Despite threatening weather, the Second Annual Maury River Hunter Trials were held April 2 and enjoyed by more than seventy competitors, numerous tail-gaters, sponsors, spectators, volunteers, and judges on the rolling cross country fields of the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia.
Cheryl Microutsicos and her handsome bay, WoW! Graphic Design’s Up & Coming (a.k.a. Uzi), accumulated the most points in the First Flight Open division to win the Melvin Poe Cup, sponsored by Brooks Cushman of Winbrooke Farm and awarded by the legendary Melvin himself, in attendance with his wife Peggy. Here, Cheryl is congratulated by Melvin and by Brian Ross, co-head of the Virginia Horse Trials.
Cheryl and Uzi also won the Glenmore Hunt First Flight Qualified Foxhunter Championship, presented by Dan Jones, Joint-MFH and huntsman of the Glenmore Hunt (VA). Despite weather alternating between periods of sun, sleet, and rain, with nonstop blowing wind, Uzi flowed around the courses with ease, placing in the top three in Hunt Teams, Hunter on the Flat, Handy Hunter, Field Hunter over Fences, and the Field Master’s Chase. Cheryl and Uzi hunt with Stonewall Hounds and Farmington Hunt in Virginia.
This year’s event was judged by Joy Crompton, MFH, Farmington Hunt. The trials offered something for everyone: over-fences classes for future hunters (“puddle jumpers”), second flight (2’6”) and first flight (3’); hunter on the flat classes; and a hilltopper’s class. There were open and qualified foxhunter divisions for those who hunted at least six times in the past season.
Area hunt clubs represented included Glenmore, Rockbridge, Farmington, Middlebrook, Bedford and Stonewall, all of which vied for the Clifford J. Hunt Memorial—most points accumulated by a hunt club.
Many remember Cliff Hunt, who passed away in December 2010. Cliff was an avid foxhunter and genuine horseman of many accomplishments. He served as honorary whipper-in to the Blue Ridge Hunt for almost twenty-five years, chaired the Upperville Colt & Horse Show, and authored The Keys to Good Horsemanship. Cliff and his wife Laura retired to Middlebrook, Virginia in 2004.
Laura Hunt judged the Hilltopper division and the Appointments and Turnout classes at this year’s hunter trials. By the end of the day the Farmington Hunt had earned 195 points during the show and walked away with the Clifford Hunt Memorial Championship, sponsored by Dr. M. Brent Hall of Raphine Animal Clinic. Rockbridge Hunt was reserve champion.
Spectators sadly missed out on the planned Parade of Hounds, as some of the Rockbridge Hounds’ pack picked up a cough after their glorious success at the Carolinas Foxhound Performance Trials the previous week. (See “Rockbridge Lawyer and Lead: A One-Two Punch at Carolinas” published earlier last week.) Rockbridge took home the Sedgefield Cup for overall best pack, and Rockbridge Lawyer and Lead were awarded top hound honors. Congratulations to David Conner, huntsman; Cindy Morton, MFH and whipper-in; and all their staff and hounds. At the inaugural Maury River Hunter Trials in 2010, the Glenmore Hunt paraded their hounds during the lunch break, showcasing for spectators the beauty and pageantry of our sport.
The David Law Handy Hunter award went to Brodie Lower from Farmington Hunt. Wendy Higginson of Swoope, Virginia sponsored this first-flight class in honor of David Law to thank him for donating his farrier services to the hunter trials and in honor of his many years at the anvil. It’s surmised that David, who used to shoe the famous Gray Goose, an international event horse in the 1980s, has trained half the farriers in Central Virginia.
Other top honors went to Cathi Ecklund of Rockbridge Hunt, who was Reserve in the First Flight Qualified division riding Irish Penny, owned by Julie Bullock, DVM. Cathi placed first in the Appointments class on Irish Penny and second on Camedic, with whom she was also Reserve Second Flight Qualified Champion. Camedic is owned by Diane Gibbs, who hunts her mare regularly with the Glenmore Hunt. Juniors were well represented, with the Camp Mont Shenandoah Junior Championship going to Rebecca Barber on Twain. Complete results can be seen on the Virginia Horse Trials website.
The hotly contested tailgate competition was a tie this year between the Rockbridge and Glenmore Hunts. After Rockbridge took home the tricolor last year, Glenmore came back with a vengeance and their Asian Fusion theme, organized by Mary Lee McDavid, was creative and visually appealing. Hugh Brown masterfully coordinated Rockbridge’s traditional Virginia Gentleman-themed tent, complete with decadent bourbon-laced brownies. The tailgate competition is an area of the event the organizers hope to expand, so plan on joining us next year! Tailgate spots are available to sponsors, competitors, and spectators alike.
The trials are run by the Virginia Horse Trials, headed by Brian and Penny Ross, in conjunction with the organizing committee consisting of Donald Clark, Brooks Cushman, Henley Gabeau, Dr. M. Brent Hall, and Liz Kiss. Foxhunters themselves, the committee developed the hunter trials as a way to celebrate the end of the foxhunting season, to bring positive publicity to the sport, and to benefit the three local hunt clubs—Glenmore Hunt, Rockbridge Hunt, and Middlebrook Hounds.
The committee plans to make the hunter trials an annual event. The third running is scheduled for April 7, 2012. For more information, visit us on Facebook or go to our website.
Farmington Hunt Team riders Brodie Lower, Taylor Fellows, and Molly Duncan
(l-r) Louise Goulian and Diane Long of the Rockbridge Hunt
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Junior rider Michael Pendleton flies the coop in style