|
Long Run Hounds
History
E. S. (Ned) Bonnie was one of
the original members of Long Run. He was an exceptional
horseman, having ridden all his life, hunted with the Oldham
County Hounds, an accomplished steeplechase rider and
point-to-point participant. He practiced equine law and was
one of the best in the U.S. in this field. He and his wife,
having foxhunted with many U.S. hunts, brought vast
experience to the position of Master.
The two Masters first job was
to select a huntsman and with the approval of the directors
announced in June that Charles McLaughlin had been chosen to
serve as honorary huntsman for the 1988-89 season. A young
farm hand was hired as kennelman and moved into the hunt
house at the kennel to help feed and care for the hounds.
Charles McLaughlin certainly
deserved the opportunity to be come huntsman as he had
worked with the hounds over many years, had been the first
whip and had supervised and worked at the building of the
new kennel. He knew all the hounds and was good at working
with them. After the disappointments with the professional
huntsman, this turned into a very pleasant arrangement. He
was a popular choice and he became an excellent huntsman.
One feature McLaughlin used
in training old and new entry hounds was to take them to a
fox pen at Dry Ridge where they experienced running foxes in
a large controlled area. It let them know what a fox smelled
like and helped in deer-proofing the pack.
McLaughlin believed very
strongly in nurturing the country and in making it
attractive for the fox population. He planned to hunt it by
quarters so not to overhunt any area at one given time and
to carefully protect fox covers and dens. This can be a
difficult job at times with competition from gun hunters and
too much pleasure riding in the territory. Fortunately for
Long Run much of the fox hunting country is owned by members
of the hunt.
In November of 1988, the
first Hunt Week in Kentucky was started. This was a joint
effort of the Woodford County Hounds, Long Run and Iroquois
where members of each hunt participated with each other in
hunting the different countries during a week’s period. The
first event featured the Midland Hounds of Columbus,
Georgia, hunted by the Master Ben Hardaway, hunting each
hunt’s country. Though the weather was quite dry, the week’s
hunting was considered a success and Hunt Week in Kentucky
became a yearly tradition.
By the end of the 1989 season
McLaughlin had culled the Long Run pack down to 44 hounds in
kennel. The season had been very successful, hounds going
out 53 times and excellent sport shown.
It was becoming evident that
additional hunting country was needed both in the Long Run
area and perhaps some new country in a different location.
Stuart Dalton and others were working on adding Long Rim
country while Ned Bonnie and others were investigating
different areas.
The Long Run Hunt was looking
forward to a bright new year in 1990 when on New Year's day
morning Stuart Dalton died of a sudden heart attack at his
home in Mockingbird Valley. Stuart had had a heart problem
several years previously but had care fully taken care of
himself with exercise and diet and had no warning.
This was a terrible tragedy
for his family, friends and all the members of the hunt. He
had been Master of Long Run for 16 years. He had a wry sense
of humor and was universally liked by not only members of
the hunt but by his many acquaintances In the real estate
business in which he had worked all his life and In the firm
which bore his name.
His love of foxhunting extended to his riding, point to
point racing, his farm interests and to field trials. He was
& past President of the Kentucky Fox Hunters Association.
It was very sad to have lost
father and son within 15 years. The Dalton name is legend
for all Kentucky fox hunters.
Stuart’s brother, Roger Dalton, also was and is an avid fox-
hunter but his banking and business Interests took
considerable time, curtailing his participation at Long Run.
These events presented
another milestone in the history of the Long Run. The 1990
annual meeting replaced the vacancies on the Board and EL S.
(Ned) Bonnie became the sole Master. Charles McLaughlin
continued to hunt the hounds as honorary huntsman and
Virginia Dalton agreed to continue to serve as Treasurer.
Though Stuart Dalton was
sorely missed, Bonnie and the directors carried on the
traditions of the hunt and good sport was shown throughout
the season of 1990 and 1991.
In June of 1991, the Board
elected McLaughlin as Joint Master as well as honorary
huntsman, an honor well deserved. Bocky Downer resigned as
Secretary due to the pressure of her personal business and
she was replaced by Terri Roach who was also a whip.
The hunt was in strong hands
with a talented and dedicated group of sportsmen and for
hunters. May this Hunt’s history never cease.
<1
2 3
4 5
6 7
> |