Fred Duncan Dedicated His Life to Hunting

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Penny Dengre, MFH & Jeffrey Blue, MFH

Photo courtesy Middleburg HuntOn December 20, 2012, the foxhunting community lost one of its most dedicated representatives, Fred Duncan. He spent most of his adult life in hunt service, working at the Warrenton hunt for thirteen years and at the Middleburg Hunt for twenty years.

Starting in hunt service at Warrenton in 1966, Fred whipped in to the famous huntsman and his mentor, Dick Bywaters. Fred always credited his extensive knowledge of American foxhound conformation and bloodlines to Bywaters. After Bywaters retired, Fred took over the pack and hunted the hounds for six seasons.

During the brief periods when Fred was not in professional hunt service, he worked with race horses (flat and steeplechase), show horses, quarter horses and field hunters. In the early 1960’s when he worked for author Jane McClary as stable foreman of her hunter barn, he even schooled her horses side saddle.

In Memory of Philip A. Kerner

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Susan Kerner

Philip A. Kerner, 83, passed away in South Hill, VA, on January 20, 2013 after a long illness. Born in Bayonne, NJ, on November 13, 1929, he graduated from the University of Virginia. He went on to a successful career in banking, working his way up from teller to bank president and garnering an appointment to Deputy Commissioner of Banking for the state of New Jersey.

But those were not the accomplishments that he would want to be remembered for. Always close to the land, he was a dedicated hunter, sportsman, and farmer. He hunted a varierty of quarry from rabbits to coyote to deer and even bear, but his undying passion was always horses, hounds and foxhunting. Mr. Kerner was a very active member of the Amwell Valley Hunt of Ringoes, N.J. for years, serving on the hunt committee and as whipper-in. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Reedy Creek hounds of McKenney, VA.

Gone Away: Robert James Walker

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Martha Woodham

Photo courtesy Bernadette WalkerRetired Huntsman Robert James “Bob” Walker of Gay, Ga., died Sept. 18, 2012, after a lifetime devoted to hounds and hunting.

Mr. Walker was buried in his native Ireland, at Stradbally, Co. Waterford, in a poignant ceremony that was a fitting tribute to a man who spent most of his 84 years carrying the horn. Leading his funeral procession was a riderless hunt horse with boots turned backwards in the stirrups, about 10 couple of his beloved Waterford Foxhounds following behind. During the service, a piper played “The Foxchase” on uileann pipes (Irish bagpipes).

Before friends and family took their leave of Bob at graveside, his friend “Big Mike” Power blew “Gone Away” and his wife, Mary, blew “Going Home” on the hunting horn.

Dr. Ramsay S. Buchanan, 1926-2012

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Martha Barbone

Photo Courtesy Buchanan FamilyLong time foxhunter, Pickering Hunt field master and honorary whipper-in at Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds, Ramsay S. Buchanan, VMD, one of the most self-effacing, gentle and kindest of men, died on November 20, 2012 of cancer at the age of 87, at his home, Mercer Hill Farm in Coatesville, PA, surrounded by his family.

In his 60 year riding career, Dr. Buchanan hunted with Whitelands Hunt, spent five years as field master at Pickering Hunt and also served as a member of the Pickering Hunt Board and later, when he retired from his veterinary practice, hunted with Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Fox Hounds where he became an indispensable friend and supporter of the late and legendary Mrs. John B. Hannum, MFH.

"Voice of Steeplechasing" Will O'Keefe is Recipient of 2012 S. Bryce Wing Award

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Margaret Worrall

On September 29, 2012, the Maryland Hunt Cup Association presented the S. Bryce Wing silver trophy to Will O’Keefe of Warrenton, Virginia.

This award honors the memory of S. Bryce Wing, who was a member of the Maryland Hunt Cup Association from 1939 until his death at age 85 in 1975. He was secretary of the Maryland Hunt Cup from 1956 to 1966 and also president of the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association (now the National Steeplechase Association) from 1948 to 1964. In addition, Wing served as a member of The Jockey Club and as Master of Foxhounds at the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club. Mr. Wing’s devotion to horses, hounds, and racing was lifelong. Significantly, this award is not given each year, but only when the Committee feels it is genuinely merited.