Since 1963 the Hunt Saboteurs Association have been at the forefront of the anti-hunting movement. Here are some important dates in our history.
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.
HSA Formed
The first official Sab was on Boxing Day 1963 at the South Devon Foxhounds.
Violence Against Sabs
Violence and criminal damage towards Sabs by the Culmstock Otterhounds.
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.
12 Sab Groups
In 1967 there were 12 sab groups in existence.
First HSA AGM
In 1971 the HSA held its first AGM.
First HSA Adverts
The first HSA adverts were published in the Private Eye, The Vegetarian and NME magazines.
40 HSA Groups
In 1974, the HSA had 40 active groups.
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.
Sabs Arrested At Waterloo Cup
Waterloo Cup 1977. 130 Sabs, 36 arrested (31 convicted of action likely to cause a breach of the peace).
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.
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.
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.
First Legacy Received
In 1983 the HSA received its first legacy payment.
HSA Oppose Fishing As A Bloodsport
In 1983 the HSA officially opposes Fishing as a blood sport.
91 Sab Groups
In 1985 there were 91 active hunt sab groups.
Public Order Act Brought In
In 1986 the Public Order Act was brought in to try to deter Hunt Saboteurs.
Northumberland Beagling Festival Sabbed
In 1987 the Northumberland Beagling Festival was sabbed.
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.
140 Active Hunt Sab Groups
In 1988 there were 140 active Hunt Sab groups.
HSA Becomes A Not For Profit Organisation
In 1990 the HSA becomes a Not for Profit organisation.
North Wiltshire Hare Week Ruined By Hunt Sabs
In 1990 the North Wiltshire Hare Week was totally ruined by Hunt Sabs.
Alston Hare Week Sabbed
In 1991 the Alston Hare week in Cumbria is sabbed.
HSA Treasurer Arrested At AGM
At the 1992 HSA AGM, the Treasurer was arrested during the meeting over whether the venue allowed dogs.
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.
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.
HSA Office Moves To Brighton
In 1996 the HSA office moved from Nottingham to Brighton.
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'.
54 Hunt Sab Groups
In 2000 there were 54 active Hunt Sab groups.
Meynell Hunt Convicted
Derby Hunt Sabs got the Meynell Hunt convicted under the Hunting Act in the first Sab led conviction under the Act.
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.
The HSA Is Affiliated To The Anti-Fascist Network (AFN)
The Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) announced its affiliation to the Anti-Fascist Network (AFN).
Melbourne (Australia) Hunt Sabs Created
In 2017 Melbourne Hunt Sabs was created.
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.
Hunt Saboteurs Ireland Created
In 2020 Hunt Saboteurs Ireland was created.
58 Affiliated Sab Groups
In 2021 there are 58 affiliated hunt sab groups.
61 Affiliated Hunt Sab Groups
In December 2022 there are around 61 HSA affiliated sab groups.
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.
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.
