Horse & Hound
Uzi Mows ’em Down at Maury River Hunter Trials
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.
Southern Hound Show
Grand Champion Fox River Valley Nightcap 2009 / Jim Meads photoBlessed with perfect weather, the fifth annual Southern Hound show (“Stars of the South!”) was held on April 9 in Monticello, Florida. Having been prevented from attending in 2010 by volcanic ash over Europe, Judge Martin Scott, ex MFH Vale of the White Horse and photographer Jim Meads were on hand this year to enjoy seeing quite a few truly quality hounds being presented. Mr. Scott was ably assisted by co-judge Mr. J.W.Y. Martin, MFH, Green Spring Valley Hounds. The apprentice judge was Mrs. George Thomas, MFH, Why Worry Hounds.
Hat Trick for Neil Morris at Old Dominion
Lake Placid and Matthew McCarron hold off Fantastic Foeand Jeff Murphy for the Open Hurdle win.Trainer Neil Morris scored a hat trick at the Old Dominion Point-to-Point races on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Ben Venue Farm. Morris saddled three winners: Maiden Hurdle, Open Hurdle, and Open Timber.
Morris’s first two wins were the easy ones. In the Maiden Hurdle, Last Noble with Jacob Roberts aboard led the field all the way and won easily. In the Open Hurdle, Lake Placid with Matthew McCarron in the irons raced around the course on the lead, turned back a challenge by second place finisher Fantastic Foe, and won by four-and-a-half lengths.
Allen Forney Is Seventy; Maryland Foxhunters Throw a Party!
Jeanne & Allen Forney / Karen Kandra Wenzel photoHow often do we get the opportunity to celebrate the seventieth birthday of a foxhunting legend while he (or she) is still an active and constant contributor to the sport? A large group of friends---Masters, huntsmen, and foxhunters--- representing most of the foxhunting clubs in central Maryland did exactly that on Sunday, April 10 at the Potomac Hunt in Barnesville, Maryland.
Jeff Murphy Has Two Winners at Orange County
Jeff Murphy brought two winners home—one over timber, the other over hurdles—at the Orange County Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 3, at Locust Hill Farm in Middleburg, Virginia.
Murphy’s win on Aero (photo) in the Novice Timber race was a repeat performance of the pair’s previous win at Warrenton this spring. This time, Aero stalked fifth-place finisher Thynnus twice around the course. Five fences from the finish Aero went to the front, was overtaken by third-place finisher I’m A Hokie, regained the lead with two fences remaining, and drew away in the stretch to win by seven lengths. Aero is trained by Doug Fout and owned by Alfred C. Griffin, Jr.
Rockbridge Lawyer and Lead: A One-Two Punch at Carolinas
Huntsman David Conner and Rockbridge Lawyer 2008. Jan Sorrells photo
Rockbridge Lawyer 2008 and his littermate Lead scored a one-two punch at the Carolinas Foxhound Performance Trials on March 26 and 27 in Hoffman, North Carolina. Competing against hounds from twelve other hunts, the Rockbridge pair finished first and second respectively after two days of hunting. We talked to Conner about his handsome and talented hound.
Trial organizer Fred Berry, MFH of the Sedgefield Hunt, has been actively involved in foxhound performance trials for years—first judging, then organizing. As a result of Berry’s considerable experience, he has introduced some interesting new wrinkles into the management of his trials to improve both the hunting and the experience for the field.
Photo of the Week!
Chris Ryan, MFH and huntsman of the Scarteen Black and Tans, displays an important message for foxhunters! Chris succeeded his father, the late Thady Ryan; his grand-father, the late John Ryan; and more than three hundred years of Ryan forebears in carrying on an unparalleled family tradition with his renowned pack.
Read More
The Patient Photographer’s Reward
Sometimes you’re completely thrown out, but persistence has it’s reward! Jim Duggan hit the jackpot with this shot of the hunted coyote. Note the distinctive markings on the coyote’s front paws. They’ll be looking for him again! Jim tells it this way: Photo by Jim DugganThe Golden’s Bridge Hounds (NY) were hunting a North Salem fixture on October 4, 2011 with fourteen-and-a-half couple of their Penn-Marydel hounds. Masters Gene Colley and Ed Kelly were leading the field, and the chase lasted for over an hour in perfect hunting weather. I picked a viewing spot from where I could see 180 degrees and still be well hidden under the shadow of a tree and by a stone wall. The hunt went far afield, and then the coyote made a U-turn and started my way. He broke covert and started right at me. He stopped once to look back in the direction of the hounds. By that time my face was covered by the camera so I didn’t have to make any movement to give my hiding place away. He kept coming on the line right to me until he heard the camera shutter going off at a rapid pace and just veered right-handed across my stone wall about twenty feet in front of me. Great enjoyment, to pick the right spot for a change! The hounds soon came to the scent and had a merry chase for another half hour or so. By then I guess the coyote had had enough. He put it in high gear and left the area…for now. Picking up hounds was a labor of love, as they had scattered all over the countryside trying to pick up the long gone coyote.
Read More
Piedmont Fox Hounds Point-to-Point
Trainer Richard Valentine continued his winning ways by saddling winners in the first two timber races at the Piedmont Fox Hounds Point-to-Point on Saturday, March 26, 2011 near Upperville, Virginia. Valentine-trained horses won two races at Warrenton the previous week.
Gus Brown was first at the wire with Beech Cay in the Maiden Timber for Augustin Stables, and George Hundt, Jr., pictured here, won the Owner-Rider Timber on Westbound Road. This was the second win in two weeks for Hundt, who won the Owner-Rider Timber at Warrenton on Justpourit.
Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point
Julie Gomena owned the hurdle races, and Richard Valentine made his statement in the timber races, as both trainers brought home two winners each in the Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point on Saturday March 19.
In this photo, Pizarro (left) with Natalie Wales up and Justpourit with George Hundt, Jr. aboard fight for first in the Owner-Rider Timber Race.
