NEWS

	Abbots Bromley Horn Dancers "possible" for Banbury 2002 Mayors back festival Pete Shadbolt rides again New cockhorse dance contest More morris New online beast archive Horses for sale (at a price).
	Horn dancers head for Banbury The legendary Abbots Bromley Horn Dancers (and horse) say they are "almost 100% certain" to attend next year's Banbury Hobby Horse Festival on 29-30 June, 2002. The dancers, world-renowned for their unique centuries-old ritual perambulations around the Staffordshire countryside, are seldom seen far from their home village. They would leave their oldest horns - carbon dated to the 11th century - and bring a spare set used for performances outside the village. There is always a chance of a hitch preventing the team from attending, but George Jones, rider of the team's distinctive hobby horse, is keen to come either way. All traditional-style hobby horses - and other breeds from the UK and beyond - have a standing invitation to the festival. Details still have to be negotiated. Festival co-ordinator Simon Pipe travelled to Abbots Bromley on Horn Dance day to invite them in person - and had to wait until they had counted the day's collection, well past his bedtime. Doc Rowe, celebrated folklorist and friend of the festival, was there to introduce them. He told them the festival was "wonderful" (thus earning a second beer). Doc will be invited to give a talk on the Abbots Bromley tradition at the festival. For superb pix of the 2001 horn dance day, visit the Comberbach Soulcakers website.  Back to Headlines
	Mr Shadbolt rides again (but only his bike) Pete Shadbolt, veteran keeper of the 101-year-old Ilmington hobby horse, is expecting to attend Banbury next year after a major heart scare. He is extremely lucky to be alive after collapsing with heart failure, three days after the 2001 event - not thought to have triggered the trauma. He says it is unlikely that he will be riding Sam, the horse built in the late 19th century for the legendary Ilmington morris dancer, Sam Bennett. The hope is that another rider will be found for the weekend to accompany Pete. He is now home after many weeks in hospital, some of them on life support. He is no longer on medication and is slowly returning to fitness - by autumn 2001 he was cycling (gently) round his home village of Blackwell, in Warwickshire. He was very touched by the large number of cards he received from fellow hobby horse people. They are still cherished. He said that in hospital, he vowed that the first thing he would do when he got home would be to have a glass of beer - "but when I got home, I couldn't bring myself to have one." He's since made healthy progress on that front...  Back to Headlines
	Dancers wanted for cockhorse caper A comic competition is tentatively being planned for the 2002 hobby horse festival - for the best dance performed on cock-horses. The idea comes with a decision to increase substantially the number of morris teams being invited to Banbury for 2002. A cockhorse competition - not to be taken seriously - would give the visiting morris sides a chance to perform something of local relevance. A fairly loose definition of cock-horses will be applied - a sock shoved on the end of a morris stick is likely to be passed fit by the festival vets. Festival participants are not obliged to enter. There will be a prize, which may even be worth winning. Invitations have gone to teams whose animals attended both the past festivals; a different policy will apply in future years. Other teams that can make a special contribution may also be invited - the distinctive Leominster Morris, complete with unusual human ram, is the only such case so far. The increased morris presence will bring more colour and activity to Banbury streets, as well as providing an focus for animals that prefer the support of a team. Morris involvement was smaller than intended at both previous festivals, but frankly, the organisers could not have coped with large numbers of dancers. The morris is highly valued, but this does not mean Banbury will turn into just another morris gathering - there are enough of them elsewhere. Leominster, St Albans Morris Men, The Outside Capering Crew and Wickham Morris (and red dragon) have all said they'll come. Wickham's e-mail said, "Dragon is determined to return, if only to squash rumours of a paternity suit against him from Fleur de Lys' unicorn."   Back to Headlines
