See the Calendar of Events
New Members
We have had a banner year so far for having new members join us in the hunt field, and have two former members be able to re-join us on horseback. Please if you see someone mounted or at a breakfast, and you don't know them, find out who they are!
The Fall Hunter Pace
The hunter pace was quite the nice event this fall on November 11th. The weather was wonderful (sunny, but not too hot), the trails well marked and everyone including mounts seemed to have a good time. Blair Jones and I (the spouse) had the fun job of sitting at the check point handing water bottles to happy people and timing the 10 minute check. We got to admire the Beck estate in our free time (which was not much!) and met the landowners, too. I'm not sure I've ever seen so many horses at an event that looked so thrilled to be out and about. We definitely need to thank Fred Burks for organizing the day so folks could enjoy our new hunt territory (and jump some sparkling new coops!).
For volunteering their time for the day Rockbridge Hunt would like to thank: Louise Golian and Cindy Morton for doing the flyer which got mailed; Cindy, Barb Burks and Carol Atwood handled the registration; Paula Ursoy and Jean Taylor prepared an exceedingly tasty and exquisitely presented luncheon; Laura Jarvis supplied the tent, tables and chairs, and helped serve the food and helped with clean-up; Jake Burks and Sandra Worthy recorded the times at the finish line; Kathy Conner was the starter and removed the trail markers after everyone had gone home; Rockbridge Co. High School FFA members manned the gates and controlled traffic in the lane (which was a critical job for those of us driving against the flow of horse trailers); Jerry Hall who is Heather Hamilton's fiancée also helped to control traffic flow; David Bolen and Lauren Keating rode the course to determine the "optimum times" for each division and finally Pete Whitlock helped mark the course.
Fred Burks reports that he is glad it is over!
Rockbridge Hunt Fall Hunter Pace 2001 Results
Masters' Report
Hunting has been improving in spite of the drought. We've enjoyed several good runs in recent weeks. We've also got several events coming up that should be added to your schedule.
On Saturday, December 8th we are scheduled to hunt at West Airslie. Bill Streaker and Cameron York have generously invited us to join them for refreshments at Eastfields following the hunt. As usual, please check the Hunt Line (462-1113) for possible changes to the schedule.
We have been invited to a joint meet with Yadkin Valley Hounds in North Carolina on January 19th. They hunt in the general area of Winston-Salem in North Carolina. We'll probably be joined by Oak Ridge Fox Hunt Club and Glenmore Hunt. We'll keep you informed as the plans develop. Check the hunt line, too.
Executive Committee Notes from Fall 2001
I hear through the grapevine that a new roof has been installed on the hunt lodge. The original wood shingle roof held up pretty well as original equipment but the executive committee decided to replace them with asbestos shingles. They report that they could get it done for quite the reasonable price since the roof is so simple in design. Look up next time you are at the Tex Tilson Lodge.
The lodge also has seen new ovens installed to replace those rather finicky ones that were in there and some more lights have been put in the kitchen ceiling. Two new picnic tables have appeared and were stained by Wilson Shepard. Both Wilson and Laura Jarvis have been working on getting the storage building stained, also. And, sometime in the future you can expect to see steps from the parking lot down to the Lodge doors.
I also hear that some very necessary work has been done on the huntsman's house - new stove and plumbing repairs.
And Rockbridge Hunt pins have been ordered to be sold to hunt members this fall. These are of similar size and type to the Hunt Week pins.
Endurance Ride Report
I have not received an official report for the endurance ride stating Rockbridge Hunt volunteers and results, but I can report that the food end went pretty well. Blair Jones was in charge of converting 80 pounds of raw chicken pieces to a 'grilled' form using that wonderful charcoal grill that Popeye Mundy made for us a number of years ago. Karen Zollman did the breakfast again which is probably more appreciated by the grooms than competitors (I hear you eat light riding in one of these things), and she also helped with all the other meals too. Erica Jones invented soups, salads and corn bread. Judy Mundy, Diane Long and Doreen Tansey (who was not even a member at that time!) made somewhere close to 35 lunches for the folks working on Sunday (people sitting gates, judges, scribes, management, vets, etc etc). Viola Wise was in charge of deserts and she cleverly drafted Jan Keener to help her. Jean Taylor and Viola and Erica chopped up fresh fruit for mixed salad which was quite popular. Jean also brought an amazingly pretty cake which we brought out at the Sunday dinner. Kay Morton brought a wonderful corn and bean salad for Saturday which also was very popular. Paula Ursoy, Bobbie VanNess and Jean Taylor were cheerfully drafted to clean up the mess in the lodge kitchen I had made on Saturday. And finally, Cindy Morton was seen in the kitchen Sunday morning helping to peel vegetables for soup.
