Hunting Tuesday April 03, 2007 10:00AM
Hill ‘n Hound Farm

Huntsman: Eleanor Hartwell
Judges: Jim Beisel MB and Cathie A. Kornacki MFH

Whips: Jill Wagenknecht MFH, Gene Deutsch MFH, Lee Deutsch, John Korenak, Tommy Jackson (guest), Lil Lewis MFH emeritus
First Field: Mary Hensel MFH (fieldmaster), Jean Mutrux, Abby Mutrux, Robert Wilmott, Leslie Granger, Lei Ruckle, Jane Liesman, Guests:
Second Field: Anne Hoagland (fieldmaster), Tess Fleishli, Leslie Ayers

Guests: Sue Slocum, Rob Fullerton, Rick Spurrier, Carlie Biesel, Ann Webber, John Blankenship, Bob Fullerton, Karen Hayes, Bev Heffernan, Arie Rijke, Betty Hollendorfer, Ellen Aisenbrey

GPS readings 8.44 miles
2:03 hrs moving 1:08 hours stopped. 3 hrs 11 minutes total
Max speed 20.8
Moving average 3.7

It was warm and sunny as I drove up to Hill ‘n Hound. As we got there the clouds closed in. The staff was gathering hounds in front of the Hill ‘n Hound historic home and there was thunder rolling in the distance. We decided to press on. The temperature started at 64 degrees and fell to 60 degrees while we were hunting. Barometric pressure basically steady but rose during the worst of the storms encountered. Winds were from the East Southeast at 1 to 6 mph.

We headed north down the gravel road and then turned West onto the tractor road. We jumped a coop into the horse pasture which had a nice ditch behind it. The rain was starting to fall. As we jumped out of the pasture one of the landowner’s horses had followed one of the judges over a fence. We moved on with the lightening coming closer all the time. We were on top of the hill that is near the cross country course. Several people decided to go in at this point but most stayed out. We crossed the field and headed down the hill toward the old red barn and the rain started really coming down. Lightening too. We took cover, hounds an all, in an old red barn which miraculously had enough space for everyone. We sat it out for while until it finally let up some and the hounds started moving off, eager to demonstrate their hunting skills.

Eleanor then drew the cover right above the old barn. The hounds found a muskrat gone to ground in the little draw. They were very excited but Eleanor called them off and we moved on down the hill toward the “Spooky Woods”. The rain had made the footing very deep in the bottom lands and marshes near the Macoupin creek. We worked our way southwest along the creek and then cut along the bottoms to Sherwood Forest. We heard hounds speak on a few occasions but they quickly lost with all the running water. Eleanor then lifted them and took them over to “the fingers”. The hounds worked this hard but found nothing. It was exciting for the field going through the deep ravines which had more water and mud than usual. Bob Wilmott got pitched off his horse in one of these crossings when his horse stumbled but gamely remounted and moved on. The lightening was returning and it was decided to call it a day and head in.


After hunting we had a brunch in the old Hill ‘n Hound historic house. David Jeffries and Gary Pregler were our gracious hosts. Annie Hoagland had arranged for a lovely brunch of ham and smoked turkey with sides of slaw, beans, and potato salad. Cheesecake was for dessert. Jill Wagenknecht brought cupcakes in honor of my birthday in two days. No one went hungry.

After lunch they presented the awards for the Western Challenge. The judges gave a fascinating description of each hunt and the good and bad of each. It was wonderful.

The Western Challenge was won this year by Waldingfield Beagles traveling all the way from Virginia to compete. Also of note was that he did not bring any of his usual whips.

The Bridlespur contingent made a good show of it in extremely adverse weather conditions. The judges described the Bridlespur Hounds as very biddable and steady. Bridlespur Hounds place 6th overall.

I apologize for the quality of the photos. It was difficult to keep the water spots off the lens and the lighting was poor. I also noted gaps in the GPS track, most likely due to the heavy cloud cover and storms that came through.