A Voice from the USA
Virginia’s British Huntsmen
Huntsman Gerald Keal and the Old Dominion Hounds | Photo courtesy of Karen L Myers - KLMImages.com
The traditions of foxhunting in Virginia stem back to the 18th century, when Lord Fairfax kept hounds and there is documentary evidence of George Washington having been a keen foxhunter.
Today the British tradition is alive and thriving in the Commonwealth with most of the top class packs engaging huntsmen from the UK.
One of the most long serving men is Gerald Keal at the Old Dominion whose one time Master was the much respected late Bill Brainard (breeder of Hounds & Prime Cattle). Gerald was Whipper-in to the Devon & Somerset Staghounds before emigrating to the States to become huntsman with Mr. Stewarts Cheshire Hounds in Pennsylvania.
Dennis Downing carries the horn at the Blue Ridge under the Mastership of Mrs. Linda Jenkins Armbrust, who was Master of the Mendip Farmer’s and the High Peak Harriers in England. Dennis has had a distinguished career this side of the pond, previously hunting the Mooreland in Alabama. Before that, Dennis was the popular Huntsman of the South Tetcott in South West Devon. England.
Richard Roberts carries the horn for the Piedmont, following in the shoes of such good hound men as Randy Waterman, and Butch Gray. Jimmy Boyle from the Atherstone also whipped-in for Waterman.
Martyn Blackmore is another Exmoor man from Bridgetown, and is Huntsman at the Loudoun West, near Leesburg, and has led an exciting career, having hunted a private pack in Wyoming, and then going to California to carry the horn at the Santa Ynez.
At the Orange County, Steven Spreadborough is the incumbent, taking over the horn, after having turned hounds to Adrian Smith, another Brit, when he left to go the Deep Run Hunt Club near Richmond. Virginia. The Orange County has that very distinctive Red Ringneck stamp of hound, which the late Capt. Ronnie Wallace used at the Exmoor. Melvin Poe was, of course, the legendry huntsman of these hounds. Melvin now in his eighties, still carries the horn for the Bath County Hounds who are a Private Pack, and hunt a lovely wild country in the western part of the State, near the famous Homestead Resort at Hot Springs.
The very popular Tony Gammell carries the horn at the Keswick near Charlottesville, and let me say these people like to ride, and Tony produces good sport for them. He came to the States after being 1st Whipper-in at the Taunton Vale in Somerset, and previously whipped-in for the Limerick in Eire.
Next door at the Farmington, Darren Beeney is the huntsman, who comes from a long line of distinguished Hunt Servants in the British Isles. His previous position was Huntsman to the Eglinton (‘Quorn of the North’) in Scotland.
Another person that I feel must be worthy of mention, and should not be left out, is Richard Buswell, who has led a remarkable career in North America. His late Father was, of course, that great character Bob Buswell of the United Pack in Shropshire and Chiddingfold Farmers (Surrey) fame. Richard has hunted the Middleburg Hounds (two terms), the Warrenton, and the Deep Run in Virginia, and was also with one of the Loudoun packs before going to the Saxonburg in Pennsylvania up until this May.
It is most remarkable that so many good British huntsmen have settled in the State of Virginia, which is still considered to be the creme de la creme of foxhunting in the United States, having the most registered packs.
It is no easy task to move ones family 3000 miles across the Atlantic and start afresh in a strange land, with a different culture, albeit, ‘roughly the same language’, A great testimony to the tenacity of that unique breed of men; The Hunt Servant.
This just in…. Marc Dradge (ex-Jed Forest) is apparently returning home to Scotland, but doing one more season at the Windy Hollow N.Y. He was previously at the Midland in Georgia, whose long serving Master and foxhunting legend, Mr. Ben Hardaway, was inducted into the Huntsman’s Hall of Fame at the Museum of Hunting. Morven Park, Leesburg. Virginia during the Virginia Foxhound Show on May 24th. That doyen of British Sporting Photographers, Jim Meads, was present and also received accolades for his services to foxhunting.
Unfortunately, although well supported by American Hunts, there were no Canadian entries at this years show. The British judge was Mr. Sandeman MFH at the Crawley & Horsham Foxhounds.
Christopher W. Allen