Princess Anne Hunt Launches Centennial Year Celebration

Katherine Mitchell, Centennial Chair

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Masters, we are pleased to announce the launch of Princess Anne Hunt’s Centennial Anniversary Year! 

This Fall, we begin our 100^th season of mounted foxhunting. In true PAH-style, we will celebrate this important milestone for a full year!  All of our events during this time will be infused with the spirit of this special anniversary, and we will be celebrating in many different ways. We will keep you posted as details unfold through our eNews and Facebook, but below you will find a few events and highlights that we wanted to be sure are on your radar.

First, it bears saying that we begin this milestone year with 127 membership units; a seasoned and beloved Huntsman and Professional Whipper-In who take good care of an award-winning pack of 25 couple of well-trained English and Old English hounds. Renovated kennels, exercise yards; and a new Puppy Whelping Shed were all funded by our Hunt Preservation Fund donors. Our hunt territory is particularly special. It’s been hunted since the 1600s, most notably by our founding fathers, many of whom, like Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and George Washington, had family ties in this area and/or attended the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg.   We are very grateful to all of our landowners who support the continuation of this historic tradition today.

Since we began in 1927, it hasn’t always been easy. We’ve weathered economic depressions, territory challenges caused by real estate development, World Wars, and pandemics. Today, we feel strong and optimistic as we approach this next century of foxhunting the farmlands and historic properties of Southeastern Virginia.  And we’re ready to celebrate!

Centennial Events  —  The full list of event highlights for the year can be viewed with details in the event section at princessannehunt.com. Each event will be updated as more information becomes available. Fixture cards are sent to the membership in October and December.  Save the date for the calendar highlights and you can register for the September 27th Annual Foxhunting Clinic HERE.

Be a Member!   If you haven't already, consider joining us for this special year as a member. Different memberships are available HERE.  Hunt supporters can cap in three times and all trail rides are free.   Be sure to get your application in time for the Board vote on October 13th. Be a riding member for Opening Meet! You can contact membership chair Gina Sybert at gina.sybert@gmail.com with questions.

Volunteer! Volunteering  is a great way to catch up with friends, meet new people AND be a part of the excitement.  Take a look at the event list and email  kmitchellrva@gmail.com  with 1-2 events (or more!) you can help with this year.  

Look for Princess Anne Hunt in the community this year at Berkeley’s First Thanksgiving Parade on horseback, November 1, and also at Westover’s Pilgrimage Tour on Saturday September 26. Tickets can be purchased HERE. The Westover Autumn Pilgrimage is being co-chaired this year by PAH landowner and supporter Andrea Erda. The Erdas’ home, Historic Westover, will be featured among others, including PAH Member Yogi Singh’s property, Granville; and  Ed and Katherine Mitchell’s new property Harden’s Bluff. At Hardens Bluff, PAH will host a Stirrup Cup and Presentation of Foxhounds from 9-9:30 before the house tour begins. PAH Members with colors are invited to participate on horseback and then hunt with staff next door at Dogham Farm. Contact masters@princessannehunt.org if you’d like to participate.

The Centennial Opening Meet at Sherwood Forest is Saturday November 7. Our Opening Meet will formally open our 100^th hunt season with the traditional Blessing of the Hounds at 10 am.  The Stirrup Cup at 9:30 am, Tailgate at Lyon’s Den and Breakfast catered by Robin Daniels will all feature recipes from the Centennial edition of the PAH Cookbook, which will be available for sale at Opening Meet.

Sherwood Forest is an important part of Princess Anne Hunt’s history.   In 1988, longtime and enthusiastic member Paynie Tyler donated the land for our kennels to be relocated from Surry County to where it is today on Tylers Mill Road. She hunted with us for many years, along with Kay Tyler and other family members. Today, William, Kay and the Tyler family carry on Paynie’s legacy by participating in events, hosting Opening and Closing Meets, and making it possible for us to hunt several fixtures on thousands of acres of beautiful fields, forests, and rolling hills, along the James River. We are very grateful for the Tyler family’s historic contribution and ongoing support of Princess Anne Hunt.

The Centennial Hunt Ball  is Saturday March 20, 2027. The Hunt Ball this year will be “Roaring Twenties” themed and located at the Cavalier Hotel for the first time in  75 years, and maybe ever!  This venue is special to Princess Anne Hunt, as it was where our kennels were located when we were incorporated in 1927.  Over the last ten years,  PAH has hosted several Christmas parties in the Cavalier’s Hunt Room, which was named for OUR Hunt. Hunt Ball Chair Pam Ault and her committee are planning a fun party that will be “the bee’s knees” with a great new band, an open bar and some very cool, new silent and live auction items. It’s going to be a hot ticket, and we expect to sell out. 

