Whiskey Road Hunt Week, Aiken, SC

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Hunt Reports

By Betsy Parker

Second Installment

Betsy and friends escape frozen Virginia for a week of hunting in warmer climes. We bring you Installment Two of her daily blog, exclusive to Foxhunting Life.

(l-r) Whiskey Road Field Master Geri Rapp, Fairfax Hunt members Ray Moffett, and PetraProbably seventy-five riders in the field this morning from the Batesburg fixture. Whiskey Road hosted a stirrup cup and snack before the meet after which huntsman Joseph Hardiman moved off with the mixed English and Penn-Marydel pack, east towards the cow field adjacent to the fixture.

Hounds struck immediately, coyote, probably, a brace or possibly a leash, and split into two or three groups. Hardiman went with one group, Master/whipper-in Lynn Smith with another, and (seemed like) Master David Smith and the main field with still another.

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Whiskey Road Hunt Week, Aiken, SC

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Hunt Reports

By Betsy Parker

Third Installment

Betsy and friends escape frozen Virginia for a week of hunting in warmer climes. We bring you Installment Three of her daily blog, exclusive to Foxhunting Life.Don Palus and Jackie Burke are ready for the Ball!

I know we need the rain, but, for gosh sakes ...who ordered El Nina?

Just as the weatherman warned, one hundred percent chance of cold, nasty, persistent rain today. Whiskey Road Master David Smith swore at last night's party—a humdinger of a time at new Folly downtown on Laurens Street (precious classic housewares and nifty interior items)—that the hunt would go on, weather or not. My crew consulted briefly at bedtime last night and agreed to put off a decision until the morning.

We heard the rain pelting the tin roof of our cottage all night, and it was without dissent that we collectively decided to can hunting. I heard from several other Hunt Weekers who bailed, too, and we saw more Hunt Week folks around town when we went in to check out the Aiken village,

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Blue Ridge Hunt through a Helmet-Cam

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Hunt Reports

By Video by Pat Cooney

Here’s FHL’s first Video Hunt Report! We hope more hunts will send us their action videos.

Cameraman Pat Cooney is in good position to catch hounds as they find and open. Blue Ridge huntsman Dennis Downing blows Gone Away and the chase begins. Galloping across the first field, Downing views his fox away and lifts his cap. When hounds check in a small covert, Downing patiently gives them a chance to recover the line on their own. After a tentative cry or two, with hounds still at a loss, Downing slowly walks toward the pack to nudge them forward. Although the short film clip ends here due to low batteries, the pack did in fact recover the line and hunted on.

Foxhunting Life has arranged with the Academy of Motion Pictures to add a new category to this year’s Academy Awards—Best Foxhunting Cinematography. Pat Cooney is the only nomination thus far, but he needs competition!

Whiskey Road Hunt Week, Aiken, SC

Details

Hunt Reports

By Betsy Parker

Fourth Installment

Betsy and friends escape frozen Virginia for a week of hunting in warmer climes. We bring you Installment Four of her daily blog, exclusive to Foxhunting Life.

Tom Neel and Gene Hough out with Whiskey RoadRained all night long Friday, and into the morning Saturday. I picked up Tom at one a.m. in Columbia, and I think we arrived home only a few minutes after our little Hunt Ballers. Over breakfast in the morning, it was reported that Don was the belle of the ball (see photo from Installment Three). He danced every dance and was a most charming escort for our three bedecked ladies.

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