Best Rural Retailer competition launched at The Royal

The Countryside Alliance launched its third annual Best Rural Retailer competition at the Royal Show on Monday 2nd July. The South of England is now vying to repeat the success of Foxbury Farm Shop's national title in 2006. If you have a retailer who is an ambassador for your local community and goes the extra mile for rural life, then nominate them now at www.bestruralretailer.co.uk

Southern winners of 2006 were:
Best Local Food Retailer (& overall national Champions) - Foxbury Farm Shop, Brize Norton, Oxfordshire
Best Shop / PO - Abbotts Ann Store and Post Office, Andover, Hampshire
Best Diversification - Suthwyk Ales, Southwick, Hampshire
Best Traditional Business - Cassington Builders, Witney, Oxfordshire

Categories are, once again:
Best Local Food Retailer
Best Village Shop/ Post Office
Best Diversification
Daily Telegraph Best Traditional Business


Strutt & Parker Young Country Person Award

The Salisbury office of property specialists Strutt & Parker are launching their Young Country Person of the Year Competition.

The competition, now in it's fourth year, aims to highlight young people's achievements in the countryside and has drawn together an amazing wealth of young, talented people in the past and they are looking for new entrants for 2007.

Further details and application forms are available from Glenda Pearce, 41 Milford Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 BP, telephone: 01722 328741, e-mail:  glenda.pearce@struttandparker.co.uk. Entries will be split into three age categories


Gee Up Your Summer !

Fancy participating in a new and exhilarating sport, a fresh pastime or challenge? Then why not join thousands of other new and lapsed riders who will take up the reins this summer as part of the Petplan National Riding Festival.

Running from June until September, riding centres nationwide will be supporting the Festival, flinging open their five-barred gates and hosting a myriad of riding related events and activities, from jousting competitions to natural horsemanship demonstrations. Throughout the Festival, participating riding centres will also be offering discounted riding lessons to new and lapsed riders.

To find out more, or for details of your local riding centre, call the Petplan Equine National Riding Festival hotline on 0870 241 1481 or visit the website at www.nationalridingfestival.co.uk.

Diary Dates

THE HASELBECH GRAND NATIONAL
Haselbech Hall, Haselbech, Northamptonshire
Monday 27th August

On foot Team-Chase/Obstacle Course
And a Hunt with a Difference

"The Course" will consist of a variety of obstacles and should prove
to be as entertaining to spectate as to compete...

Hog Roast, Licensed Bar, Stalls

Open from 11.00am

Entry £15.00 to include one good helping of Hog Roast (seconds on you)
(Children under 10 years £5.00)

Further information and tickets - available from
Christina McKenzie or anyone who answers at Haselbech Hall, Northants NN6 9LG
Tel. (01604) 686 235 or Fax. 686.335

Prizes will be awarded to:
· The fastest Team (first three members to complete the course qualify)
· The team that is closest to an optimum time.
· Team under 10 years


HAMPSHIRE COUNTRY SPORTS DAY
Tichborne Park Alresford, Hampshire
Sunday 9th September


Entry £8 and £1 for children
Continuous Arena Programme
Gundog Competitions - Trade Stands
Rural Crafts - Fishing - Inter Hunt Relay
Ferret Show & Racing - Lurcher and
Terrier Show - Dog Show - Falconry
Children's Amusements
Licensed Bar and Catering
Clay Pigeon Shoot (Fibre Wad Cartridge Only)
10am start - Last entries 4pm
30 Bird Sporting Shoot
40 Bird (two guns) Pheasant Flush
40 Bird (two guns) Partridge Flush
Pool Shoot -10 clays
All trophy prizes - No cash
Tuition Stands
Have-a-go fun for country enthusiasts and families
Gates open 9:30am . Enquiries
01264 771259 or 07974 141933

Young Thrusters Ball Northamptonshire
In association with

Saturday 15th September
Sywell Aerodrome, Sywell
7pm - 2am
Black Tie dinner
Disco
Terrier racing
Bucking Bronco
Indoor laser shooting competition
Auction

Tickets only £35.00
Contact Emily Hayward -  Haywardemily@hotmail.com
Tel 01536 418366 / 07801 030443


Sun 8th July, Heythrop Hunt Open Day with Terrier & Lurcher Show - qualifier for Ragley Hall The Kennels, Chipping Norton

Sun 8th July, Grafton Hunt Summer Garden Lunch with Tennis Tournament at The Hill, Thorpe Mandeville. Lunch £15 (children under 12 £7.50). Tennis £5 per entrant (£10 per pair) - all ranges of ability welcome. Entries to Annis Garfield 01295 710307 or Kate Musgrave 01327 860390 or  annisgarfield@btconnect.com.