The Annual Mint Julep Party  is Saturday May 1, 2027. The Mint Julep Party is a PAH social calendar favorite. Plan to join us as we dress up in our dapper suits and fancy hats and cheer on the horses at the Kentucky Derby with our equestrian friends. This year’s party will be organized by former Ball Chair and fancy hat winner Natasha Gealey. Your ticket will not only include a full bar, delicious mint juleps, dinner, and a full evening of entertainment, but also your very own PAH centennial mint julep cup—which you can bring to this great party for the next century.

Princess Anne Hunt Centennial Party  will be on Saturday, September 11, 2027. Our Centennial year will culminate in September 2027, almost exactly 100-years following the formal adoption of our bylaws and first Opening Meet.  PAH President Jim Daniels and Vice President Lisa Langenhennig will lead a committee in planning a special anniversary event to celebrate. Let us know if you’d like to be included in planning this special event.

$100,000 for the 100-Year Anniversary—During our 100th year, we'll be having fun and positioning the hunt for strength for the next 100 years with a goal of having $100,000 in the Hunt Preservation Fund by the end of 2027.  We are starting with nearly $50,000, now with only $50K to go.  You can make a donation to the Hunt Preservation Fund any time by contacting Tim Watson at tdwatson2@gmail.com and you are invited as well to leave a legacy donation to PAH in your will.  Cumulative gifts of more than $500 are recognized on a plaque at the Kennels. Proceeds from merchandise and books will be used for this goal as well!

·       The new centennial polo shirt, baseball cap and totebag are available to buy now and can be viewed HERE.  Merri Musso and the merch team will have these and other items available to look at and buy at events throughout the year. 

·       Centennial Edition of the Princess Anne Hunt Tally Ho Cookbook –At long last, we have updated and will be publishing the PAH cookbook! At Opening Meet, you can look forward to buying your copy, and more for holiday gifts!  Linda Vonhof Immordino and her committee have been working hard on putting together this anniversary edition,and will send it to print soon. Many thanks to Linda, Dick and Nancy Nance, all who contributed recipes in the past and this summer.

·       PAH Centennial Coffee Table Book-- Martha Culpepper, Ed Mitchell, Joe Svetina, Troy Arnold and others are researching our history for a photography book with Princess Anne Hunt’s history and foxhunting that will be available in 2027.If you have stories to share, contact information for PAH alumni who we should be engaging, or photographs we could use, please reach out to kmitchellrva@gmail.com.

·       Rita Mae Brown is publishing a mystery novel that will be available in February featuring Princess Anne Hunt fixtures and members! We will keep you posted on when exactly this will be available for purchase and any opportunities to meet Rita Mae and get your book signed. We are honored and thrilled to be recognized in this special way during our special year.

A shout out to Merri Musso and her committee and everyone who supported this year’s Centennial Hunt Season Booklet this summer. You can get your copy at the Hunt Clinic or through the mail. We had a record year of ad and sponsorship sales--$21,000, up from $15,000 last year. We have already begun to get ready for the year by kicking up our heels and raising a glass at the Stock the Bar party on Sunday. Many thanks to Jim Daniels for hosting and the help of Charles Bonner, Lisa Langenhennig, Troy Arnold, and many others.  If you weren't able to make it, you can donate a bottle for the PAH bar and give it to the Masters at any hunt function or drop it by Dogham Farm. We especially need champagne to celebrate this exciting year.

In closing, I want to thank the Board of Directors, everyone who is working on these exciting events and projects, and everyone who will be signing up as a volunteer to make this milestone year special, for us all.

Cheers and Tally Ho!

A Newcomers' Day view!

Photo above:  The field spotted a fox! Note how it is proper to remove one's helmet to signify that a fox was viewed; one points the hat in the direction the fox was traveling.

Princess Anne Hunt's Newcomers' Day was a wonderful celebration of sport, fellowship and the beautiful Virginia countryside! 

Riders new to the sport of mounted Foxhunting and horses new to the field were shown a good day of sport as approximately 41 people attended, including 28 mounted riders who set off from the kennels for an unforgettable three-hour, 11-mile ride. With three foxes viewed, beautifully turned-out and well-behaved horses, and smiles all around, it was a day to remember. Our stunning territory of open fields, winding woods, and scenic views of the James River provided the perfect backdrop. Who could ask for anything more?

In addition to our mounted field, several car followers enjoyed the day under the leadership of our very own Mark Burnett. Centennial merchandise was available for purchase thanks to Hannah VanHuss, who graciously manned the sales table. The Syberts hosted a delicious stirrup cup surrounded by festive fall decor, with John Sybert, Pam Ault, and Justin and Mason Jordan helping to welcome our guests.

