18
August 2012
Middleburg Life
the
Trophies of the
Warrenton Horse Show Helen Calvert Wiley in the silver punch bowl as a grown woman
The John Barton Payne Trophy
Many
good Southerners have several treasured pieces of old family silver: sporting trophies from regattas at the yacht club, the racquet club mixed doubles championship or the member guest golf title from the country club. Formed into the shape of a tiny urn, loving cup, or even a butter plate, these classic trophies adorn many mantles. Each Labor Day weekend since 1899, the Warrenton Horse Show takes place and this year will be held August 29-September 2. The show sits on an eight-acre corner of land carved from the circa 1843 Monterosa-Neptune Lodge, the estate of state senator and delegate, Confederate major general , as well as two-term governor William “Extra Billy” Smith (1797-1887). This remains as the site of one of the oldest hunter shows in the United States and the oldest social corporation still in existence in Virginia. The collection of the Warrenton Horse Show trophies is among the most spectacular in the sport. The circa 1936 John Barton Payne Memorial Trophy is a 24-inch diameter sterling silver punch bowl and weighs 40 pounds with a 30-pound under tray of 40 inches. (The set also includes a heavy sterling silver
Inset: Helen Calvert in the silver punch bowl as a little girl
ladle, not shown). Payne (1855-1935), a prosperous lawyer and judge, served as Secretary of the Interior under Woodrow Wilson and was chairman of the Red Cross under five presidents. Several generations of the Calvert family have served on the horse show board and have been photographed sitting inside this astonishing punch bowl trophy. This includes the show’s current president, Helen Calvert Wiley, who was first photographed in the bowl around the tender age of five and then five decades later as a grown woman. Some of the other hand-engraved trophies include: Alex Calvert trophy—Large oval (30 x 18) two-handled sterling silver tray, with pie crust edge with engraved illustration c.1952; Marshall Hawkins trophy—17 1/2 x 9 1/4 sterling silver tray circa 1931 from the estate of Liz Whitney Tippett; intricate sterling silver tray made by Tiffany with snaffle bits and stirrups circa 1923; Peyton Brittle trophy—18inch tall tapered square vase circa 1931; and the Castalia trophy—12-inch round Sterling silver circa 1932. Highlights of the show will include the $5,000 Warrenton Toyota and Miller Toyota Hunter Classic
at 7 p.m. Saturday, September 1. The very popular Hunt Night competition begins at 11 a.m. Sunday, September 2, and will go well past dark. This includes fox hunters, pairs, ladies side saddle, horn blowing and hunt teams. “We have been preparing the grounds and the ring for many weeks,” Wiley notes. “It really is a fabulous weekend of horse showing.” Concession stands include a beer tent, food stand and clothing, gift and tack shops. “And the William G. Miller tailgate competition will begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday evening as part of Hunt Night,” Wiley reminds. There is no entry fee for the event sponsored by Farm Credit Country Mortgages. Other show sponsors this year are Plastic Surgery Associates, PC, Dr. Csaba Magassy and the Middleburg Bank, which will operate the concierge booth. The gates are open from 8 a.m. to closing each day and admission is $5 per person, with children under 12 free. Proceeds will benefit Bright Stars, Fauquier County Fire and Emergency Services, Warrenton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc., Fauquier SPCA, Partnership for Warrenton, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Virginia Horsemen’s Foundation.