TOP MARKS
WHAT an excellent report by Stephanie Bateman of rookie trainer Callum Gri th’s rst win at the Croome and West Warwickshire point-to-point over the new course at Sheleld Park (highlights, 22 April).
Readers may not be aware that it was the rst meeting there by kind permission of senior jointmaster Mrs Patty Allen, a Croome joint-master since 1979.
The 200 or so hunts organising their own meeting are well aware of the work involved. Without their armies of volunteers and o cials, the day would be impossible. Hunts that have been forced to move their venues soon discover the extra work involved, but to their credit the whole thing went like clockwork.
Entries were down – the original date was cancelled due to Covid and the new date clashed with the previous day’s meeting of the North Warwickshire Hunt Club at Mollington, plus there were a large number of point-topoints in the week leading up to this meeting.
However, thanks to the sponsors, the meeting went ahead and Mrs Allen deserved the plaudits of the many knowledgeable people present, including Jockey Club o cials. Hopefully next season will see the crowds back to all our meetings with much greater entries to boost the funds for hunting.
Norma Field Henley-in-Arden, Warks