Thus it will be seen that there were twenty-six starters, two more than last year, and as the different squads went away they presented a pretty sight. There were no difficult jumps within view of the start, but it was known that the course, after going about half a mile in the direction of the Hermitage, turned suddenly to the right over the difficult jump known as "The Chasm," within a few yards of the Siccawei Road, and to this point the spectators hurried after secing the ponies all well off. Mr. Johnston, on Gekko, one of the two riders who were allowed three minutes' start, was the first to come in sight, being fully a hundred yards in advance. His pony refused to jump the Chasm, but, after a little urging, walked through it, and then galloped on, apparently going within himself, The majority of the other ponies followed Gekko's bad example at this jump, and we only noticed two who cleared it at the first attempt in anything like style, namely Blarney and Black: Cloud, whose performances elicited cheers from the spectators. From the Siccawei Road the course turned to the right up the Fahwah line, leaving the village to the left, and joined the usual Handicap course at the top of the Fahwah line, and finished down the well-known line of jumps behind the Bubbling Well, which, it will be remembered, was the finish' in one, if not two, hunts during the season. The difficult jump over the tidal Creek, near the Joss-house, brought a few of the riders to earth, and it being high tide and the majority of the ponies refusing to jump, the Creek had to be forded, The finish could hardly be termed an exciting one. Mr. Johnston maintained a strong lead throughout, and came up to the final jump at a moderato speed, only two of the other riders, Messrs. Carlill and Ubert then being distinguishable, hile the remainder were straggling in a zig" zag line as far as the eye could reach, Gekko was evidently baked and refused his last jump, and refused again and again to take it. But with judicious urging and coaxing he eventually walked into it scrambled up the opposite bank, and trotted easy winner. Mr. Carlill, on a griffin, was the next up to the last obstacle, and he also walked through it, a proceeding which nearly deprived him of second Bounded over the jump in capital style Ince, as Mr. Ibert, on White Velvet,
and finished searcely a neck behind Mr. Carlill. Mx. Noel, on Chillie, and Mr.
Walker, on Arad, came' in fourth and fifth respectively, while the remainder finished at brief intervals. The riders all being well up to their work and acquainted' with the jumps, there was not that amount of fun for the spectators which characterises hunts in general, when the tumbles and Iuducrous capers of the uninitiated are always thoroughly enjoyed. The distance traversed was betwveon six and seven miles, and it was done in about thirty minutes, which shows that the pace must hare been fast notwithstanding the heavy nature of the ground.
Gekko's win may be described as a hard-earned victory. He has raced regularly in the hunts for the last five years, and was once successful in carrying off the first prize. But his recent performances appear not to have enhanced his reputation, for we notice that in the Handicap last year he started from the scratch, whereas on the present occasion he had the full allowance given of three minutes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.