Laurie Ambrose and Stretch from the Piedmont Fox Hounds won the 2014 Mrs. Theodora A. Randolph Field Hunter Championship. / Douglas lees photo
In a hark back to bygone days, the Theodora A. Randolph Field Hunter Championships combine a whirlwind week of foxhunting and socializing against a backdrop of sporting estates, well-bred foxhounds, and passionate foxhunters. Always held the last week of September and ending the first weekend of October, this year’s event attracted seventy-four entries with a brilliant card of hosting hunts: Orange County Hounds, Blue Ridge Hunt, Loudoun Fairfax Hunt and the Piedmont Foxhounds. Judges ride alongside the field to observe the competitors in action before selecting several riders each day, based on how well their horses performed, for the finals on Saturday. Every hunt hosted a tailgate, and there were social functions every evening.
Foxhunters from twenty-two hunts and eight states rode in the event: Andrews Bridge, Belle Meade, Blue Ridge, Bull Run, Casanova, Deep Run, Elkridge-Harford , Farmington, Glenmore, Hillsboro, Keswick, Loudoun Fairfax, Lowcountry, Middleburg, Newmarket-Middletown Valley, Old Dominion, Orange County, Palm Beach, Piedmont, Snickersville, Warrenton, and Whiskey Road. Riders came from Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The six judges were Helen Brettell, Middleburg; Snowden Clark; Liz McKnight, ex-MFH, Elkridge-Harford; Ginny Perrin, MFH, Deep Run, and the husband-and-wife team of Lincoln Sadler and Cameron Sadler, MFH, Moore County.
Denali, owned and ridden by Eduardo Coria from the Casanova Hunt, was Reserve Champion. Judges (l-r) are Liz McKnight, Snowden Clark, Lincoln and Cameron Sadler, Helen Brettell, and Ginny Perrin. Coria and Denali also won the trophy and ribbon for Best Turned Out. / Douglas Lees photo
Hunting
The Orange County Hounds hosted the first day from a fixture south of Middleburg. An emerald field mirrored by distant blue mountains greeted the riders on Monday at 8:00 am. Masters John Coles and Neil Morris, both beautifully attired in hunter green as is uniquely customary at OCH this time of the season, welcomed everyone before hounds moved off with huntsman Reg Spreadborough. Within moments the field was galloping to keep up with the steadily running pack.
One of the morning’s highlights was when Maryalice Matheson Thomas, second Field Master, held hard with her riders to listen and watch as the action unfolded. The ringing cry of unseen hounds was heard as they approached from behind a grassy hill, their music intensifying in volume as the famously handsome orange coloured pack streamed into view racing uphill then into the woods as their incredible cry rose even louder, deepening into a vibrating crescendo of joy—a symphony unreproducible by human instrument.
Mr. Coles had promised the field cold drinks upon their return, a promise which proved an understatement; displaying hunting hospitality at its best, several tables of delectable refreshments awaited the hungry riders, cold drinks notwithstanding!
Blue Ridge Hunt hosted Tuesday’s sport from Swift Shoals Farm on the Shenandoah River. A heavy river mist clung to the fields, silhouetting riders and horses as they gathered with huntsman Guy Allman and hounds in the lea of a mountain that loomed high above the swirling fog. Joint-MFH Anne McIntosh led first field across a spectacular tapestry of alternating corn fields, rolling pastures, and woodlands with far flung vistas reaching to the mountains. After several exhilarating runs, the field paused by one of the crown jewels of the Blue Ridge country, the historic estate of Long Branch. A gracious hunt member hosted the tailgate in her sunny house as a breeze refreshed those relaxing on the terrace. Another busy day ended with a gathering that evening at the Salamander Inn in Middleburg.
Wednesday the Loudoun Fairfax hounds met outside Leesburg. It rained overnight, but the light drizzle had ended by the time hounds moved off with huntsman Andrew Bozdan. Donna Rogers, MFH led first flight, Mrs. Linda Devan, MFH the second. The fall foliage enhanced by the gloomy skies overhead provided a dark green canopy interspersed with tinges of bright yellow, orange, and crimson. Leaves silently swirled from trees as riders galloped through wooded trails, crossed creeks, and jumped inviting coops before hacking in past the hunt’s charming whitewashed stone clubhouse. TaiIgate number three was a yet another hearty repast. This evening everyone met at a handsome two-story brick residence that resonated of “Virginia hunt country,” being a well-loved home brimming with photos of notable horsemen and overflowing with books, flowers, and assorted memorabilia that reflected the owner’s varied interests.
