Established 1999. Registered 2000.
Recognized 2003
The Fox at Reedy Creek Farm
(Photo taken by Jody Ciliberto)
Master & Huntsman
Thomas McElduff, MFH
15911 Continental Road
McKenney, VA 23872
804-586-3896
Whippers-in (Hon.)
Jennifer Buckley Gretel Mangigian
Rachel Cain Theresa Miller
Susan Holloway Michelle Olgers
Susan Kerner Margaret T. Walsh
Foxhounds
Penn-Marydel
Hunt Attire: Scarlet, Hunter green collar with grey piping. Evening - Hunter green collar, grey lapels
Season: September through March
Meet: Wednesdays and Saturdays or Sundays. Visitors are permited to hunt - for details contact the Master
Fixture Card
Gallery of Photos by Jody Ciliberto
History of Reedy Creek Hounds
The Reedy Creek Hounds was organized in fall of 1999 by James J. Culleton MFH of the Abington Hills Hunt in North Eastern Pa. Jim Culleton moved to McKenney, Virginia in the summer of 1999 when he decided the winters in Pennsylvania were just too cold. He was born in Brooklyn New York and lived there most of his life. He owned and operated a riding school and hack stable at Prospect Park. Jim was able to hunt with many of the hunts surrounding the NY area.
Jim worked as a school administrator for the New York City Board of Education for some 20years. When he retired from the school system in 1986, he sold his business in Brooklyn and moved to Dalton Pennsylvania where he re-activated the Abington Hills Hunt. The hunt had been inactive since 1942. He hunted there until 1999 when he moved to Virginia and organized the Reedy Creek Hounds.
He drafted his foundation hounds from the Andrews Bridge Foxhounds in Pa. Mr. Robert Crompton MFH of the Andrews Bridge was kind enough to give Jim a group of wonderful black and tan PennMary Dels which he still hunts today. The pack has turned out to be a wonderful pack with many Champion and Reserve Champions at the hound shows in Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Maryland. The pack not only excels in the show ring but equally as well in the hunt field. They are a pack with good noses and strong PMD voice. Tom McElduff who was the huntsman for Abington Hills Hunt in Pa. came with Jim to Virginia, and continues to do a fabulous job with the pack. He is working hard to make this one of the top packs of hunting hounds in Va.
The hunt boasts beautiful hunt country in Southside VA. Just below Richmond. The country consists of expansive open farmland, as well as wooded areas with rides through them. The terrain is relatively flat with paneled wire fences. In other areas there are many log jumps and post and rail fences.
The hunt has created strong ties to the community. The hunt runs such activities as hunter paces, horse trials and horse shows which enables many of the horse owners in the area to get involved. It also runs clinics on cross country riding and fox hunting which are open to the community. We sponsor hunts for Pony Club members and 4-H groups. We work diligently at getting the youth of the area involved in our sport, to help ensure its longevity.
During the off season, we run many trail rides for riders and land owners in the area so that they can enjoy the beautiful country that the Hunt rides over. Since the hunt started many of the members have bought farms and open land in the area surrounding the hunt in order to keep the land open to not only fox hunting but any other outdoor activities. We spend a great deal of time working with other sporting groups in our area as well so that we can all work together to keep our open spaces for sportsmen of all kinds. In 2005, a clubhouse was erected on the kennel property to be shared by RCH and the local Rod and Gun Club.
One of the activities that the community loves is the annual hunt ball held at the end of the hunt season. It draws people from all parts of the area to get together and have a wonderful social evening.
James Culleton, MFH
July 5, 1943 - April 8, 2011
