Profiles

Former Wykehamist chorister Philip Slane came late to hunting and did so when already a successful opera singer. Whilst based in London he regularly hunted with the Buccleuch hounds on Saturdays following opera performances on Friday nights. On one occasion he hunted with Ronnie Wallace and the Exmoor hounds on a Saturday before singing in Verdi's Otello at Covent Garden that evening, arriving on stage fully kitted out for his role forty minutes into the first act.

The Fitzwilliam got him up to two days a week and whilst with them his partner Debbie, sick of him "spoiling her horses", gave him his ex-pointer, Shuil Daingean (Billy). Now 19 Billy has taken Philip over four Meltons and the Melton Hunt Club has enabled him to follow Joss Hanbury, Ashley Bealby and Charlie Gordon Watson. He likens them to the greatest opera singers and their countries to the greatest opera houses

He organises the annual Fitzwilliam fundraiser, Opera in the Park, at Milton and finds that the flexibility of teaching singing enables him to stay close to the horses. Pointing is his next objective plus keeping up with the front runners in hunt rides.

Whilst modestly describing himself as a "journeyman Meltonian" Philip's career on horseback shows that nothing needs to stand in the way of achieving some of the horseman's nirvanas .

Huw Evans Bevan is a relative newcomer to the Hunt Race fraternity, having hunted in Mid-Wales with the Brecon for his early hunting years, where the country is mostly hill and impenetrable sheep land. His more recent involvement with the Golden Valley Hunt has meant more jumping and generally a more competitive camp driven by the enthusiasm of Team Chase Chef d'Equipe Colin Thompson. His home- bred Bronllys Skyvor has also played a major role in making hunting and all that surrounds it so unmissable - "a true Horse of a Lifetime who has kept me safe and at the front for the past 4 seasons". The combination lack experience but have in the last couple of years managed 5th (1st Novice) at the Melton in 2006 and 7th in the 2007 Ledbury Golden Button. Being brought down at the Melton this year in such a strong position was extremely disappointing and frustrating but they still managed 10th!

When not a part of the hunting field or being thrown about by one of the young stock, Huw and his Norwegian girlfriend Elizabeth, who has now taken up team-chasing, manage a large exclusive Country House in Breconshire overlooking the Wye Valley and the Black Mountains. Clients come from all over the world to live like lords and escape the horrors of the modern world. Needless to say they should go hunting more often! If it is a venue for an anniversary or just a general get together www.countrypad.co.uk is definitely worth a look, the house and gardens are stunning!

Richard is a well-known farmer based in Cottesmore country who , 8 years ago, diversified into breaking horses and problem solving. He evented when young, then played polo and has since hunted and pointed.He is a very natural horseman and has an intuitive way of dealing with horses.

He competes on 14y.o. Mr Montana, owned by Nick Cheatle. Mr Montana started life in Ireland and won a couple of point-to-points. He then went into training in the UK but would not go beyond 2.5 miles. Nick Cheatle bought him to hunt but, due to bad health, passed him to Richard.

In 2005 Richard did the Melton on him in Cottesmore country, coming second. The same year they won the Harborough. In 2006 they were second in the Military Race in the Cottesmore country, fourth in the Harborough and seventh in the Ingarsby Challenge. In 2007 they were fifth in the Melton and did both the Ingarsby Challenge and the Ledbury Golden Button. This year he proposes to do the Melton and the Harborough

He gets a great deal of support from his wife Jo and daughters Harriet and Sophie. All are closely involved in the business. This Autumn he will be giving lessons in riding over natural country- something that hunting folk may well be advised to take up !

Zoe Gibson needs no introduction. From school she trained in the world of eventing with Major Derek Allhusen then spent 8 years riding and hunting Joss Hanbury's young horses.

She describes herself as "The Queen of Placings". In 2006 she won the Harborough (see the photo above) and came 2nd in the Melton. In 2007 she was again 2nd in the Melton, 2nd in the Ingarsby Challenge and 3rd in the Ledbury Golden Button Challenge. (The Harborough was cancelled last year).

She welcomes risk. She does not like to see courses "dumbed down". She claims that her 15.3hh Irish chestnut gelding, Piper, "does it all himself and has tremendrous self-preservation". However, even Piper needs pointing in the right direction and Zoe is a good tactical rider.

She has a 5 year old thoroughbred bought last year who she will bring on to do hunt races if he is suited to them. Real team work with horses is her objective and this is underpinned by a deep interest in horse psychology.

A day a week with the Quorn, and sometimes with the Cottesmore, plus occasional team-chasing, keep Zoe and her horses fit. Husband Rupert approves of it all as do their two children.

Most of us have heard of oil barons like J.R.Ewing in "Dallas". Well, Zoe is a belt baroness and her gusher is a beautifully designed range of belts and buckles. Log on to www.peachybelts.co.uk

Wear them and you might ride as well as she does.

Major General Arthur Denaro, CBE, has, in the words of David Edelsten (Horse and Hound 21 Dec 2006) " perhaps done as much as any man alive to keep soldiers riding in these demanding, warlike times"

As an officer of the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars he played a great deal of polo and, as Commandant of the RMA Sandhurst, he vigorously promoted the sport.

As Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry he has taken part in the regimental ride at Badminton at least seven times, including this year's race.

He regularly takes part in the Meynell and South Staffs Hunt Ride and presented the Military Plate which is awarded to the first serving or former serviceman to complete the Open Race. Interestingly, this plate, a solid silver armada dish 12" in diameter, was presented to General Denaro by the State of Quatar in recognition of his role in the first Gulf War.

The photo shows him on a new horse in the 2006 Meynell Hunt Ride

We start our series of profiles with an interview with Yvonne Goss published in Horse & Hound earlier this year.Yvonne was talking to Charlotte Mackaness.

View the Yvonne Goss article. (PDF 310KB)

Reproduced courtesy of Horse & Hound from 11 January 2007