The Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) announces next Chairman

The Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) has announced that Andrew Osborne will become the association's next Chairman, taking over from Lord Mancroft after the AGM in May 2021.

Andrew, a former Master of Foxhounds who has hunted the Sinnington, Bedale and Cottesmore hounds, is currently vice chairman of the MFHA and sits on the MFHA committee as representative for the East Midlands region. He is currently chairman of the trustees of the National Museum of Hunting and on the committee of the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show, as well as representing the MFHA on the Hunting Joint Committee with the Countryside Alliance.

"I am very honoured to be entrusted with this new responsibility," explained Andrew. "These are very challenging times for us all, but I strongly believe there is a hugely positive future for our sport and way of life.

"I am confident we can secure a sustainable future for hunting and I will do my absolute best to ensure that we can all enjoy and be proud of hunting for many years to come."

Nick Herbert, Chairman of the Countryside Alliance commented: "I am delighted that Andrew has been appointed Chairman of the MFHA. We have been working well together in the new Hunting Joint Committee of the Countryside Alliance and the hunting organisations, and I am confident that this partnership will continue so that we can ensure the future of the sport.

He continued: "I would like to pay tribute to Lord Mancroft who has done so much over the years to promote and defend hunting. I began working with him at the British Field Sports Society over 30 years ago and we have been friends ever since. He has done a huge amount for the sport we love, much of it behind the scenes, and I know that he will continue to be a stalwart ally of the countryside in the House of Lords."

Andrew Osborne also reflected on Lord Mancroft's leadership over the past seven years: "His input has been enormously generous and he has initiated and overseen developments in the conduct if our sport as well as massive improvements in training and standards, all of which are so important in ensuring a sustainable future."

The Countryside Alliance works closely with the MFHA which is responsible for 176 registered packs of foxhounds that hunt within the law in the UK.

Images used accredited to Hermione Brooksbank.