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Bull Run Talisman Named Champion at Bull Run - Rappahannock Performance Trial

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Barbara Smith

A bittersweet moment began the weekend at the Hark Forward Bull Run - Rappahannock (VA) Performance Trial. The kick-off competitors cocktail party started with a toast to the late great Benjamin Hardaway III. It had been announced that he had passed earlier in the day and Epp Wilson, MFH Belle Meade Hunt (GA), was moved to tears as he recalled their long friendship and the great gifts Mr. Hardaway had given to foxhunting in North America. Without a doubt Mr. Hardaway’s legacy is felt in almost every foxhunt in America. There will be many stories told about this grand gentleman and I am sure that this night he was enjoying the many toasts that were made to his memory.

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Aiken Hounds Earn Top Honors at Moore County Hark Forward Performance Trials

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Carolyn Rees-Potter and Epp Wilson, MFH. Photos by David Rees-Potter.

On a sunny, warm Friday, October 13th, keen masters, huntsmen and members from eight hunts packed up horses and hounds and hit the road, heading for a common destination - the Moore County Hounds' 7th Annual Performance Trials in Southern Pines, N.C.  Participating hunts included Aiken (SC), Camden (SC), Cedar Knob (TN), Last Chance, Mecklenburg (NC), Sedgefield (NC), Thornton Hill (VA), and Wiggins (SC). Under the auspices of the MFHA Hark Forward initiative, a season-long celebration of foxhunting across the country, we were looking forward to connecting with our foxhunter colleagues in friendly rivalry, to vie for top hunt and hound honors over the two-day performance trials.

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Top Hounds Persevere through Challenging Conditions at Millbrook

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Epp Wilson, MFH, Belle Meade Hunt and Hound Performance Trial Chairman for Hark Forward

What do you do when you have a Hark Forward Hound Trial with five of the best packs in the country - and you can’t find a fox - or a coyote? How do you score it? How does the scoring system work, when nearly all the scores are Hunting and Trailing - and only a handful of Full Cry scores over the two day event? How do you keep the participants happy and engaged? That was the challenge we had over the last two days. And here is how it went.

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Chagrin Valley Celebrates 90th Blessing of the Hounds

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Martha Drum

As part of the MFHA's season-long Hark Forward program to build camaraderie and support renovation of our new headquarters, Chagrin Valley Hunt (OH) hosted a special joint meet last weekend. The Chagrin Valley Beagles (OH) offered sport on Friday. The traditional blessing of the hounds ceremony preceded Chagrin Valley's Saturday meet, and then visiting Traders Point Hunt (IN) hounds led riders on a drag hunt on Sunday.

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Photo Gallery: The Season Begins!

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Submitted by our readers.

Foxhunters feel the first cool morning, notice the sun setting a little earlier, and anticipate the start of another season. From Quebec to Carolina, from New England to Colorado, here are a few images that capture the excitement and energy of early autumn hunting.

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When Riches Take Wings and Reputation Falls to Pieces: The Story of Old Drum

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Martha Drum

As many in our sporting community follow the legal proceedings involving Headwaters Hounds (CO), Tom Santelli, MFH, Trader's Point Hunt (IN) was inspired to share the story of the courtroom euology given to a deceased black and tan hound, "Old Drum." In an enduring closing argument in 1869, future Missouri Senator George Graham Vest appealed to the jurors' emotions as he sought compensation for a client's hound, shot by a neighbor for allegedly killing sheep.

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More Articles ...

  1. Dispatches from Run-e-Meade Hunt Week
  2. Middleton Place Hounds Host Green Creek and Aiken for Closing Weekend
  3. Sport on the Far Side of the World: A Tasmanian Hunter's Report
  4. Tri-Meet Brings Together Packs from Three States
  5. A War Horse in the Briar Patch
  6. The Fords Keep it All in the Family at Deep Run's Opening Meet
  7. North Hills Juniors Ride to Beagles and Hounds
  8. Photo Gallery: Visit Opening Meets and Blessings Across the Continent
  9. Kennel Tours Educate PDP Students
  10. Photo Gallery: Elvis' Muddy Rescue

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