Thursday arrived all too quickly. The Piedmont Fox Hounds met near the hamlet of Atoka, and, led by Masters Shelby Bonnie, Tad Zimmerman, and Gregg Ryan, began the last day of hunting. Much to everyone’s delight, the field followed huntsman Spencer Allen through Goose Creek to enter what is referred to as the hunt’s “Thursday country,” the Mellon property. It is a legendary landscape devoid of structures built by man excepting a few scattered barns and isolated farmhouses. It was as if time had stopped across the bewitchingly open country, and the fields fairly begged to be galloped across, the stone walls and coops to be leapt over.
Daphne Alcock, leading the second field, situated everyone for an amazing close-up view of Charles James. Standing in the middle of Rokeby Road, listening to hounds work a line to the east, a glorious red Mellon fox with a white-tipped brush catapulted from the covert, leaped across the macadam, and, as in a classic hunting scene, fled over a lichen-covered stone wall to vanish from sight. He later went to ground near the airstrip, from whence second flight began hacking in to the last tailgate where many lingered, reluctant to leave what had been a nearly unbelievable week of foxhunting.
A final treat awaited Thursday afternoon when a local resident opened their extensive gardens for a private tour. The exquisitely cultivated grounds included fountains and statuary set amongst landscaped “rooms,” and onlookers were especially thrilled to see a topiary of a huntsman, hounds and a fleeing fox!
Devon Zebrovious from the Middleburg Hunt was Reserve Best Turned Out on Quest. Trophy and ribbon are presented by Kathleen O’Keefe, a previous winner. / Douglas Lees photo
The Finals
Evening rains Friday night had both softened the Glenwood Park racecourse and transformed it into a sparkling carpet of vibrant green for Saturday’s finals. Cooler temperatures and a stiff breeze from the northwest presaged a cold front as frothy clouds blew across a sky of blues and purples, weather that was utterly perfect for the event.
By 7:30 am the first trailers arrived, and shortly thereafter the contestants, all painstakingly braided, washed, and gleaming, entered the racecourse and gathered in the center. Top hats and tails, scarlets and meltons, vintage sandwich cases and whips were worn or carried by the contestants. After Kathleen O”Keefe inspected the riders being judged for Best Turned Out, Snowden Clark led everyone on a mock hunt over a course of fences which included a coop, a set of rails on the pond’s dam, and straw bales among others obstacles, some of which had been accented with fall decorations. The crowd collected before the field enjoyed an unobstructed view of the stirring scene as the immaculate horses and riders competed.
Twelve of the field were then chosen to perform individual tests—a shortened course where the final requirement was for the rider to halt, dismount, retrieve a whip lying on the ground, and remount their horse from a rock outcropping.
Rita Kaseman and Butterfly Painting from Loudoun Fairfax Hunt won trophy and ribbon for Most Suitable Pair. / Douglas Lees photo
Congratulations are in order for the following: Best Turned Out Champion and Reserve, Eduardo Coria, Casanova, and Devon Zebrovious, riding sidesaddle, Middleburg Hunt, respectively. Most Suitable Pair went to Rita Kaseman and Butterfly Painting from Loudoun Fairfax, and the Sportsmanship Award went to Allie Lawaetz of the Palm Beach Hunt, Florida.
The Field Hunter Championship placings in ascending order: eighth place went to Carol Chapman, Farmington on Burghley; seventh to Rita Kaseman, Loudoun Fairfax on Butterfly Painting; sixth to Lissa Green, Piedmont on Gold for Glory; fifth to Rosie Campbell, Bull Run on Cumin 4 Gold; fourth to Allie Lawaetz, Palm Beach on Schiller, and third to Janet Pendergrast, Keswick on Fred.
Second place, the Reserve Championship, was won by the ten-year-old bay mare Denali, owned and ridden by Eduardo Coria, Casanova. First place and the Championship went to the fourteen-year-old chestnut Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse gelding Stretch, owned and ridden by Laurie Ambrose of Piedmont. It was the first time she had ever ridden in the event, but she and her horse laid down a flawless round that garnered them top honours.
Later, Laurie related with quiet pride how her partner of ten years hunted equally well up front or in the back, and how he has never once refused a fence in all their years hunting together. Her delight in her horse’s performance was evident when she shared a hug with him after collecting her ribbon.
Congratulations to all the winners and special thanks to the landowners and volunteers who contributed to this event and to the sport of foxhunting.
Posted October 8, 2014
The Sportmanship Trophy and ribbon were won by Allie Lawaetz from the Palm Beach Hounds, shown here with her mount, Schiller. Allie and Schiller took home a fourth place ribbon in the field hunter championships as well. / Douglas Lees photo