HSA news release 23rd March 2003

Huntsmen create their own war as they attack
saboteurs

On one of the last hunting days of this season, and whilst thousands marched for peace in
London, hunt suppporters yesterday declared their own war as they attacked hunt
saboteurs at various locations around the country.

At the Woodland Pytchley Hunt near Drayton Park, Northants, a gang of
approximately 30 hunt supporters attacked saboteurs. Three saboteurs had to be
attended by paramedics and were taken to hospital after the attack. One received head
injuries and had high blood pressure after she was knocked unconscious, and another was
treated for an injury to his eye. A third who had his ankle fractured and dislocated, is
expected to be in hospital for at least 3 days and may have to be operated upon. In total
8 saboteurs were injured. 2 hunt supporters were arrested. The hunt packed up early
on the advice of the police.

The gang of supporters have been following saboteurs from hunt to hunt in the area in
the past few months intimidating them and have carried out previous attacks. They are
believed to be "stewards" for the Bicester with Whaddon Chase Hunt, a favourite of
Countryside Alliance President Baroness Ann Mallalieu. The Master of the
Woodland Pytchley Hunt, David Reynolds, is also a Board member of the
Countryside Alliance.

On the same day at the Hampshire Hunt near Alton, Hants, a saboteur was attacked and
hit by a Land Rover driven by hunt supporters.

Also on Saturday, at the South Dorset Hunt, which met at Bovington Tank Museum, a
saboteur has reported that he was grabbed by the throat and hit on the nose by a
huntsman. Throughout the day, the hunt searched for foxes across MoD firing ranges
next to Bovington Camp, posing a potential breach of security in the current state of
high alert. One of the hunt's hounds was also hit by a van and saboteurs are concerned
that it was not recovered by the hunt for veterinary attention.

Hunt Saboteurs Association spokesperson Nathan Brown stated "The violence dished out
yesterday is a reaction to our success in saving lives. It shows that hunting is not a
pursuit carried out by respectable people. The barbarity inflicted on animals is also
inflicted on people who oppose what hunts do. The Countryside Alliance turns a blind
eye to these attacks and by failing to prevent them could be seen to be encouraging them.
If the so-called Independent Supervisory Authority for Hunting takes no action against
those involved in these attacks then it is proof that it is neither independent or
regulatory."
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HSA news release 26th March 2003

Saboteurs attacked at hunt of Countryside Alliance
Director

Three hunt saboteurs from Reading and London were today attacked whilst following
the Vale of Aylesbury with Garth and South Berks Hunt. The hunt had met at Bower
Farm, Aldworth, West Berkshire and at around 3.30 p.m. the protestors were making
their way across Moulsford Down when they were attacked by a group of estate workers
or gamekeepers.

Two of the protestors were thrown through the air and then punched in the head
repeatedly as they lay on the floor. One of the attackers was shouting "I'm going to
f****ing kill you". As a result, one of them has been left with a large bump on the side
of her head. The other has burn marks on her neck from where the attackers tried to pull
away the hunting horn that was on a string around her neck. The third protestor was also
attacked after being pushed to the floor.

However, the protestors bravely continued to sabotage the hunt after the attack using
horn calls, sprays and voice calls to distract the hounds from foxes.

The matter was not reported to the police as the saboteurs in question have little faith in
any action being taken. Hunt Saboteurs Association spokesperson Nathan Brown
explained their stance: "Two hunt saboteurs have been killed at hunts and no-one has
been prosecuted. We have yet to see any justice for Steve Christmas, who was nearly
killed and is still having to undergo surgery following an attack in September 2000 at
the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent Hunt. If saboteurs trespass there is a rapid police
response. Groups of hunt supporters have been roaming the countryside in co-ordinated
attempts to ambush and attack hunt saboteurs over the last couple of months, in our
experience, when saboteurs are attacked there is a slow response or none at all."

The Chairman of the Vale of Aylesbury with Garth and South Berks Hunt is John
Gardiner - Director of Political Affairs at the Countryside Alliance. Commenting on the
link, the HSA spokesperson continued "On Saturday protestors were hospitalised at the
hunt of a Countryside Alliance Board member and today we see protestors attacked at
the hunt of one of their Directors. Is this the Countryside Alliance response to the
progression of the Bill to ban hunting? Where is their condemnation of attacks?"

Ends.

Notes to Editors:-
Contacts:
Nathan Brown HSA Press Office 07815 313181
John Gardiner, Countryside Alliance/ VAGSB Hunt 020 7840 9260