Following the hunt, riders and guests gathered for a bountiful potluck breakfast, lingering to enjoy the wonderful food (including Vincent Immordino's famous sliders!), lively conversation and camaraderie that makes Princess Anne Hunt so special.

As always, our honorary secretary, Vanessa Roselli ensured that everyone had their paperwork in order and was ready to ride. We are also grateful to Michelle LoMonaco, Katherine Mitchell, Master Merri Musso, Gina Sybert, Master Travis Gibson, Jill Marshall, Clinton Kelley and the many other volunteers who stayed through the end to help with cleanup.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who rode, followed, cooked, hosted, volunteered and helped to make the day a success.  Newcomers' Day was a wonderful reminder of the sporting tradition, generous hospitality, and enduring friendships that make Princess Anne Hunt so special. We look forward to welcoming our newcomers back to the field soon!

Gathered before the Dicherson's beautiful stone house on the James River

The Foxhunting clinic was a huge success!

On Sunday, September 27, 2026, Clinician Merri Musso, MFH, guided riders and horses as they learned of the timeless traditions, safety protocols, and foundational skills of the hunt field.

Huntsman Martyn Blackmore began the day with a hound walk (on foot), allowing those gathered to witness the connection and love he has for his well-behaved pack of Old English and English foxhounds. To observe his command of this lively, lovely pack of hounds is truly inspiring and joyful to see! Professional Whipper-in Sue Blackmore helps in all aspects of caring for the hounds, whether helping with a new litter of puppies or aiding in keeping the pack together as they walk or hunt. Both of these professionals are generous and gracious as they educate all newcomers in the art of keeping a healthy, safe and eager pack of foxhounds.

Riders up!  After mounting up and allowing horses to meet hounds, riders gathered for a traditional stirrup cup.  Generous hunt members served, (literally at our stirrups), Port, Mimosas, sparkling water, and delicious baked goods. This is a hunt tradition that helps to gird one for the field as it may be hours before they are able to have refreshment again.

Lesson time: Riders then proceeded to have a lesson conducted by Master Merri. Riders rode at the walk, trot, and canter, with some choosing to jump natural obstacles.  At this time field protocol was discussed: spacing, control, and etiquette, as well as how to protect and not obstruct hounds as they work. Huntsman Martyn Blackmore ended this session with a demonstration of the hunting horn calls which alert hounds, staff, and field as to what is transpiring in the field.

The Mock Hunt which followed allowed the riders to experience following the Field Master as they rode through the beautiful woods of the fixture (the property being hunted that day).  We heard the huntsman's horn as his pack denned a fox!  After a stop at the half-way point for refreshment, the field rode out again until we heard the call for, "Going Home." All riders and horses made it safely back to the kennels for a delicious lunch served by member Kris Goeckeritz.

A brief information session with a time for questions and answers led by Master Ed Mitchell and Master Merri Musso was held after lunch.  Board member Natasha Gealey presented the group with a spot on attire demonstration; the tradition and purpose of each item was explained (rather fascinating!) Membership Chair Gina Sybert presented the various levels of membership; there is truly something for everyone - whether as a rider, professional, or non-riding social member.  

Vendors provided a fun chance to shop offering unique hunt and riding themed items. If you would like to connect with any of these vendors, please feel free to email Princess Anne Hunt Masters and we will get the contact information to you.

A kennel tour finished the perfect day with a chance to meet the stars of the hunting show, the Old English and English foxhounds. Truly remarkable hounds blessed with beauty, brains, and stamina.  The new whelping lodge was a particular favorite with a chance to cuddle puppies as a bonus. Again, we are so very fortunate to have Martyn and Sue Blackmore; they are consummate professionals, love the hounds, and are so very gracious to all of us.

Thank you to all who joined us for this Centennial year Foxhunting Clinic. The weather was perfect, the conversation sparkling, and the horses and hounds majestic. 

We hope to see you in the Hunt Field!

Check out Junior rider opportunities in the attached ...

PAH Junior Flyer.pdf

Contact Travis Gibson MFH  for more info 

Just listed for pre-order, PAH Centennial Merchandise is now available to order for the 26-27 hunt season.  Get yours now or order for Christmas gifts!

Centennial Merchandise

Thank you all for coming out and making the Princess Anne Spring Hunter Pace such a wonderful event! We truly appreciate your support, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship – it was a fantastic day.

