Lauren Giannini photo
For their first seven years, the Junior North American Field Hunter Championships took place in Virginia, mostly at Old Whitewood, part of Orange County’s country in The Plains. However, after Alex Matz won the First Flight (12-and-Under) championship in 2009, the notion of staging the next finals in Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire country came to fruition. Blue Ridge Hunt’s David Pawlak partnered with the indubitable Paris to ace the individual test in the First Flight and claim their second consecutive 13-18 championship. Makayla Benjamin (Loudoun West) and Butterfly Painting went home with the reserve tri-color.
In First Flight 12-and-Under, Warrenton Hunt’s Sophia Vella and Curious George prevailed for their first championship. It was a pleasing improvement over last year’s debut on a different horse where she finished seventh, but Sophia admitted that her new horse “knows his job” and that they “practiced more” for this one. Ada Plumb and Willie garnered 12-and-Under reserve kudos for Cheshire. Ada has lots of riding genes: her grandparents are Donnan Sharpe (dressage rider/trainer) and Mike Plumb (eventer/Olympic Hall of Famer).
Radnor Hunt’s Allison Herr and Shenandoah Supernova claimed the Hilltoppers’ championship. Lauren Gibson (Blue Ridge Hunt) and Farnley Lucina claimed the reserve rosette. The last item on their individual test required dismounting, dropping a rail and “strapping” (leading) their ponies over the lowered fence—something that used to be seen regularly on the old Handy Hunter courses at shows. (continued below)
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Lauren Giannini photos
D.D. Matz shouldered the hosting of this year’s event. Racing to her assistance were Lizzy Beer and other stalwarts associated with Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds. Stuart and Cathy Malone, experienced with hosting pony club at their Doe Run Valley Farm, provided the perfect venue. Marion Chungo again served as secretary from her home in Loudoun County, Virginia.
“Lizzy and I started putting it all together in the summer, and I have to say all the folks from Cheshire and Bill Venditta and other local people turned it into a community effort and made it a really nice day,” said D. D. Matz.
Co-founded by Douglas Wise, MFH, Old Dominion, and Iona Pillion (Blue Ridge), the championships have turned into a superb stage on which budding enthusiasts demonstrate their prowess and those not into showing spiff up their horsemanship skills.
For a nominal entry fee ($50), young Hilltoppers and First Flight enthusiasts had the option to hunt with as many packs as they liked during the carded qualifiers from mid-September until the end of October. The northern region included Amwell Valley, Andrews Bridge, Essex, Green Spring Valley, Rose Tree and Cheshire while Casanova, Deep Run, Keswick, Loudoun West, and Orange County served for the south.
As a result, nearly seventy qualified for the finals and about forty-nine attended the finals on November 14. The mock hunts began at noon with Stevie Hayes serving as Field Master for the Hilltoppers. Cathy Malone led the First Flight, later divided into 12-and-Under and 13-18 for the hack and individual test.
The judging committee consisted of Gale Wofford, Linda Reynolds, Jennifer Nesbit, Mary Ellen DeRuschi, and Joseph Keusch. They seemed to enjoy their official duties as they careered about the countryside on horseback and in gators. They certainly enjoyed the best seats in the house.
With the weather cooperating brilliantly for the eighth consecutive year, Cheshire’s unspoiled open fields and hills beckoned. The well-provisioned hospitality tent catered to spectators, ground support crews, parents, friends and helpers. The day and the sport did not disappoint.
For complete results please visit: www.juniorfieldhunter.com.