	New animal archive goes on line Phil Underwood, the Morris Ring's beast archivist, is developing a photographic archive of hobby animals. The first batch to appear included two stags, two dragons and a seahorse. Some are stunning. Phil has been relying on his own large stock of photographs initially, but would be happy to receive prints of animals he hasn't captured. Pictures from the Banbury festivals are being made available (it is thought he may not have any pictures of a certain goat). The Morris Ring is helping to fund the project, but it will not confine itself to animals belonging to Ring sides, or even to the UK. Pictures can be e-mailed to Phil at archive@tifer.demon.co.uk, or snailed to 1a Medhurst Close, Mincing Lane, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8PA. The archive can be visited at http://www.tifer.demon.co.uk/hh/mr/gb/gb_index.htm Sadly, Phil has university and performing commitments on the weekend of the 2002 Banbury festival.  Back to Headlines
	Town mayors back festival mares Banbury Hobby Horse Festival has been warmly praised at a public meeting, held to celebrate the town's victory in the Thames and Chiltern In Bloom competition. The festival was given immense support by Banbury In Bloom in 2000 and 2001 - it took hobby horses as its theme for both years. The popular floral cockhorses at Banbury Cross were one result of the association. Environmental artist Dave Gosling also made a Banbury In Bloom hobby horse out of willow. The horse theme is being dropped for 2002, but the festival organisers hope to continue to contribute to Banbury In Bloom. We shall also build on our link with Banbury Town Council - which organises and hosts us at Town Mayor's Sunday (we merely contribute to it). During his speech at the Banbury In Bloom evening, current mayor Jim Vine made special mention of the festival and the many hobby horses attracted from around Britain and beyond. And past mayor Elsie Milne - who greeted animals at the first festival - declared firmly: "The festival is a flagship - we must support it."  Back to Headlines
	Skull horses at large - and out loud The soulcakers and their skull horses were out at Antrobus and Comberbach, in Cheshire, on various dates from 31 October to early November. Visit Comberbach online. Antrobus soulcakers can be heard on a 66-minute CD put together by Peter Kennedy. It's called English Customs and Traditions and also features Helston Furry Dance and Hal-an-tow, Padstow Oss, Castleton Oak-Apple/Garland Day, Bampton morris, and Abbots Bromley Horn Dance. The folklorist Peter Kennedy recorded them in the field and provides full notes. Copies are available online from the Shave the Donkey shop at www.thedonkey.org   Back to Headlines
	Steve shows how to horse about Steve Rowley, maker of our own hobby horse, Blanche, has offered to run a brief workshop at Banbury 2002, for visiting animalists who would appreciate insights on how to "work" an animal. He recently took his Tup out in Stroud on its own, just to play with the shoppers and see what developed. There is also a suggestion that some animals could work up a dance together. Steve is also hoping to bring a company of taborers - the ancient pipe and drum frequently accompanied both morris dancers and hobby horses in past centuries. Contact details for taborers would be welcome.  Back to Headlines
	Customs appear on calendar The 2002 Hedingham Fair calendar features woodcuts of Padstow Mayday, Alderley Mummers and horse, and a green man, among others. E-mail cater@hedfair.demon.co.uk for prices of this and other products.  Back to Headlines
	Imposter in dragon-slaughter story A 16-foot smoke-breathing makes a guest appearance on BBC News Online, about villagers in Somerset planning a ritual slaughter. People in Dinder are obliged to recreate the killing of a local dragon every 50 years, to prevent it coming back to life. The story was put together for BBC News Online by a certain hobby horse festival organiser, who found himself without a picture of the beast in question. Which is how the Tewkesbury Mummers dragon, one of the stars of the first Banbury festival, came to make a guest appearance. Read the story at http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_1628000/1628958.stm Death in Dinder was scheduled for Saturday 3 November, 2001. The village is just outside Wells.  Back to Headlines
	Horses for sale - prices vary (a lot) If anyone wants a toy hobby horse, then there's one for only $50 on the web: http://www.zem.co.uk/polart/gifts/misc/FA999_9.htm Alternatively, a "19th century" horse was on sale in Stow on the Wold the other day for a mere £3,000. If anyone's seriously interested, contact the Banbury festival organisers.  Back to Headlines