Since 1963 the Hunt Saboteurs Association have been at the forefront of the anti-hunting movement. Here are some important dates in our history.

1893
1893

First Recorded Sab Of A Grouse Shoot

In 1893 a man called Harrison was convicted for trespassing because he disrupted grouse shooting on the Duke of Rutland's land, making him most likely the very first hunt sab. The plaintiff used a public highway to disrupt grouse-shooting upon the defendant’s land.

1963
1963

HSA Formed

The first official Sab was on Boxing Day 1963 at the South Devon Foxhounds.

1964
1964

First Sab Arrested

The first Sab was arrested on 15th February 1964 for ‘insulting behaviour’ for feeding the Chiddingfold’s hounds.

1964

1964
1964

Violence Against Sabs

Violence and criminal damage towards Sabs by the Culmstock Otterhounds.

1965
1965

First Serious Instances Of Anti-Saboteur Violence

The first serious instances of anti-saboteur violence occurred during 1965. In February, three members of the Bournemouth group were attacked with an axe and a starting handle by thugs from the Sparkford Vale. Although a hunt supporter was fined £15 for breaking a saboteur’s guitar with the axe (!); eight sabs were fined £10 each for ‘threatening behaviour’ (throwing flour bombs). Worse was to come.

On May 2nd, the Street and Brixham groups (nine sabs) visited the Culmstock Otterhunt at Colyford. Their vehicles were surrounded, windows smashed and the occupants assaulted with otter poles and whips. Leo Lewis, the driver, was pulled from his car and beaten by four men who broke his jaw. Although seventy saboteurs turned out against the same hunt a week later and sent them home in disarray, the damage inflicted by the subsequent court hearing was far reaching. Leo’s attackers were successfully convicted but seven saboteurs were bound over for a year after giving evidence.

1967
1967

12 Sab Groups

In 1967 there were 12 sab groups in existence.

1971
1971

First HSA AGM

In 1971 the HSA held its first AGM.

1971
1971

First HSA Adverts

The first HSA adverts were published in the Private Eye, The Vegetarian and NME magazines.

1973
1973

HOWL Magazine Established

In 1973, the HSA launched its widely recognised HOWL magazine.

howl73sml

1973
1973

Seal Cull Sabotaged

In 1973 a Seal cull in the Wash was sabotaged by Hunt Saboteurs.

seal

1974
1974

40 HSA Groups

In 1974, the HSA had 40 active groups.

1975
1975

HSA On Open Door Programme

In 1975 the HSA appeared on the BBC's Open Door programme.

1976
1976

First Sab Of The Waterloo Cup

In 1976 there was the first sab of the Waterloo Cup. The event is known in bloodsports circles as the 'premier hare coursing event', with three days of dogs chasing and tormenting hares.

1977
1977

Sabs Arrested At Waterloo Cup

Waterloo Cup 1977. 130 Sabs, 36 arrested (31 convicted of action likely to cause a breach of the peace).

1978
1978

HSA Sab Grouse Shooting

In 1978 the HSA sab grouse shooting for the first time.

GrouseMoors

1978
1978

Otters Given Legal Protection

In 1978 Otters are given legal protection in the UK.

Eastern Counties OH

1979
1979

National Front Barred From HSA membership

In 1979 the HSA kicked out its first racist member and members of the National Front are barred from HSA membership.

1979
1979

Hunters Convicted Of Assaulting Sabs

In 1979 two hunters were convicted of assaulting two Sabs, who were then given 6 months for refusing to be bound over.

1983
1983

Sabs Attend Waterloo Cup. Sab Seriously Injured

Waterloo Cup hare coursing event - 350 Hunt Sabs attend. Sab Eddie Coulson is hit with a shooting stick and suffers brain damage. The attacker received 6 months in prison.

1983
1983

First Legacy Received

In 1983 the HSA received its first legacy payment.

1983
1983

HSA Oppose Fishing As A Bloodsport

In 1983 the HSA officially opposes Fishing as a blood sport. 

1985
1985

91 Sab Groups

In 1985 there were 91 active hunt sab groups.

1986
1986

Public Order Act Brought In

In 1986 the Public Order Act was brought in to try to deter Hunt Saboteurs.

1987
1987

Northumberland Beagling Festival Sabbed

In 1987 the Northumberland Beagling Festival was sabbed.

1988
1988

First Week Of Action Against Lakeland Fell Packs

In 1988 the HSA organises its first ever week of action against the Lakeland fell packs.

Sabs targeted the six foot packs who hunt the fells of the Lake District. The packs - the Blencathra, Coniston, Eskdale and Ennerdale, Lonsdale, Melbreak and Ullswater Foxhounds prioritise killing foxes. At the end of March 1988 Sabs from all over the country gathered in Cumbria to try to stop them.

fell week e1612286434300 fell week 2

1988
1988

140 Active Hunt Sab Groups 

In 1988 there were 140 active Hunt Sab groups.

1990
1990

HSA Becomes A Not For Profit Organisation

In 1990 the HSA becomes a Not for Profit organisation.

1990
1990

North Wiltshire Hare Week Ruined By Hunt Sabs

In 1990 the North Wiltshire Hare Week was totally ruined by Hunt Sabs.

1991
1991

Alston Hare Week Sabbed

In 1991 the Alston Hare week in Cumbria is sabbed.

