THE 2010 annual meeting of the HTA promises to be the most interesting and, probably most crucial, for many a long year.

The debate continues to grow about the need for change; the extent of change that is required and who are the people to take the sport forward, confidently into the next decade.

The comments of former chairman Ian Beck in announcing his resignation have sparked intense debate.

Last week’s letter in response to the resignation from Billy Towers has prompted further correspondence and the debate will continue right up to the annual meting – which in itself should be useful.

Barry Laidler has taken over as chairman of the Association, in succession to Ian Beck and he contacted me with a brief response to Billy Towers’ letter.

Barry said: “I would like to reply to the letter in the Whitehaven News (17th December) re hound trailing.

“If Billy Towers would attend the AGM of the HTA, I will personally see that he has the floor to air his views and criticisms.

“Further to his letter, I think that he is out of order in calling our elder members "dinosaurs" after they have given a lifetime of support and service to our sport - even if the modern world is catching up with them, myself included.

“As for "dynasty" - well, it's nice to be included with the likes of the Kennedy’s and perhaps Genghis Khan, but ruler I most certainly am not. Chairman to lead the sport forward? Hopefully, yes!”

I intend to do an in-depth interview with Barry before the AGM for his personal views on how he finds the state of hound trailing going into 2010.

At the same time as receiving that letter from the new chairman, I also received a response from Dave Lilly, on behalf of the members of the Wath Brow Hound Trailing Committee.

It said: “Members of the committee would fully endorse all the views made by Billy Towers in his recent letter to the Whitehaven News.

“Further more we believe that the appointment of Ian Beck, and his subsequent efforts to get the members thinking about the need for change, was the best thing to happen to hound trailing in a very long time.

“The members of our committee were very sorry to hear that Ian had resigned.”

There’s no hound trailing column next week but we resume in the New Year with a continued look at the various graded champions, and also expanding the debate on the future of the sport.

Meanwhile a note that the Coniston series of trial trails will start on Sunday, January 3 up at the fell gate at 2.30 pm, and every Sunday thereafter. There will be a 10-minute run (P and H), followed by a 5-minute run (P and H). If in doubt about the weather, ring Tant Inman on 015394 41239.

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