As the new season gets underway, Foxhunting Life updates its March 31 report on the recent moves of huntsmen across North America.
Huntsman Ashley Hubbard leads the Green Spring Valley hounds on summer exercise. / Tammie Monaco photo
Round I
Ashley Hubbard is the new huntsman for the Green Spring Valley Hounds (MD). Hubbard has served as kennel huntsman for the Fox River Valley Hunt (IL) for nearly ten years, assisting Tony Leahy, MFH, and carrying the horn when necessary.
“Tony didn’t want to lose him,” explained Duck Martin, MFH at Green Spring Valley, “but he thought this would be a good opportunity for Ashley.”
Since the end of World War II, Green Spring Valley has had just four huntsmen: Leslie Grimes, Andrew Barclay, John Tabachka, and Sam Clifton. Both Grimes and Barclay have been enshrined in the Huntsmen’s Room at the Museum of Hounds and Hunting.
Sam Clifton has moved to Pennsylvania to become huntsman at the Saxonburg Hunt for Floyd Wine, MFH.
Jason Cole moves up from whipping-in to carrying the horn at Marlborough. / Isabel Kurek photoRound II
After many years as huntsman for the Marlborough Hunt (MD), Jim Faber has retired to become Farm Manager of a lovely property nearby. The opening has been filled by Jason Cole, who whipped-in to Faber for the past fifteen years.
“Jason knows the hounds and the country,” said Katherine Cawood, MFH. “He breaks race horses and is a fine horseman.”
According to Cawood, Cole and Faber have a good relationship, which will come in handy if Faber feels the urge to have a day’s sport on occasion. Nothing like having the ex-huntsman looking over your shoulder!
The Masters expect a seamless changeover. “We’re looking forward to a good season,” said Cawood.
Dennis Downing is the new huntsman at the London Hunt.. / Karen Myers photo
Round III
We reported earlier on huntsman Paul Wilson’s move from the London Hunt (ON) to the Keswick Hunt (VA) upon the departure of huntsman Tony Gammell. The opening at London Hunt is now filled by Dennis Downing, former huntsman of the Bedford County Hunt (VA).
Prior to serving at Bedford County, Downing was huntsman at Saxonburg, Montreal, Blue Ridge, and Mooreland, all after coming to the U.S. from England. And he brings an experienced whipper-in with him, his wife Sue.
Downing was pleasantly surprised upon his arrival in Ontario. “London has a lot of hunting country, much of it big open fields, real farmland,” reports Downing. “They have Crossbred hounds, some with old Blue Ridge bloodlines that I bred back in Virginia. The Masters couldn’t be nicer to us, and I’m really looking forward to hunting hounds here.”
Larry Pitts quits retirement to hunt hounds at Bedford. / Karen Kandra Wentzel photo
To fill the position at Bedford County vacated by Downing’s departure, there was a man right next door. Larry Pitts retired in 2015 from a long and distinguished career as huntsman at the Potomac Hunt (MD). He moved from Maryland to Bedford County, Virginia, a year ago to enjoy his retirement. Perhaps he became bored! This season he’ll be back in the saddle carrying the horn for the Bedford County Hunt.
Pitts has been one the country’s foremost breeders of American foxhounds. While at Potomac, he bred Potomac Jefferson, the 2007 MFHA Centennial Foxhound Champion, whose bloodlines are found in numerous foxhound champions across the country today.
Posted August 21, 2017