2011

Our guest speaker at The Highlander on Tuesday February 1^st was Chris Pike.  Chris is a Game Ranger and Conservationist in South Africa, and he is also involved with the organisation of safaris.  His presentation was on Game Management in South Africa, Conservation through utilization. Chris talked about the positive effects that game utilization has on conservation in South Africa.

It was a very interesting and informative talk, and although it was a departure from our core activities the evening was enjoyed by all.    

Our Guest speaker in March was PC Leybourne from the Northumbria Constabulary and the subject was Rural Crime.  He had been involved with a number of poaching incidents and was able to tell us about some of the incidences and outcomes, but naturally was not able to give full details of some cases.  Again, this was very interesting and some very good advice was given.    

Our guest speaker on the evening of April 5^th was Ron Sedgwick. He gave a talk on binoculars.  Ron had with him a variety of binoculars and, after he had talked at length about their construction and the technical side of quality lens manufacture, members were able to inspect and try out the samples that he had.  It was bad planning on our part to have organised the event for April, and by the time we were able to try the binoculars it was nearly dark!       

Our guest speaker on the evening of May 3^rd was Peter Gray, Regional Veterinary Lead for the North East region of Animal Health (the government agency responsible for controlling bTb in livestock).  Peter gave an update on the bTB situation in GB and the North East in particular.  Thankfully the North East experiences relatively few cases of bTb in cattle, and no cases of wildlife bTB infection have been found in the North East either.  Peter was grateful for the opportunity to address our deerstalkers, because stalkers carrying out the "trained hunter" food hygiene inspection of deer carcases could be the first line in identifying such a problem were it to develop.

Unfortunately we did not have a guest speaker for June, and we had a social evening and a showing of a deer stalking DVD from the Steve Hyde collection!

We decided at Committee level that we would not organise events for the first Tuesdays in July & August, these are usually poorly attended, but we have organised some training activities for July.

On Tuesday evening July 12^th we arranged a range competency lecture and test session.   You will know that to be able to shoot on an M.O.D. Range you must first sit in on this lecture and pass the written test (multiple choice).

The test paper is not difficult, everything is covered in the lecture, and all of the questions and answers are on the B.D.S. website.  The cost for the training is £10 per candidate, and we shall arrange sessions from time to time or if requested by our members.

On the evening of Tuesday 19^th July we have Ponteland A Range booked.  The main reason is to practice our Range Conducting Officers, but there is an opportunity for those members that have their range competency certificate to have a check zero / practice.  We should be able to open the range at 6pm or there abouts.

On Sunday July 24^th we shall host The Border Stalker Rifle Shoot at Ponteland.  This is an annual event and teams of six from South East & South West Scotland, North West and North East England shoot for the Border Stalker Trophy.  I am pleased that Branch Stalwart Stuart Henderson was willing to pull together a team for me. Hopefully if there is sufficient interest we shall organise some range days and have a trophy shoot for members during the late summer.

Our guest speaker for the evening of 6^th September will be Tim Scott.   Tim is a gunsmith and gun stocker, and he will give a talk on gun maintenance and stock care.  Having seen Tim strip and re-build a side by side and an over and under during a talk for a Wildfowling Club, and answer questions raised throughout, I know that you will not want to miss this event.  The venue as always will be The Highlander, between Ponteland and Belsay, 7.30pm for 8pm start.

I have been trying to organise a head measurement evening for October 4^th.  So far I have not received confirmation, but I will continue in my endeavours to firm this up.

Our show season started in July with the two day Game & Country Fair at Raby Castle on the weekend of 9^th / 10^th.  Our next will be The Simonside Country Fair at Forestburn Gate on Sunday 14^th August.

Branch members will be aware that we have been very lucky to have recruited three new Committee Members.  Bill Brassington lives at Catterick, Matthew Bolam at Bellingham and Christopher Roy-Toole at Chester-Le-Street.  They are all keen deer stalkers and they are welcome additions to the team. 

Sadly we still do not have a Branch Secretary, but be assured I will always do my best to cover until such times as another is prepared to take my place.

I look forward to seeing you at our events

Very best regards to all

Norman Ball

Chairman