It was a bleak, miserable afternoon, and the few minutes the riders assembled at the "start" near the Bubbling Well had to wait before getting away, were very trying ones; the paper lay direct to the Tidal Creek, aad getting over this obstacle was an easy matter to a few only; neither ponies nor riders faced it cheerfully, consequently the leading cluster consisted of a bare half dozen for a considerable time. The Sicawei Road was first crossed near the 4-mile stone, and a line taken towards Mrs, Burkill's, thence to a fine water jump with a drop on the landing side, parallel with the road; this several ponies cleared really well. The French graveyard jumps were the next in the run of any importance, and as the ponies by this time had warmed to their work, spectators, had there been any at this point, would have enjoyed the scene; a few broken-down hurdles were shortly afterwards passed over or through and the road was reached near the Hermitage. Acheck as usual occurred here but was of short duration; the scent was next found on the opposite side of the Creek near Blydenburgh's Turn, runing along the low land towards Burkill's dry cuts, thence to the Handicap Bridge aid the jumps on the high land, and crossing the small Stone Bridge towards Jessfield, down the false Jessfield line, (now the Banker's leaps), and over a 'Teuton's Grave to the finish' which was over a hurdle near the Bubbling Well Joss-house.
Mr. Ruff should have won quite easily, Dut a loos" rein won't induce a pony to jump a huvdie. Daibuts blundered, and his rider got over the impediment first Mr. Fournel on Frok arrived next, but the Trooper's reins interfered and stopped his winning. Mr. Middleton, heavy weight, on this winter's griffin tock the hurdle in good form and wou; immediately behind him came Messrs. Ramsay, Fournel, also a heavy weight, Dallas, Hart Buck and Walker, three or four others being well up, making the finish a very interesting one to the well chilled onlookers.
The Foxes were Messrs. Wintle and F. A. Smith, the former taking all the jumps and the latter looking well after the paper, which was satisfactorily laid throughout, and the thanks of the riders out are due to all who assisted in purveying for them a highly pleasant afternoon's vide. The usual native assistants were celebrating their New Year.
Veritas.
"Ist Feb.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.