Sam Clifton is 2011 North American Horn Blowing Champion. / Al Cook photoSam Clifton, huntsman for the Green Spring Valley Hounds (MD), won the 2011 North American Horn Blowing Championship on Monday, October 17. The sound of the horn has been a part of Clifton’s life from the cradle. His father Stephen is the long-time huntsman at the Eglinton and Caledon Hunt in Ontario.
Two-time champion John Tabachka, huntsman for the Sewickley Hunt (PA), placed second; last year’s champion, Steve Farrin, huntsman for the Amwell Valley Hounds (NJ), was third; and Martyn Blackmore, huntsman for the Loudoun West Hunt (VA), placed fourth.
This final competition of the season is held annually during Hunt Night activities at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg. Hunt staff members across North America qualify to compete for the championship by winning a horn blowing contest at any one of the MFHA-sanctioned hound shows held the previous spring.
Judges this year were MFHs Sean Cully, Blue Mountain Hunt; J, Stephen Hill, Andrew’s Bridge Foxhounds; and Floyd Wine, Saxonburg Hunt.
Previous winners have been Andrew Barclay, Emma Downing, Steve Farrin, Tommy Jackson, Brian Kiely, Ian Milne, Charles Montgomery, Adrian Smith, and John Tabachka.
A perpetual trophy engraved with the name of each year’s winner remains on permanent display at the Museum of Hounds and Hunting at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia.
Posted October 20, 2011
John Tabachka, huntsman, Sewickley Hunt, second place / Al Cook photo
Steve Farrin, huntsman, Amwell Valley Hounds, third / Al Cook photo
Martyn Blackmore, huntsman, Loudoun West Hunt, fourth / Al Cook photo