The Blue Ridge Hunt (VA) will welcome in a very few days the arrival from England of two new professional staff members—huntsman Guy Allman and first whipper-in Thomas Hopson.

Huntsman Allman comes to Blue Ridge after twelve years hunting hounds at the Mid Devon Foxhounds in England. Before that he was kennel huntsman at the Golden Valley, first whipper-in to huntsman Anthony Adams at the Heythrop, and kennel huntsman and whipper-in to Nigel Peel, MFH at the North Cotswold and earlier at the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray.

Tom Hopson is a Yorkshire man, a graduate of the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, a keen rugby player, and a dedicated horseman. Oh yes, he hunts, too! He was first whipper-in at the Berkeley for a season.

The two will need much support from the hunt membership as they take over an unfamiliar pack in equally unfamiliar country.

Posted April 30, 2012