Horn trophy reinstated at Horn and Hound ball
Every hunt follower admires a beautifully handled hunting horn and for years H&H ran a horn blowing competition at our late, great Horse & Hound balls.
Now, after an absence of more than a decade, the competition has been reinstated. It will take place at the Horn and Hound ball at Cheltenham racecourse, Glos (26 April), to raise funds in aid of the Hunt Staff Benefit Society.
The Dorian Williams Horse & Hound Challenge Trophy was first blown for in 1952, but has not been held since 2002.
It was last won by Patrick Martin, huntsman of the Bicester with Whaddon Chase, and has been on his mantelpiece since.
“The organisers rang me because they thought the trophy had been lost,” said Patrick. “I told them I was sitting looking at it.”
10 new competitors have been selected and will battle it out to prove they are the best blower in the land. They will be judged on their ability to blow “gone away” and “going home”.
H&H will support the event and has donated 2 horns as prizes for the top 2.
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➤ For tickets email: hsbs2@mfha.co.uk
This article was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (27 February 2014)
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.