As we approach the 2017/2018 season, Foxhunting Life makes its annual report on the recent moves of eight huntsmen across the North American hunting countries.
Retiring huntsman Hugh Robards, wife and first whipper-in Julie, and the foxhounds of the Middleburg Hunt / Chris Cancelli photo
Round I:
Hugh Robards’ decision to hang up his hunting horn after fifty-five seasons in hunt service got Round One underway. Fully half of those seasons, and certainly the most visible, Robards spent in Ireland’s challenging ditch-and-bank country as huntsman for the County Limerick Foxhounds. There, he provided world-class sport for Master Lord Daresbury (whom he succeeded as huntsman), the hard riding members, and a constant stream of hunting visitors from around the globe.
For the last three seasons, Robards has carried the horn for the Middleburg Hunt (VA). As difficult as his personal retirement decision must have been, the Middleburg Masters and members paid Robards such a stirring tribute at their Hunt Ball that he had to have felt the sincere respect and affection in which he was held, notwithstanding his short tenure there. The members made certain that the ball revolved about him with mounted photographs of his career, the showing of a specially produced video, and speeches—sincere and well-earned, to recognize an illustrious career.
“We were honored to have him here,” said Middleburg Master Jeff Blue in a quiet moment.
Richard Roberts at Deep Run / Karen Kandra Wenzel photoRichard Roberts, huntsman for the Deep Run Hunt (VA), now moves to Middleburg to take over the horn from Robards. English-born Roberts started his career as huntsman in the U.S. with the Piedmont Fox Hounds (VA) for four seasons, before becoming huntsman at the Deep Run Hunt (VA).
Filling Roberts’ boots at Deep Run will be huntsman John Harrison, who leaves the Toronto and North York Hunt (ON) where he has hunted hounds for the last three seasons. Harrison also hunted hounds at Toronto and North York in the 1990s for five seasons. In 1996 he returned to his native England to be huntsman for one of the most storied and respected of the fell foot packs, the Ullswater Foxhounds (est. 1873). That was the pack of his boyhood, where he followed and walked hounds. Harrison hunted the Ullswater for eighteen seasons before returning to the Toronto and North York in 2014.
To complete this round of musical chairs, Harrison’s vacancy at Toronto and North York will be filled next season by Ros Balding, who has been whipping-in to Harrison. Ros is experienced in hunt service, her late husband having been a huntsman in Yorkshire.
Round II:
In a move that startled the Virginia hunting community, Tony Gammell resigned from the Keswick Hunt, where he has carried the horn for seventeen seasons. He built a superb pack of American hounds which he adores (despite his Irish roots), and follows a training concept of zero-tolerance—no deer, no coyote. The Keswick hounds hunt only the fox. Coincidentally, Gammell’s mentor in Ireland was Hugh Robards, to whom he whipped-in at the County Limerick.
Tony Gammell cubhunting at Keswick / Liz Callar photo“Tony is the finest huntsman I have ever seen hunting that country,” says Jake Carle, former MFH and huntsman of the Keswick and recognized as one of the leading judges of hounds in North America.
Huntsman Paul Wilson will move from the London Hunt (ON) to fill the opening at Keswick. Wilson began hunt service in England at the East Devon Foxhounds. His career brought him to the Kildare (IRE) as whipper-in, and his first huntsman’s post was in Rome for the Societa Romana Della Caccia Alla Volpe, where he remained for three years. Wilson moved to the London Hunt from the Hamilton Hunt, also in Ontario, and has been huntsman at London for ten seasons. The London Hunt is seeking to fill the huntsman’s vacancy as of this date.
Round III:
Stephanie Wilcox Carter, former huntsman of the Fort Leavenworth Hunt (KS) and, more recently, first whipper-in at the Old Dominion Hounds (VA), will be the new huntsman at the Loudoun-Fairfax Hunt (VA). Andy Bozdan, former huntsman at Loudoun-Fairfax moves to the Blue Ridge Hunt to fill the position of First Whipper-In.
Conclusion:
Having been a member of many fields in many hunting countries, I acknowledge that the huntsman remains my hero. From the time we mount up in the hunting field and for the few hours that follow, it is the huntsman who is most directly responsible for the pleasure we field members derive from this activity in which we invest so much of our time, energy, hopes, and treasure.
One might argue that the hounds have something to do with it, and this I grant. But the pack is the product of the huntsman, and the level of our sport really depends on how our hounds perform in the field as a pack.
We invite readers to fill us in on any huntsmen moves that we’ve missed. Use the “Contact FHL” link that appears on every screen to communicate directly with me.
Posted March 31, 2017