Photos may be seen at: https://www.commonwealthartist.net

Congratulations to our winners:

Fast Time Over Fences
1st Place: Pam- Demoniuim with the fastest time of the day at 34 minutes

Fast Time on the Flat
1st Place: Howlin Wolf
2nd Place: Bruno & Blondie
3rd Place (tie): The Hoptimists & We Are On Fire

Optimum Time Over Fences
1st Place: Greenfield Farm
2nd Place (tie): Briar Glen Bandits & Hobby Horses
3rd Place (tie): Better Than You Pony Crew & Red Oak Foxhounds

Optimum Time on the Flat
1st Place: Pistol Annies
2nd Place: EquiGals
3rd Place (tie): Traveling Harmony & First Timers

If you were unable to collect your ribbons and would like them to be mailed, please contact Gina Sybert at gina.sybert@gmail.com.

We encourage everyone to visit www.princessannehunt.org for information on our upcoming Spring Trail Ride Series and membership opportunities. Next season marks our 100th anniversary, and we have many special events planned that you do not want to miss. Consider joining now and get your spring trail rides for free and participate in all of our exciting events and hunts next season. Our next board meeting will be held on April 14, and we will be voting on proposed memberships at that time.

Thank you again, and we hope to see you soon.

Warm regards,
Gina Sybert
Membership Chair
Princess Anne Hunt

Princess Anne hounds met at Sandy Point State Forest which is one of our newest fixtures.  The adjacent property is home of Olympian Bernie Traurig and his wife Caitlin and they served the Stirrup Cup and potluck tailgate.   

Bernie provided a fantastic video of the hunt and festivities. 

Once again, Juniors were invited to the January General Assembly. This has been a HUGE hit with our Legislators! For the 2026 Legislative Session, Fox Hunter Junior Day at The Capitol was on Friday, January 23rd. Rappahannock Hunt was recognized for its 100th year anniversary. 

Princess Anne Hunt members joined the parade at the annual Virginia Thanksgiving Festival on Sunday November 2nd. 

Photos will be posted at Princess Anne Hunt, Ltd. - Berkeley Thanksgiving Parade 2025

After the parade, members hacked to nearby Historic Westover and enjoyed cub hunting in formal attire.

PAH FALL HUNTER PACE 2025 SUCCESS

It was a beautiful, 60 degree day for 32 teams consisting of 92 riders to compete in the 2023 Princess Anne Hunt Fall Hunter Pace, a part of the Fall Hunter Pace Series conducted with 7 other Virginia MFHA Hunts. A hunter pace is an exciting and competitive gathering that tests the skills and teamwork of riders and their horses over a cross country course. Participants are tasked with completing a predetermined course at a controlled pace, aiming to achieve the optimum or fastest time depending on the division. Horses and riders that participate in a hunter pace can expect an experience that mimics the pace and obstacles met in a typical day of fox hunting.   The 2025 PAH hunter pace course contained 20 jumps and covered 7.8 miles through our beautiful hunt countryside in Charles City, Virginia. This year, we offered four competitive divisions: Optimum Time on the Flat, Optimum Time Over Fences, Fastest Time on The Flat, and Fastest Time Over Fences. Here are this year’s winners: Fastest Time Over Fences:  1. Here To Stirrup Trouble - 1:26  Fastest Time On The Flat:  1. Galloping Goblers - 0:52 2. Howling Wolf - 1:15 3. Cedarview Frolicking Foxes - 1:45 Optimum Time Over Fences: 1. WRVEC - 1:22 2. Pink Pony Club - 1:26 3. Rose All Day - 1:28 Optimum Time On The Flat:  1. Jaspers Team - 1:24 2. For Fox Sake - 1:28 3. Beloved Farm - 1:29 (TIE) 3. We Are On Fire - 1:29 (TIE)   We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Alex Cromer, our 2025 Hunter Pace Chair!  We would also like to thank Huntsman Martyn Blackmore for hours spent constructing and grooming the hunter pace course this year with the assistance of Honorary whippers-in Allison Harcourt, Rachel Toquothy, and our Professional Whipper-In Sue Blackmore for coordinating and hosting our champagne pit-stop.   Special thanks to Masters Ed Mitchell, MFH, Merri Musso, MFH, and Travis Gibson, MFH for their coordination;  and Robin Daniels for coordination of catering. We would also like to thank our vendors: Robin Daniels, Dreamshine Tack, and Commonwealth Artists.   Our course photographers were Commonwealth Artists, Julia Bowman and Joe Svetina.  Photos from the day can be found at their website (https://www.commonwealthartists.net/)   Troy Arnold, Mark Wenger, and Phillip served as the official time keepers.   We had many, many volunteers behind the scenes performing tasks both big and small, and we would like to recognize that this event could not be done without them all!