Remembering Bobby Pillion, 1934-2014

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Courtesy Blue Ridge Hunt

Karen L. Meyers photoThe foxhunting community lost a beloved member Sunday, January 12, 2014, in the passing of Robert Joseph “Bobby Joe” Pillion, 79, of Millwood, Virginia.

Bobby was born July 23, 1934 in Rose Hill, Virginia, son of the late White Ray Pillion and Sallie Emma Pauley Pillion. He was a horseman for Shan Hill Farm in Millwood; was a member of Blue Ridge Hunt; a ring master with Upperville Colt & Horse Show for 40 years; was in the Virginia Horseman Association Hall of Fame; and Whipped in Blue Ridge Hunt from 1966 until his retirement.

In Memoriam: Rodney H. Chadwell 1947-2013

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Photo courtesy Leslie ChadwellRodney H Chadwell, 66, passed away at his home in Stockbridge, VT ,Wednesday, August 7th, 2013. Rod was surrounded by his wife and four daughters at the time of his passing.

Rod was born January 26, 1947, the son of William “Buster” Chadwell and Frances Holmes Chadwell. He grew up in Peapack, NJ at the Essex Hunt Club, where his father had been huntsman since 1944. Rod followed in the family tradition, becoming first a whipper-in and then huntsman in 1978 for the Essex Fox Hounds at his father’s retirement. He is widely acknowledged to have been one of the best huntsmen of his time. 

His grandfather, Edward “Ned” Chadwell had been huntsman at the Orange County Hunt in Virginia, while his great uncle and cousin, Elias Chadwell and Earl Chadwell, for many years were in charge of the Millbrook Hunt in New York State. 

Rod loved to hunt and fish, one year taking the New Jersey largemouth bass record. He participated in many outdoor activities, including motor and sail boats, ATV’s, snowmobiling, motorcycles, canoeing and kayaking etc. He made sure that his girls learned to appreciate the outdoors as well. 

Jim Atkins: Gentleman and Sportsman, 1941-2013

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Katy Carter

Douglas Lees photoRetired huntsman James L. Atkins passed away June 25, 2013 at his home in Amissville, VA. Born in Rappahannock County, he became a farmer and horse trainer and drove for a trucking company before owning and operating a construction company. He hunted hounds for Old Dominion Hounds, Dr. Gable, Piedmont Fox Hounds, and Warrenton Hunt. Jim was known far and wide as a hound judge and as a true gentleman and friend. He mentored numerous people involved in hunting, gladly sharing his years of knowledge and experience.

From the Hunt Field to the Derby: A Tribute to Well Well

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Winter Paxson

Photo Courtesy Winter PaxsonWell Well made his first debut as a race horse for Mr & Mrs Houghton. With 14 career starts, 1 win,1 Second, 2 thirds, Earning a total of $18,800.00. It was soon determined racing would not be Well Well’s career of choice.

Shortly after trying him as a race horse Well Well was given to the Paxson family. He became a part of the family and was ridden by Gregory Paxson and Jim Paxson as the Huntsmans horse. Well Well was an incredible horse to hunt in the field, Masters Horse, Field Masters horse, and guest horse. It didn’t matter if you could ride or not, Well Well would take care of you.

Mary Southwell Hutchison Has Viewed and Gone Away

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Malcolm Matheson, III, Jt-MFH

Douglas Lees photoI first met Mary South in the mid 70's and from then our lives touched in many ways. She was a licensed Real Estate Agent under my Brokerage License for Thomas & Talbot Real Estate; her brother, Hutch, worked for my construction company when my brother Charley and I built townhouses in Mosby Square here in Middleburg; her father 's Dick Hutchinson's, Labrador Retriever, Trapper, spent more time at my house than at his and ultimately was given to me after Dick died; and then of course there was the Hunt.

Mary South was a 26 - 27 year old beautiful young lady when I first rode in a hunt field with her in the mid 70's almost 40 years ago. Over these years this inveterate and highly accomplished horse woman excelled not only in the hunt field but in shows and hunter trials as well winning Mrs. Randolph's Hunter Championship of American at Glenwood Park at least once.

Her efforts with Orange County were not limited to just riding. Mary South helped enlighten novice riders to hunt protocol and traditions (sometimes to their chagrin); she gave unselfishly as a volunteer to all hunt events including our Pair Races, our Team Chases, our Barn Dances, our Point-to-Points, our Puppy Shows and to the Virginia Hound Shows. She was our field Secretary before she became Honorary Secretary to the Hunt in the early 90's - a position she held for 20 years until her passing last Thursday. In that position she was the eyes and ears of us Masters reporting any flagrant abuses of hunt protocol, she took minutes for the Board of Stewards, she got out all of our mailings including Master's letters, fixture cards, Landowner Party invitations, Puppy Show invitations, all of our event invitations, and our Christmas Cards. Besides these hunt duties she handled all the invitations and billings for the Virginia Foxhound Club.