Piccotts End, photograph by John Bell
Welcome to the website of the Kimblewick Hunt. The site has lots of information about us, about coming hunting with us, and about the events, social and equestrian, that we organise.
Now a regular feature of the local showing calendar, yesterday’s Haddenham Spring horse show was blessed with dry weather and had a great turnout, building on the success of previous years. Our thanks to the organising team for their hard work, and to everyone who helped on the day. Photographs from all five rings will be available shortly at www.evespics.co.uk.
Posted 7/5/12
Tickets are now available for this year’s Picnic Ball on June 30th at Standalls Farm, Bishopstone. Last year’s Ball was a complete sell-out and a great night was had by all, so book early to avoid disappointment. See the Events page for details and tickets.
Posted 5/5/12
Despite the recent rain, tomorrow’s horse show at Bradmoor Buildings, Haddenham, is going ahead, and the weather forecast is dry. It’s a lovely family show, so please do come along.
Posted 5/5/12
There are two point-to-points left at the lovely Kingston Blount course this season: Saturday May 12th and Sunday June 3rd.
The Kimblewick Hunt Supporters’ Club will be providing a bar and hog roast on May 12th and would be delighted to see and feed you - come along, have some fun watching the racing and support the Hunt all at the same time!
Posted 30/4/12
We received this note from the organisers of Badminton Horse Trials this morning:
EVENT SADLY CANCELLED
The recent exceptional rainfall has left the ground at Badminton totally waterlogged and partially flooded. Further rain is due this week leaving no chance of the ground drying out. Very sadly therefore the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials has been cancelled.
Purchasers of advance tickets, exhibitors, Sponsors and riders will of course be refunded as soon as is practical.
The official Badminton website is understandably very slow at the moment, but click here for the story on the Horse and Hound site.
Posted 30/4/12
The AGM took place on Friday 27th April in The Long Room at Englefield House. Click here to download a PDF of Hunt Chairman Alan Jackson’s speech.
Posted 29/4/12
English furniture designer Matthew Hilton has launched a new range of elegant Windsor-style chairs, including the Kimble, the Ibstone and the Hastoe. I’m sure the names are total coincidence, but if we had any Hunt country near Burnham we’d have the full set.
Posted 29/4/12
The AGM will take place on Friday 27th April at 7.30pm in The Long Room, Englefield House, RG7 5EN.
The following are eligible to attend and vote at the AGM: fully paid-up subscribers and members of the Hunt, those Farmers and Landowners who permit legal hound activity to take place on their land, current puppy walkers and Honorary Life Members.
The Committee looks forward to seeing you there.
Posted 24/4/12
Michael Rogers and Yvonne Parkinson were snapping away at Kimble on Saturday. Michael’s photos can be seen at www.mdr-photo.co.uk and I’m sure Yvonne’s will be up very shortly at www.evespics.co.uk, where there are also some pictures up from Kingston Blount.
Posted 9/4/12
Will Parker, the Hunt’s second whip, is having his leaving party on Wednesday 18th April at the Harrow pub in Bishopstone from 8pm. He would love to see lots of people there to send him off to his next job so please do turn up and enjoy a great evening!
Posted 2/4/12
It was standing room only last night despite the bigger venue this year, and we were treated to another set of great acts. There was poetry, magic, stand up comedy, music, “historical re-enactment” featuring ripped gym-bunny Dave Berry, Christian Schwetz wearing a collander, and even a pair of giant cocks...
The trophy went to the Howard-Jones household again, but last year’s winner Ted H-J was beaten by the younger generation this time round. Click here to see photos of all the acts.
A huge thank you to the performers, judges, organisers and all the helpers, and to the fantastic audience - together you made it a great night.
If you missed it, you missed out.
Posted 17/3/12
The largest sporting event in the Aylesbury Vale is 100 this year.
The Kimble Races have been held every Easter Saturday since 1912 at Great Kimble. Around fifteen thousand people attend to see the seven races, picnic, visit the trade stands, bars and food stalls or place a bet at one of the many bookies or the Tote.
A good day out for the whole family from noon, first race 1.30pm.
Posted 15/3/12
Tickets are now available for The Hunt’s Got Talent! on Friday March 16th in Wendover Memorial Hall. Last year’s event was a complete sell-out and a truly fantastic night with something to entertain everyone, so you’ll want to get in quick to be sure of tickets this year. See the Events page for details and tickets.
Posted 27/2/12
“On behalf of all those who attended the first Kimblewick Hunt Ball at Ipsden last night, a huge thank you to Gerald and his team for organising such a terrific event. The venue, kindly lent to us by the Ipsden Estate, which we all would agree looked quite spectacular, has not been used for such an event since the Millenium and required a lot of work before the day by lots of Hunt volunteers led by the indefatigable Gerald Sumner.
