The Field February 2020

ONE of the tastier hors d’oeuvres served up in aftermath of Labour’s capitulation came from the analysis of social media advertising by the two main parties. Labour out-spent the Conservatives to some considerable degree and it was widely believed, ahead of polling day, that they had run ‘the most successful social media campaign ever’. Their Facebook and Twitter videos earned tens of millions more views than the Tories. Yet ticks on social media clearly did not translate to crosses at the ballot box. It would appear that the dark art of paying good money for social media engagement is not a precise science, contrary to the near-evangelical preaching of those who make a pretty penny hawking online strategies. It’s well known that social media often operates in an echo-chamber, amplifying…

IN half a century of painting horses, Tod Ramos has brought continuity to equestrian art without ever lapsing into nostalgia. Anyone who has sighed wistfully over the twill jodhpurs and bowler hats of a Munnings equestrian portrait will understand the lure of looking back. Amazingly, the two painters’ lives do indeed overlap by a couple of years. He confirms: “Munnings was a great pal of my grandfather.” Ramos comes from a family of artists. His father was Theodore Ramos, the Spanish portrait painter, and his mother, Julia Rushbury, a landscape painter, is the daughter of the Sir Henry Rushbury who was keeper of the Royal Academy in Munnings’ time. Ramos describes his childhood in a racing world that Munnings would have recognised: “I was brought up in Lewes in Sussex,…

BASC takes Natural England fowling Wildfowling courses are being run for Natural England staff by BASC this month, covering all aspects of the sport – from bird identification and best practice guidance to habitat management and the law. The courses will take place at three locations around the country. “We want to show the collaboration between the regulators and the practioners,” explains James Green, BASC’s head of wildfowling. “The emphasis is on education and the days will help to build on the consenting work undertaken by the BASC wildfowling team to date.” Last year, BASC’s wildfowling team helped secure more than 32,000 acres of coastal land on behalf on clubs across England. Working collaboratively with Natural England, Crown Estate, club members and other stakeholders, BASC helped clubs obtain 12 consents…

NEW ANGLING CHIEF Passionate angler Jamie Cook took over as chief executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal in January, succeeding Mark Lloyd, who has moved to The Rivers Trust. Cook says his vision for the Trust is to re-engage with anglers, make the sport accessible to newcomers and “build consensus across the many different disciplines of our sport”. DOG OF A LIFETIME FTCh Aytee Jumbo Jet of Islasbraw (Lewis) is “a dog of a lifetime”, said Daryl Elliot after his six-year-old German shorthaired pointer won the Kennel Club’s HPR Championship for the second year running. The ground, at Lord Masham’s Swinton Park estate in North Yorkshire, was perfect for the event, sponsored by Skinner’s Pet Foods Field & Trial. “Lewis is one in a million,” said Elliot. “I…

25 Jan-1 March (Saturday and Sunday only) Snowdrop Open Days Colesbourne Park, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Entry £8.50 adults, children free. Tel01242 870567; colesbournegardens.org.uk 27 Jan-28 Snowdrop opens days Anglesey Abbey and Gardens, Quy Road, Lode, Cambridgeshire. Tel01223 810080; nationaltrust.org.uk 1 Thurlow Hunt Point-to-Point Horseheath, Cambridgeshire. Tel07753 863023; pointtopoint.co.uk 2 South Dorset Hunt Point-to-Point Milbourne St Andrew, Dorset. Tel07899 871623; pointtopoint.co.uk 5-1 March Benington Lordship Garden Snowdrop Open Days Benington, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Tel01438 869668; beningtonlordship.co.uk 7 GWCT Essex Sporting Ball Braxted Park Estate, Witham, Essex. Emailgeorgejones@newneyhall.com 8 Albrighton & Woodland (North) Point-to-Point Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire. Tel07968 086092; chaddesleyraces.co.uk 14-16 The Great British Shooting Show NEC, Birmingham. More than 600 exhibitors, the chance to test airguns on manufacturers’ ranges and in a night-vision tunnel. Tel0844 3380338; shootingshow.co.uk 16 South East Hunts Club…

MOST VIEWED Supper innovations The season may be over but enjoy the spoils using The Field’s pheasant recipes. Readers have been sharing innovations. “Marinate overnight in one can of Pepsi or Coke and several dollops of redcurrant jelly,” suggested one Fielder. “Everyone says, ‘Surely not Pepsi with pheasant?’” Others have taken professional advice. “I enjoyed KFP (Kentucky Fried Pheasant). Chef David Jones even did drumsticks with waffles and syrup, yum!” #THEFIELDMAGAZINE World Book Day The Field is delighted to hear that it is inspiring the next generation. “My son going to school on World Book Day,” shared one reader. “He only ever reads Shooting Times and The Field so he went as George Digweed.” “Excellent choice,” said one reader. “Brilliant,” joined another. “I am sad to say that not all/many/any…