Dennis Downing is the new huntsman at the Bedford Hunt (VA). / Karen L. Myers photo
Huntsman Robert Taylor hasn’t had a good rest in five years. He’s been hunting two separate packs of foxhounds in Maryland—the Goshen Hounds as Master and amateur huntsman and the New Market-Middletown Valley Hounds as professional huntsman. Huntsman Ken George has been driving hounds and horses six hours each way twice a week from Kansas to Iowa to hunt hounds in both states. Huntsmen love what they do, but each season ends with changes in the wind.
As this hunting season draws to a close, we see huntsmen on the move again. Starting in the north and progressing southward then west, here’s what we know so far; please let us know who we’ve left out.
Essex Fox Hounds
In New Jersey the Masters of the Essex Fox Hounds have announced the resignation of professional huntsman John Gilbert. The Essex is a venerable American pack, recognized by the MFHA more than a hundred years ago. Essex has long been one of the premier sources of American Foxhound bloodlines for hunts all over the country.
Gilbert has hunted the Essex hounds for twelve years. In a statement from the hunt, the Masters thank Gilbert for his dedicated service and recognize his entire family for the “time and passion they have put into the EFH hounds and hunting.”
Noting the challenges of foxhunting in the twenty-first century, the Essex Masters announce the start of a new era for their hunt in which staff reductions and a smaller pack will lead to greater stability and efficiency.
New Market-Middletown Valley Hounds
South to Maryland now, where English-born Alasdair Storer, now a U.S. citizen, will be the new professional huntsman for the New Market-Middletown Valley Hounds, thus allowing Robert Taylor the opportunity to focus all his energies on his Goshen pack.
In his American career, Storer previously served as first whipper-in to the Blue Ridge Hunt (VA), then a season as huntsman to the Montreal Hunt (QC). Away from hunt service for the last few years, Storer and his family now return to Maryland, to familiar places, and to good friends.
“It’s our last move,” said Storer. “We’re coming home.”
Eight years ago, while in Virginia, Storer, who had previously hunted a premier beagle pack in England, agreed to judge The Middletown Valley Beagles. There he met Jim Farber, MB and owner of the the Middletown beagles, and the two families developed a very close relationship. Storer also served as Honorary Joint-Master of The Middletown Valley Beagles with Jim Farber for one season.
The New Market Middletown Valley foxhounds are a two-day-a-week pack, and the huntsman’s duties are suffficiently flexible for Storer to investigate an additional career. Meanwhile, he and wife Jill and their two young children will be back in the tri-state area with people they know and like. How does he feel about the move? “Awesome!” he said.
Charles Montgomery is the new huntsman for the Bull Run Hunt (VA). / Jake Carle photoBull Run Hunt
South to Virginia, we learn that professional huntsman Greg Schwartz has retired after seven seasons with the Bull Run Hunt. Charles Montgomery will take over the huntsman’s duties next season. Montgomery hunted the Live Oak (FL) foxhounds with distinction for many years, and has often been invited to serve as trial huntsman for Foxhound Performance Trials. During the MFHA Centennial Year, Montgomery traveled across North America as one of the designated huntsmen for the Centennial Performance Trial series.
Montgomery is currently filling the post of first whipper-in at the Deep Run Hunt near Richmond, Virginia. “I’ve enjoyed the membership at Deep Run,” he said, “and the Mastership has been one of the best I have ever worked for in my entire career. It’s been a wonderful experience there for both me and my wife, but I have missed hunting hounds.”
Montgomery placed his name on the list for a huntsman’s position and feels lucky that he was able to win the post at Bull Run. “They have some of the best hunting country in Virginia,” he noted, “and although I was happy at Deep Run, I’m really looking forward to hunting hounds again.”
Bedford Hunt
William King, longtime Master and huntsman of the Bedford Hunt (VA), will turn the hunting horn over to professional huntsman Dennis Downing for next season. English-born Downing was huntsman for the Saxonburg Hunt in Pennsylvania and South Carolina this past season, the Montreal Hunt the season before that, and now returns to Virginia where he had spent twelve seasons hunting hounds for the Blue Ridge Hunt.
Downing is pleased to be returning to Virginia, where he has happy associations and numerous friends. “I’m coming home!” he said.
Lowcountry Hounds
As Virginia welcomes back two of her English-born huntsmen—Storer and Downing—another member of their fraternity, Martyn Blackmore, departs for the Deep South. Blackmore, who was huntsman for the Loudoun Hunt West until their merger with the Fairfax Hunt, then huntsman for a season at the Loudoun Hunt, moves to the Lowcountry Hunt near Charleston, South Carolina to take over the huntsman’s duties there.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Blackmore. “The country is lovely, and I hear that Charleston is one of the most beautiful cities in America.”
Recognized in 2006, the Lowcountry Hunt is relatively new, but having opened up many of the beautiful old plantations to foxhunting, they have attracted the attention of local sportsmen and women as well as foxhunters from the north during the winter season who appreciate the lush countryside and warm southern hospitality.
Martyn Blackmore is the new huntsman for the Lowcountry Hounds (SC).
Midland Fox Hounds
Ken George has lived a schizophrenic life for the past eleven years as huntsman for the Moingona Hunt in Iowa. He has loved it, nevertheless. With hunting country in both Kansas and Iowa, George drives hounds and horses twice a week, six hours each way, from his home and kennels in Kansas to hunt for four consecutive days in both states. Next season, George moves on to become huntsman for the famed Midland Fox Hounds near Columbus, Georgia.
“I’m really excited,” said George. “Midland is very attractive to me. I love it at Moingona, but at Midland everything is on a bigger scale with a bigger supporting cast—both staff and kennel help.”
As far as hounds go, George will be in his element. “I’ve always hunted Midland bloodlines. I’ve had good drafts from Midland, and some of those drafts are the foundation of the Moingona pack.”
Huntsmen and their hounds are the core of our sport. Foxhunting Life hopes to bring you more news of these men and women upon whom we depend for our sporting pleasure. Since we can’t afford a bureau chief in each and every sporting country, we rely on you, our readers, to help us with up-to-date news. Your contributions, hunt reports, essays, and even just bare newsworthy facts are welcome indeed. Use the “Contact Us” link at the bottom of every screen to communicate directly with me. And thanks!
Posted March 19, 2014