Tues 24-Thurs 26th July, New Forest ShowVisit the Countryside Alliance stand in the Countryside area New Park

Sat 11 August, New Forest Hound Exercise and breakfast. Leave Kennels 7.30am, Breakfast 9.00am, Please book early £7.50 per head £5 children, George Biddle 07860 450353

Sat 25 August, New Forest Pre season Hunt Ride and Breakfast. Pace of ride to suit all, suitable novice horses and diversion for gallopers!George Biddle 07860 450353

Sun 12 August, New Forest Mounted Games Langham Lodge2.00pmJas Barker 01794 322306

Sun 26 August, Hursley Hambledon Hunt THE BERELEIGH CROSS COUNTRY RIDEAt BERELEIGH, EAST MEON, NR. PETERSFIELD, HAMPSHIRE By kind permission of Mr and Mrs Tyrwhitt-Drake From 9.30. a.m.-Last entries 1.00pm www.hursleyhambledonhunt.com

Mon 27 August, Haselbech Grand National. Christina McKenzie or anyone who answers at Haselbech Hall, Northants NN6 9LGTel. (01604) 686 235 or Fax. 686.335

Thus 30th August, Bucks County Show. Visit the Countryside Alliance Countryside area Nr Aylesbury

Sunday 9th September, Hampshire Country Sports Day, Tichborne Park, Hampshire

Sunday 9th September, New Forest Landford Hunter Trials Schedules Trish East 01425 653339

Saturday 15th September, Northamptonshire Young Thrusters Ball Black Tie, Sywell Aerodrome, Sywell, Tickets £35.00Emily  Haywardhaywardemily@hotmail.com07801 030443

Sat 15th Sunday 16th September, Royal Berkshire ShowVisit the Countryside Alliance stand in the Countryside Area, Newbury

Sun September 30th, New Forest Sponsored Ride, New Park, Brockenhurst - more details to follow

Sunday 4th November, Luncheon at Thenford By kind permission Lord and Lady Heseltine. Details to follow

www.bicesterhunt.co.uk
www.hampshirehunt.co.uk
www.graftonhunt.co.uk
www.hursleyhambledonhunt.com
www.valeofaylesburywithgarthandsouthberks.com
www.iwfoxhounds.com

DOG WATCH DOG WATCH DOG WATCH
This excellent newsletter and email tree can help with recovery and prevention of stolen dogs. To sign up for the first time telephone : 01491 641668. Once the new member's e-mail address is registered, communications by e-mail are enabled.
Michael Colston
 colston@farmline.com


REGIONAL CONTACTS

Regional Chairman Bill Tyrwhitt-Drake 01730 823486

County Chairman:

Hampshire Luke Axel-berg 01420 588295

South Oxfordshire Dicky Green 01793 710227

North Oxfordshire Oliver Langdale 01608 737268

Berkshire Mike Albon 01635 876267

Isle of Wight

Buckinghamshire Adrian Charman 01494 713953

New Forest Charlotte Boxall 01590 622708

Northamptonshire Lee Chambers 01933 312528

Hugh Lowther 01604 740028

CA Regional Director:
Sara Rutherford
email:  sara-rutherford@countryside-alliance.org
Tel/fax : 01264 771259 Mob: 07974 141933

UK Contacts:
www.countryside-alliance.org.uk

email:  info@countryside-alliance.org

GRASS E-ROUTES
Please encourage all your friends and contacts to register for our grass e-route email system. The service is free and provides subscribers with the latest news on countryside issues direct to their desktop or email phone. By registering direct, subscribers receive all UK messages and information appropriate to their local area.

Registration is simple. Send an email to  news@countryside-alliance.org.uk
including "register" in the subject box