“Despite professional installation of the heating it clearly was insufficient -however as usual hunting people turned adversity into amusement! The Dark Blues were as good as ever and both the band and the DJ had the dance floor and surrounds full for hours.
“Thank you to everyone who supported the event which we hoped raised considerable funds for the hunt and we look forward to next year.
“An especial thank you to Mr and Mrs Miller and to Mrs Knowles of the Ipsden Estate for being so kind and letting us use their wonderful barn.”
Posted 26/2/12
The Tithe Barn is just off the A4074 Wallingford to Reading road. There will be signs for the Ball (look for signs marked ‘KH’). If you’re approaching from Wallingford, pass the first turning signposted ‘Ipsden and Well Barn’ and take the next turning, signposted ‘Ipsden only’. Approaching from Woodcote or Reading, take the first turning on the right for Ipsden. The Barn is on your left after about 200 metres.
Posted 25/2/12
With some recounting and replanning the Hunt Ball committee have managed to release a further three tables’ worth of tickets. These are first come first served: if you want to be at the hottest social event of the Hunt season, please contact Will Dalton (huntball@kimblewickhunt.co.uk) for payment details, PayPal or cheque.
Posted 15/2/12
Some tickets have been reserved but not yet paid for. If those reserved tickets aren’t paid for by the closing date of 18th February, they’ll be offered for sale as ‘returns’ on February 19th.
If you’d like to register interest for returned tickets, please contact Will Dalton at huntball@kimblewickhunt.co.uk.
On the other hand, if you’ve reserved tickets but not yet paid, remember that the ticket price goes up on February 15th, and contact Will (huntball@kimblewickhunt.co.uk) for payment details, PayPal or cheque.
Posted 9/2/12
Raising money in support of Help for Heroes, the charity Horses Help Heroes are auctioning pairs of tickets to each of the three dates on Monty Roberts’ forthcoming ‘From my Hands to Yours’ tour, which includes a visit to Bury Farm in our Hunt country. See the Horses Help Heroes’ Facebook page for full details, but act swiftly as the Bury Farm date is this coming Saturday, 11th February, and the auction closes three days before.
Posted 5/2/12
Photographer to Chenies Manor Keith Hoffmeister was on hand to take some pictures at the recent lawn meet at the historic manor. You can see the complete set in Keith’s Flickr stream.
Posted 2/2/12
As you may know, the Hunt Committee has asked me to return as Hunt Chairman following Simon Hope’s retirement. I do so conscious of my responsibility to the Hunt and I shall do my utmost to advance the reputation and well being of our Hunt.
May I therefore record with appreciation all that Simon and Mags Hope have done. They and their family are much valued members and supporters of the Hunt and we all look forward to seeing them hunting with the Kimblewick hounds. I am, from my own experience, fully aware of the many demands placed on a Hunt Chairman. I therefore much regret that Simon’s many responsibilities in his business career have meant that he has stepped down. We all take on these roles willingly as volunteers but they undoubtedly take up a great deal of time.
My task now is to continue to serve the Hunt as best I can; working with the many supporters across our large country and encouraging the next generation. I would warmly welcome your continued encouragement and support.
Posted 31/1/12
Michael also took some lovely pictures at Saturday’s meet at Marsh, again available on his website www.mdr-photo.co.uk.
Posted 31/1/12
Professional equine photographer Michael Rogers, seen working behind a camera at many Hunt events (the RAF Halton and South Oxfordshire sponsored rides, for instance) was out for pleasure with the Kimblewick at Cholesbury on Boxing Day and Wendover on Saturday. Photos from both days can be seen on Michael’s website www.mdr-photo.co.uk.
Posted 22/1/12
The 2012 calendar has now sold out - our thanks to everyone who bought one: every purchase supports the Hunt.
Posted 15/1/12
Dust off your dancing shoes and keep February 25th free in your diary. The social highlight of the Hunt season will include a champagne reception, four course dinner, four bottles of wine per table, two live sets by the fabulous Dark Blues band, breakfast at 1am and dancing until 2am. Maybe wise to keep the morning of the 26th free as well...
Discounts for early booking and Supporters’ Club members. See the Events page for tickets and full details.
Posted 2/2/12
The Masters of Foxhounds Association have circulated updated versions of The Case for Repeal and the Veterinary Association for Wildlife Management’s paper Hunting, Wildlife Management and the Moral Issue.
Posted 23/12/11
The date for the 2012 sponsored ride at RAF Halton has been confirmed as Sunday 25th March. There will be new jumps this year, and significant new prizes, both for individuals and for Pony Clubs entering teams. More information, entry forms and online entry are now available from the Ride’s website, www.haltonride.org.uk. See the site’s News page for details of the new prizes.
Posted 11/12/11
