Mrs. James Sumrell (Ivey)
Ivey was attending Presbyterian College in 1972 when she discovered one of the school’s staff, Judy Burns, had been fox hunting with the Tryon Hounds. Young Ivey had an appendix Quarter Horse who was a mighty 14.3 hands named Exodus. She begged Judy to take her hunting. Judy wasn’t sure Exodus could keep up the many Thoroughbreds but both little Ivey and her mighty little horse spend two seasons riding First Flight behind Field Master Louise Houston. She even received her “colors” at the tender age of 21.
“Back then we rode full out,” Ivey said. There was a lot more open land in the 70’s. They could hunt at FENCE or through the 5000 acres at Fairview Farms before it was developed. Ivey recalled the Huntsman was a Scandinavian fellow named Helga. She recalled a coop in the woods at the Penial Trails that had a barbed wire fence on either side of and when you cleared the jump you would land downhill like they do in eventing. She found it thrilling! One of her fondest memories of Tryon Hounds was galloping with Louise down Little Mountain Road while it was snowing. Snow is a rare occurrence for Tryon which is located in the thermal belt.
Louise had a son named George who was about the same age as Ivey. They became buddies and the two proved to be pretty wild together. The hounds were on game but Ivey really had to go to the bathroom. George told her to go into the woods and he would watch which way the hounds were going so they could catch up with them. When Ivey finally leapt back on Exodus they charged up the hill and ran straight into the Hill Toppers (they field for riders who only walk and trot). Gerald Pack, who was leading that field ranted at Ivey and George for colliding with these novice hunters. Gerald eventually left the Tryon Hounds and those two young hooligans and started the Green Creek Hounds.
There was another girl about Ivey’s age, Linda Clarke who would come to hunt with her parents and brother all of whom hailed from New York. Years later while Ivey was in New York for business she contacted Linda. If you haven’t met the outgoing Ivey she keeps up with friends all over the place. She met up with her old pal Linda and they had a grand time galloping on horseback through Central Park.
After college Ivey joined the Camden Hunt which was near where she was living. She hunted with them for 22 years, at the time the Camden Hunt and the Tryon Hounds would alternate hosting a Joint Hunt Week every year. The first time Ivey went to the Joint Hunt, Louise Houghston wagged her finger at her and said, “You better remember we’re your Mother Hunt’.”
Ivey recalled another time when Tryon was hosting the Hunt Ball at Sunnydale. A group from Camden booked rooms at the Pine Crest Inn. David Carmichael was the welcoming committee for Tryon. “David was so kind, “Ivey said. “He befriended everyone and he knew how to party.” Later as she was unpacking her gown to get dressed for the ball she told her husband, Jim, that she forgot her shoes. They called David and asked where the nearest shoe store was. He said either Asheville or Charlotte which were too far to drive and make it to dinner. Ivey looked down at the worn pair Birkenstock sandals she had on. She told Jim that nobody would notice as her dress was floor length. She walked in with confidence just in time for the elegant dinner which included a duck entrée. Tryon’s Huntsman, Chip Anderson came over and grabbed Ivey to dance before she had a chance to wash her hands of duck grease. Chip swung her around the dance floor and Ivey said she “flew into the air, ass over tea kettle” and her Birkenstocks went flying. She and Chip looked all over but only found one shoe.
Later that night they had an after party at one of the cottages at historic Pine Crest Inn which backed up to a residential neighborhood. “At about 1 0’clock, the deck railing was lined with empty drink glasses and here comes Chip Anderson,” she said. “He whipped out his hunt horn and starts blowing it into the night.” At that point, somebody turned up the music and they all started shagging on the shag carpet inside where she lost her one remaining Birkenstock. Rumor has it that it landed in heavily spiked punch bowl after several people commented on its earthy taste.
Ivey and Jim later moved to Tryon and joined the Tryon Hounds. In addition to hunting she served on many committees, arranged the Hunt Breakfast schedules, was always ready with her camera to capture the fun and became a de facto welcome wagon for newcomers and guests. Ivey would love to welcome all of your to join in on our Centennial celebrations!
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!
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!”