1992
1992

HSA Treasurer Arrested At AGM

At the 1992 HSA AGM, the Treasurer was arrested during the meeting over whether the venue allowed dogs.

1993
1993

Death of Tom Worby

Death of Tom Worby, a 15 year old. On Saturday 3rd April 1993, Tom and his girlfriend joined up with sabs at the closing meet of the Cambridgeshire Foxhounds near Waresley, Cambridgeshire. The driver of the hound van, Huntsman Tony Ball, deliberately drove into Tom. Tom died at the scene. Ball was never charged.

tom worby

1994
1994

Criminal Justice And Public Order Act Brought In

The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act was brought in to further try to deter Hunt Saboteurs.

1996
1996

HSA Office Moves To Brighton

In 1996 the HSA office moved from Nottingham to Brighton.

1999
1999

Government Inquiry Into Hunting With Dogs Announced

In December 1999 the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, announced a Government inquiry into hunting with dogs. To be chaired by Lord Burns; the 'Burns Enquiry'.

2000
2000

54 Hunt Sab Groups

In 2000 there were 54 active Hunt Sab groups.

2002
2002

Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002

The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 Act was introduced, which supposedly bans hunting with dogs, only to flush to a gun(s).

Scottish fox hunt

2004
2004

Hunting Act 2004

Hunting with hounds supposedly banned in England and Wales under the Hunting Act 2004.

2005

2012
2012

Meynell Hunt Convicted

Derby Hunt Sabs got the Meynell Hunt convicted under the Hunting Act in the first Sab led conviction under the Act.

2013
2013

The Badger Cull Begins

The Badger cull begins – and is sabbed.

badger car stickers

2013
2013

The HSA Turns 50

In 2013 the HSA was 50 years old.

50th anniversary

2014
2014

Alston Hare Week Sabbed Out Of Existence

The HSA sabs the long-running Alston Hare Week out of existence.

AlstonCancelled2

2014
2014

Hunt Sab Ridden Down

In 2014 Hunt Sab ‘Nid’ was ridden down by huntsman Mark Doggrell of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Fox Hunt during an evening cubbing meet. She was left with 7 broken ribs. An ambulance was immediately called but was stopped from reaching the casualty by hunt vehicles.

2014
2014

Scottish Seal Cull Sabbed

In 2014 the Seal cull in Scotland was sabbed by Hunt Saboteurs, in a joint operation with Sea Shepherd UK.

SealCull.Barcaldine.day1 .resized

2014
2014

The HSA Is Affiliated To The Anti-Fascist Network (AFN)

The Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) announced its affiliation to the Anti-Fascist Network (AFN).

2017
2017

Melbourne (Australia) Hunt Sabs Created

In 2017 Melbourne Hunt Sabs was created.

2018
2018

First Conviction Of A Hunt Using The Falconry Exemption

In April 2018 Fitzwilliam Huntsman George Adams was found guilty under Section 1 of the Hunting Act for killing a fox on New Years Day 2016. This was the first conviction of a hunt using the Falconry Exemption.

huntsman supporter at kill.resized

2019
2019

Atherstone Hunt Folded

After six long years of an unrelenting and unstoppable campaign by West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs the 200 year old Atherstone Hunt finally threw in the towel and folded in October 2019.

The North Warwickshire Beagles had also received the attention of West Midlands Sabs and shut down in the same month.

atherstone

2019
2019

Fitzwilliam Hunt Conviction Upheld

In April 2019 the original illegal hunting conviction against the Fitzwilliam Hunt was upheld after the hunt appealed.

dead fox.resized

2020
2020

Hunt Saboteurs Ireland Created

In 2020 Hunt Saboteurs Ireland was created.

2021
2021

58 Affiliated Sab Groups

In 2021 there are 58 affiliated hunt sab groups.

2022
2022

61 Affiliated Hunt Sab Groups

In December 2022 there are around 61 HSA affiliated sab groups.

2022
2022

Huntsman Found Guilty Of Hunting Act Offenses

On 6th December 2022 Ollie Finnegan – ex-huntsman of Leicestershire’s Quorn Hunt – pleaded guilty to Hunting Act offenses. The evidence consisted of dozens of WhatsApp messages found on Finnegan’s phone after it was seized by police.

finnegan

2022
2022

HSA Give Out £90,000 To Affiliated Groups

In December 2022, the HSA had given out £90,000 to affiliated groups so far that year.

2023
2023

HSA Turns 60

2023 was the 60th anniversary of the Hunt Saboteurs Association, the oldest direct action organisation in the world. To celebrate the HSA gave away around £60,000 - £1,000 to each affiliated local group. 

HSA 60th logo timeline jpg

2023
2023

Scottish MSPs Vote To Tighten Up Legislation Against Hunting With Hounds

On 24th January 2023, in an historic vote in the Scottish parliament, MSPs voted to tighten up its legislation against hunting with hounds and close the loopholes that have allowed hunts to continue despite the 2002 ban.

Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs

2024
2024

Exclusive Footage Provided By Hunt Saboteurs Is Aired On Channel 4 News

25th January 2024 – Exclusive footage provided by Hunt Saboteurs is aired on Channel 4 News, showing drone-captured footage of the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt killing a fox after a chase, plus self-filmed mobile phone footage of an unidentified hunt digging out a fox and releasing it in front of hounds.

BSV hunt

terrierman pulls fox out of her refuge

timeline