Greenville County Hounds
P.O. Box 575,
Columbus, South Carolina 28722.
Established 1963.
Recognized 1974.

On Nov. 28, Gerald Pack, the Greenville County Hounds MFH and huntsman, turned the horn over to Jordan Hicks, who was home from St. Andrew’s College (N.C.). What transpired was one of the best hunts of the season.

Visitors DeDe Masingale of Tennessee Valley Hunt and Mac Braly from Harvard Hunt (Okla.) also enjoyed the day.

MFH Betsy Pack took on the fieldmaster duties and Kelly Murphy, Bill Payne, Michael Purdy, and visiting Green Creek Hounds MFH Tom Jackson served as whippers-in.

Hicks first cast hounds on Waldrop Lane, and they opened on a coyote. They gave chase for a 30-minute run along a system of high power lines. This was an uphill-downhill run that tested both horse and rider. The whips had to pick up the hounds before the coyote crossed Highway 11, a dangerous place for the pack.

After a stop to collect hounds and a short hack, Hicks cast the hounds again behind the Red Horse Inn. After a check and another short run, hounds jumped a gray fox and were off on a 45-minute line. Due to recent rains, the trails were very wet and sloppy, which made the going tough for the field.

The fox ran through the woods and into a broad pasture on Noreen Cochran’s farm. After Masingale’s “tally-ho,” the entire field was treated to a view of Sir Charles as he crossed the entire length of the pasture.

After the fox crossed Campbell Road, he proceeded to run a large loop through a pine forest, down a long gravel road, and then back across Campbell. Coming off the road, he en-tered the forest on a jogging trail and headed for the swamp, where he went to ground.

In true huntsman style, Hicks dismounted and followed the hounds to the den. With the field circling, he blew “gone to ground” and cheered the hounds.

Coming out of the swamp covered in mud, Hicks addressed the field with, “Now, folks, that’s hunting with a great pack.”