Trail hunting resumes, ploughing match called off
Trail hunting is resuming this weekend in the Midhurst and Petworth area as further foot and mouth restrictions are lifted.
But a heavy horses ploughing match due to take place at Rogate on Saturday has been cancelled. The match was to be held on land at the farm where there was a foot and mouth scare three weeks ago.
A spokeswoman for the Southern Counties Heavy Horse Association said: “With foot and mouth still a worry it was seen as best to cancel and not relocate the event.”
The government department Defra announced the intention to lift animal movement restrictions across England from yesterday, provided there was no new case of foot and mouth. But the concession does not apply to the disease risk area, in which West Sussex is included with Hampshire, Surrey and four other counties.
A Defra statement said: “The risk area will remain but the size of this area and the movement restrictions currently imposed are subject to continual review.”
The go-ahead for trail hunting to resume, subject to certain disinfecting procedures for vehicles and foot followers, has been greeted with relief by the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt, and the South Downs Bloodhounds, based near Petersfield.
Both hunts will be meeting on Saturday.
Nick Bamber, a joint master of the CLC, said: “We are able to go out at last, after weeks of being idle.”
The hunt’s formal opening meet will be at Petworth Park on Saturday, November 3 at 11am, with a second opening meet at Cowdray House on Saturday, November 10, also at 11am.
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Weather for Midhurst
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
