Current Fundraising Activities:

1.  Summer Prize Draw - ends 20th September 2009

2.  Jazz on the Grass - Saturday 1st August, 2009

3.  Report on Charity Race at Southwell Racecourse - 15 March 2009

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1.   SUMMER PRIZE DRAW - ends 20th September 2009

FIRST PRIZE - £200
SECOND PRIZE - £100
THIRD PRIZE - £50

Tickets are £1 each and will be on sale until the Draw takes place on Sunday 20th September, 2009 on the UCSW stand at the Midland Game Fair. Postal entries should reach the UCSW no later than Wednesday 16th September, 2009

Tickets will be sent out with the Summer issue of Livin' Country to all members for this year's Summer Prize Draw.  If you are not a member and would like to take part, please email us   with your name and address and we will send you the required number of tickets in the post.

Proceeds in aid of the UCSW "Protecting our Jobs".

2.    JAZZ ON THE GRASS: WITTERSHAM, NR RYE - Saturday 1st August

The JJVinten  Jazz Band (www.jjvinten.co.uk) is  coming to Wittersham  near Rye  once again for the 7th annual concert on Saturday August 1st , and it will again be  augmented by the award winning a cappella octet,  Voces8. 

This  young, vibrant group of highly talented and entertaining professionals has a great variety of repertoire  ranging from 13th century polyphony to unique jazz and popular arrangements. Voces8 ( www.voces8.com) recorded a new CD last year  of unique and exciting arrangements of jazz classics which had been especially arranged for it and have been performing all over Europe.

The contrast ‘twixt band and singers is unique and complementary and they will be performing some numbers together. The JJ Vinten  band, www.jjvinten.co.uk,  is well known  to those who have attended previous concerts. JJ plays the piano and is a performer of legendary status among his peers. He worked with George Melly and John Chilton's Feetwarmers for many years and is supported by Goff Dubber (clarinet, saxes and vocals)  who has   frequently been booked as a guest musician at  overseas jazz venues  as well as having  worked regularly with Neville Dickie and the Gresty-White Ragtimers.

Andy Lawrence (bass) was a stalwart of the Terry Lightfoot Band and has worked extensively with Max Collie. Dave Hewett (trombone) has appeared at the Montreaux Jazz Festival with  Stephane Grappelli  and toured Europe with Georgie Fame. Andy Dickens (trumpet) has toured the world for many years and worked with Slim Gaillard and Jools Holland. Colin Miller (drums) has appeared with many visiting American soloists such as Wild Bill Davison. He played with the Chris Barber Band for many years.

Talks are also in progress with another young group and , if successful, this will increase the variety of music. Jazz on the Grass takes place in a field above the old sea cliffs  with views over Romney Marsh to the sea.

Gates  will open at 5.00 pm for a 7pm start. Tickets £10 each can be obtained from  Charles Wyatt on 01797 270014 in advance or £15 on the gate.  Remember to bring food, drink chairs etc. There will be a double dance floor for the more energetic members of the audience. All  the funds raised will be divided between Kent Air Ambulance, the Union Of Country Sports Workers and Wittersham Church.

3.  AIR AMBULANCE RURAL SUPPORT DAY - SOUTHWELL RACECOURSE
     Sunday 15th March, 2009

     CHARITY RACE at SOUTHWELL  RACECOURSE

The UCSW and Notts & Lincs Air Ambulance Charity Race was held on Sunday 15^th March at Southwell after a card of seven National Hunt races.   

Seven riders (see picture) participated in the thrilling race, which took place on the all weather course over 1 mile 4 furlongs.  Dora Lenge, a stable lass, who was taking part in her first race on an English racecourse, won in style on Ruud Revenge, a locally trained horse from Bawtry.  Ned Sangster, a student, came second on the Charles Egerton trained The Local and farrier, Jonathan Clayton was third on the Graham Smith trained Nayodabayo.   Mel’s Moment, owned and trained by UCSW Committee member Rob Lowe (a farrier from Hereford), was fourth under jockey Harry Crump. David Hilton from Brackley finished fifth in his first ever ride on a racetrack on Court Alert with racehorse trainer Charles Smith coming in sixth on Phileas Phog.  Last but by no means least was Per Ardua Beagle Master and Huntsman, Tim Rogers on Shinko Shadow. 

All jockeys were given a bottle of champagne and various goodies from the UCSW.  The first three home were given a voucher from MacWet for their “all grip no slip” gloves.  Mementos were presented to the winning owner Mr Budge and to the jockey who raised the most money, Charles Smith. 

Apart from the racing, visitors to Southwell enjoyed amongst other things a farmers market, farriery demonstrations, a beagle display by the Per Ardua beagles and a hound parade by the Grove & Rufford Hunt. 

The Air Ambulance were delighted with the support they received during the day.  They rely heavily on voluntary contributions needing to raise 1.5 million every year. As their spokesman said: “You always hope that it is something you won’t need but you are always glad its there when you do.” 

The UCSW was set up to preserve the tradition of country sports with particular emphasis on the jobs of those involved in the sports.  The money raised will help pay the expenses of a legal case at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg with the ban on hunting at the centre of the case.  If the case in Strasbourg proved to be successful, hunting would become entrenched as a human right under the Human Rights Act and no Government would be able to ban it again.