a working gundog.” #THE FIELD MAGAZINE The Field wallplanner Readers were delighted with April’s Sporting Year wallplanner, the bible of fieldy events, but its home for the year is causing disputes. “I’m trying to convince my wife it should go on our bedroom wall. I’m failing miserably,”…