The financial statement for the endurance ride goes like this:
Income
(entries and meals)$3,945 Expenses $2,244 Awards 224 Facilities 632 Food 342 Miscellaneous 100 Sanctioning fees 296 Staff 650 Profit $1,701 If I forgot any cooking volunteers, my humble apologies. I will run the rest of the report when I get it.
Erica Jones
Hunt Ball 2002
SAVE THE DATE... February 23, 2002!
Yes, the Hunt Ball will be here before we know it. Please be thinking of unique auction items to donate for our silent auction. The auction is our main source of profits for this event as the ticket sales usually do not cover all the expenses for the evening. Also, be thinking of people to bring with you. The Ball is open to everyone, not just Hunt members (or even prospective ones). The more people we have in attendance, the more we can potentially make on our auction.
Dee Roberts and his Orchestra will be performing. Please plan to attend and reap the benefits of the Ball!
If you have any questions please contact Pam Moskal (540-989-3182).
Paper Work
Club members participating in an organized fox hunt need to be sure they have all the required paperwork for themselves and their mounts . All horses need to have a negative coggins test taken within the last 12 months to be ridden with a group of horses in public. The test does not have to be from Virginia as far as I know. Riders over the age of 12 need a hunting license. Depending on your county of origin, you might not need a state hunting license if you plan to only hunt in the county of your residence (a bargain at $5 per year). If you are hunting out of county you will need the state license ($12 per year) from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries which is called 'state resident to hunt statewide'. You can also get lifetime license, non-state resident licenses, licenses to hunt particular animals (deer, turkey bear) and many other options. If you want more information see their web site at http://www.dgif.state.va.us. The mandatory hunter education requirements can be waived for applicants who say they will be only be hunting foxes with hounds while on horseback, but without firearms. It has been my experience that not all establishments selling hunting licenses will have these waiver forms in their possession so ask. When I have presented last year's license I have never been asked to sign another waiver form.
Official Rockbridge Hunt Committees and Members
Kitchen Committee
Lois Farmer - Chair
Carol Atwood
Nancy Conner
Viola Wise
Judy Mundy
Mary Clapsaddle
Pam Moskal
Jean Taylor
Paula Ursoy
Grounds Maintenance
Wilson Shepherd - Chair
Laura Jarvis
Katharine Conner
Endurance Ride
Brenda Baird - Co-chair
Kathy Eichelberg - Co-chair
Kevin Baird
Erica Jones
Blair Jones
Assessment
Cindy Morton - Chair
Wilson Shepherd
Laura Jarvis
Katharine Conner
Newsletter
Erica Jones - Chair
Blair Jones
Fall Hunter Pace
Fred Burks - Chair
Laura Jarvis
Sandra Worthy
Paula Ursoy
Hunt Ball
Pam Moskal - Chair
Carol Atwood
Susan Baily
Beverly Bowring
Barbara Burks
Nancy Conner
Lois Farmer
Laura Jarvis
Buster Lewis
Cindy Morton
Terry Whitmore
Sandra Worthy
Virginia Hunt Week
Cindy Morton - Co-chair
David Bolen - Co-chair
Executive Committee
Jt-MFH: David Bolen, 463-5574 (bolendw@vmi.edu)
Jt-MFH: Cindy Morton, 463-6025 (mortonc@wlu.edu)
President: Carol Atwood (cftatwood@yahoo.com)
Treasurer: Katharine Conner
Honorary Secretary: Wilson Shepherd (shepL@rockbridge.net)
Steward: Fred Burks (montafon@cfw.com)
Steward: Kathy Eichelberger (bergrbnch@aol.com)
Steward: Paula Ursoy (millcreekfarm@earthlink.net)
Steward: Sandra Worthy (CWorthy380@aol.com)
Newsletter Committee:
Blair Jones, Abjones@vt.edu
Erica Jones, Emjones@vt.edu
Cindy Morton, mortonc@wlu.edu
Rockbridge Hunt
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