Ms. Anita S. Williamson - Professional - Honorary Road Whip

Anita Williamson had the good fortune to move to Polk County in the mid-eighties. It was a dream come true to have a farm of her own to keep horses - add to that she secured employment at the Davis family farm managing broodmares and young Thoroughbred horses for the International Hunter Futurity program. An extra bonus? It was in the heart of Tryon Hounds Hunt Country!

Dr. Davis had whipped in to Tryon Hounds many years prior and while he no longer hunted he heartily supported the country sport. Wednesday and Saturday mornings started early because Anita quickly found the need to have the mares and spring foals turned out before the hound activities commenced. “It was especially exciting to see the hounds and riders coursing through the trail at the top of the hill above the barn,” Anita exclaimed. “It was thrilling when first flight crossed the road and jumped the coop as the music of the hounds headed toward Caroland and to hear the hoof beats as Master Louise Hughston led the Hilltoppers down Phillips Road toward the S. Phillips junction.” Within a few years Dr. Davis introduced his daughter, Katie to the sport and also included Anita to cap on one of their horses. Robert Ashcom was the huntsman for Anita's capping season. She was hooked!

One vivid memory Anita recalled was on a crisp fall Tuesday evening as she watched a beautiful red fox trot into the large pasture in front of the barn. He made a few loops around the power pole in the center, headed to the cross fencing - hopped up on the middle board for a few paces, dropped down and trotted to the run-in shed on the top of the hill and slipped off into the woods. Anita watched the hounds work the exact same cold line the next morning!

Gregory 'Chip' Anderson was the huntsman when Anita was sponsored to hunt as a Professional in the early nineties. “And it was ON!” Anita exclaimed. “There were so many red fox in the country! Coyotes had not discovered our area yet. Some seasons the Reds moved on and grey fox took up residence. It was only during the driest conditions that there were 'blank days'. The Hunt had a great deal more country at that time; we would often be out three hours hunting "one more cover"! There was a FABULOUS season when Fox River Valley Hounds joined Tryon since their country was frozen and much 'social activity' took place!”

Chip asked Anita to take up 'car following' to assist with hound control many seasons later as traffic was increasing and more folks were moving to the area. She chose to be called a 'road whip' since there was so much more responsibility than just following in a car and watching. After Chip headed west to California Anita continued to road whip to assist the new huntsman, Jordan Hicks. Within a few years Jordan married and he and Jen welcomed a new member and 'Kenzie' rode along in the truck with Anita so Jen could whip in to assist Jordan and be able to ride. 

Some years later Huntsman Beth Blackwell came to our club at the perfect time. Her pack is her family and they as a whole are perfectly suited for the game and country we have. These Penn-Marydells are quite adept at finding game and so biddable that they respond quickly to the whips when they need to be checked without 'taking it personally.' It's as if they say, "Ok, we'll come along and just find another line....No problem!" They are great sports!

Anita currently continues to assist with the hunts on the road to reassure our first female Huntsman, Beth Blackwell that her hounds have plenty of eyes and ears for safety! But, rumor has it that Anita plans to get back in the tack and out there (while she still can) as there are more folks taking care of business on the road. After almost forty years, four huntsmen - lots of hunt activities, multiple board seats, hound shows, parties, and friendships with like-minded folks and wonderful SPORT Anita is still and always will love Tryon Hounds!

Mr. Don West - Professional Photographer and Road Whip

After retiring from the State of South Carolina, Don began photography as a hobby. He hired a college photography instructor to give him instruction and tips on using a digital camera. In no time he became adept and began photographing a variety of subjects. He remembered seeing the Tryon Hounds at the Block House Steeplechase and wanted to photograph the action of foxhunting since he had always been intrigued by the sport of fox hunting. Don had hunted with hounds all his life; initially with beagles as a kid and later deer hunting with hounds in eastern NC. He contacted the Tryon Hounds and asked if he could attend a hunt and take photographs. 

He was invited as a guest and rode in the car with Anita Williamson who was Road Whipping for the Tryon Hounds at the Meadows of Campbell Creek fixture in 2011. He enjoyed an exciting morning in the beautiful countryside listening to the music of the hounds. As a bonus he also met a lot of nice people, enjoyed a traditional Hunt Breakfast and took a few photographs.

He decided to join as a social member. When Joint Master Bonnie Lingerfelt saw some of Don’s stunning photographs, she asked him if he would take photographs and help her publish the Tryon Hounds calendar the Hunt used as a gift to landowners and as a fundraiser. It was lucky for the Tryon Hounds that Don agreed. He said the opportunity to photograph the action, the beauty and pageantry of the sport was a plus! The social activities and the down to earth members made him feel welcome. He has helped publish 15 calendars since. Many of his phenomenal photographs have appeared in magazines including “Chronical of the Horse” and the national foxhunting magazine “Covertside”.

During a hunt in 2013 the hounds went across the river and out of country (hunt area) so Don assisted with stopping the hounds. He was later asked to be a Road Whip along with his already established role as the official photographer. His motto is … the safety of the hounds first and photography second.

Road Whips are responsible for following the hunt by car and help the Huntsman keep the hounds safe and in the area being hunted. Don and other road whips track the hound’s GPS collars to learn the location of each hound and report to the huntsman by radio when necessary.

When Beth Blackwell was hired as the new Tryon Hounds Huntsman the Hunt’s President at the time, Becky Barns, had enticed a reporter to come write an article about the Tryon Hounds new Huntsman and she wanted Don to provide the photography. Beth had only been in town one day when Don and the reporter showed up at the kennels for the interview. As soon as Don saw Beth, he introduced himself and began photographing her and managed to get some excellent shots. Don later apologized to Beth for the ambush and assured her he wanted to work with her to insure he did not disrupt the hunts. Don also told her he had heard she did not like to be photographed and jokingly said “You have to get over that” Beth responded, “That’s what the Masters said”. To this day Don doesn’t know if Beth got over being photographed or just tolerates him.

Don is always the first one to arrive on hunt day and the last one to leave and never without all the hounds accounted for. We suspect Beth admires him for his dedication even if he stalks her like a one man paparazzi. Don has since retired as their official photographer to concentrate fully on being a Road Whip to the hounds.

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