Pytchley huntsman to move packs after 10 years: ‘I am looking for a new challenge’ *H&H Plus*
After 10 seasons at the Pytchley, H&H columnist Daniel Cherriman will be westward bound, reports Catherine Austen
Daniel Cherriman (pictured) will become joint-master and huntsman of the South Shropshire on 1 May. After 10 seasons as professional huntsman of the Pytchley with Woodland, he will take over from George Renwick, who is stepping down after three seasons. The other four joint-masters – Walter Blum Gentilomo, Camilla Corrie, Amy Henderson and William Onions – will remain in place.
Daniel, who is married to Jessica and has two children, Jack, five, and Ted, one, said: “I’ve been very happy here at the Pytchley and have really enjoyed my time. However, what I haven’t achieved in 10 seasons I am not going to achieve in 20, so I am looking for a new challenge.
“The South Shropshire is a very varied hunting country, with some vale by the River Severn, some rolling, low-hill country and the open hill on the Welsh border and the border with the United. I love all types of hunting country, so I am excited about it. There’s less urbanisation, the potential for longer hunts and all sorts of new challenges – it just feels timely.”
Daniel did admit that his decade-long tenure is the second-shortest span by a Pytchley huntsman in the past 120 years. He will be replaced by Jason Mahon, whose wife Claire is secretary of the Pytchley with Woodland and who currently whips-in to Daniel twice a week.
Oliver Beazley will become Daniel’s kennel-huntsman at the South Shropshire; he is currently first whipper-in at the Dulverton West and was previously at the Tynedale, and so has hill hunting experience.
Hartley Crouch will join the Pytchley with Woodland as first whipper-in on 1 May.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Other new appointments include William Gibson-Fleming, who will take over from the retiring Will Bryer at the Cattistock as joint-master and huntsman, while Ollie Thompson becomes huntsman of the Old Berks as Michael Scott is retiring after 22 seasons.
Ref: Horse & Hound; 17 December 2020
You may also be interested in:
Matt Ramsden: ‘There hadn’t been a strand of wire in sight and the going was perfect. And then I woke up’ *H&H Plus*
Charles Frampton: trying to understand the level of resources that were deployed *H&H Plus*
Meet the ‘carthorse cob’ who became a hunter of a lifetime *H&H Plus*
Legends of the chase: Charles Stirling ‘Good manners and loyalty are the two most important ingredients’ *H&H Plus*

A St Andrews’ graduate, Catherine joined Horse & Hound in 2002 and stayed for 11 years in a variety of roles until she went freelance in June 2013. She rejoined the team part-time in November 2016 as hunting editor. She pretty much lives on the hunting field or at the racecourse, but also loves eventing, as a journalist, press officer and competitor. She was H&H’s sole accredited journalist at the London Olympic Games and has reported from major race meetings and eventing, showjumping and dressage championships and shows round the world, and has hunted all over Britain and Ireland.