+L, Midwood St. Dunstan. 3G. Melchers spotted pony.
F. Souter 1 Guarantee, 3 @ Sugden Hector Sampson Brutton the cheery word of the Master, "Heavy weights, get ready," quite a respectable number of 12-stoners put in their ance, evidently proving that they ce ed 4 minutes a very fair start, and on the word being given all took the first jump in a style peculiar to each rider, with the exception of one gentleman whose promising griffin apparently lacked the ardour of his rider, but I ain happy to say that eventually "mind prevailed over matter" and horse and man reached the other side of the brooklet in safety before the middle weights" were despatched. Much to the surprise of the onlookers the light weights distinguished themselves in the reverse way to what was expected over the first obstacle.
All now having been fairly started, I took up observations s0 to speak from my balloon, and very soon divided my field into four distinct fights, and others, too many alas, to enumerate; I will for brevity's sake name them the Kingoraft contingent. Careless Guarantee 5 Blue Dun Before starting on an account of the run, I should like to mention that it was regrettable to notice that so few riders had really mapped out a course of their own; this was especially noticeable in the light weights, who stuck with a peculiar persistency to the Intter two dil more particularly the Blun Dun contingent.
At the uw Bridge the heavy weights arrived more or less in a bunch headed Oliver. Cromwell, having all taken the Island Wade track with the exception vf Careless who followed the Island Gallop, in fact the last named was the only pony whose rider chose to pursue this certainly longer route. Keeping my eagle eye on the "Heavies" all managed to reach the "'Stone-stepped bridge" by the Red Joss House at the commencement ut the Handicap Village (Seekingmow), by crossing the Jessfield Ruad actually at the path leading from the Cow Bridge, whilst the Careless contingent crossed at the further end of the ' Loop." However, both managed to arrive at Seekingmow within a few seconds of one anoth to the light weights it was at once easily discernible that Guarantee and the Blue Dun were the only ones who apparently had any ides of where they were going to, and after passing the Cow Bridge proceeded down to Robison's Turn, and thence up Scurry Flat to Soekingmow Village vid Ceylon Pool and across the Bridge at the top of the two Jessfield lines. going down the Jessfield Road to Robi son's Turn cries of "No road allowed were heard, and one well-known sport, who really ought to have been better acquainted with the country, crossed straight from the Cow Iiridge and afterwards rejoined the ruck at the top of Scurry Flat, by taking a bridge in the village. All now proceeded -las merry as a wedding bell to Seeking. mow. It was from this point to the Old Woman's Bridge that the real trouble commenced.
Back again to the heavy weights, please. After crossing the stone-stepped bridge, the Careless contingent proceeded straight along the Fahwa creek until they struck the Fahwa path and then warming up their pace, they made a bee line to the Old Woman's Bridge and were the first of the hunt to arrive, headed by Mr. Williamson, Astonishment, however, was certainly expressed at the sudden appearance of Mr. Read on Kingeraft, who was the second to cross. At this moment Oliver Cromwell was sighted far beyond the point and he eventually crossed a bridge considerably higher up; and on passing the in. the rider contented himself with wai Ola Woman's Bridge in the near distance crop, reporting all well.
Phe Kingeraft his
-Jeontingent having reached the furthermost point vid the Corner bridge and Highland Grips, then proceeded straight away by Plum Tree Jump to Blydenburgh's Turn, only to find that the Careless party had preceded them by two minutes, the latter having retraced their steps over the Old Woman's Bridge and then making straight line for the Fahwa Wade, which was taken close by the Tunsin Trees, crossed the stone Bridge at the top of the Fahwa Line, and cantered down to Blydensburgh's Turn by the Little Fahwa Line.
I now return to the Light Weights and find that at Seekingmow the Guarantee and Blue Dun contingent had separated, the former at a hand gallop going straight through the village and crossing by the old Handicap Bridge, leaving the Tatter to cross the stone-stepped bridge; after which there is no doubt the whole lot of the Blue Duns lost their way, and I don't fancy had idea where they intended going until they were directo by the Careless contingent on their return journey, who passed within hailing distance at the top of the Fahwa village. Guarantee, Smugyler, Nonpareil, etc., reached the Old Woman's Bridge vid' the Highland Grips arriving before the wandering tribe of Blue Duns. Now the real fun com: menced. I have heard talk of villages, and heard many. riders' experiences, how they extricated themselves and their ponies from the infuriated villagers, but never in all my life did I see such a ludicrous sight as the Blue Duns trying to go round a cotton warp. This fairly broke them up, and I should say from this point tu Blydenburgh's turn, they traversed the longest way possible. The order of arrival at Blydenburgh's Turn was; Messrs. Pearce, Whitfield, Read, Ward Hall, John Liddell, and Harry Maitland; in fact, with the exception of Mr. Read, all 4 minute men, From this point to the Big Grave all was fair sailing; Kingcraft here coming on equal terms with the Careless contingent who now riding together made for Black Auster's Jump, where they were met by Oliver Cromwell who by avoiding this last jump cleverly gained fully 200 yards, The Tush home for first place now commenced in earnest down the footpath, Oliver Crom well taking the correct route by turning to the left after the second stone bridge was passed, Kingcraft and Mr. Whitfield's griffin not turning till the third bridge, while Careless again pursued the longer route by riding round Mr. Sassoon's stables, the order of finishing being Mr- J. Liddell (Oliver Cromucell), Mr.
Read (Kingeraft) Mr. Whitfield (griffin), Mr. E. ©. Pearce (Careless), Dr. Ward Hall (Piqua), Mr. F, Dallas (griffin) and Mr. H. Maitland (Kettledrum). Mr. Malherbe was seventh, with Mr. Souter at the head of the Guarantee division coming in eighth, The Blue Dun contingent arrived considerably later.
On the return of the stewards from the different points, it was found Oliver Cromwell had not crossed the Old Woman's Bridge, which of necessity disqualified the rider from taking first prize, " circumstance which was distinctly hard luck on the rider, but at the same time the Master had no other course open to him than to award the first three prizes to Messrs. Read, Whitueld and Pearce; Mr. John Liddell, however, can rest perfectly assured that hi mount certainly proved itself to be the best pony of the meeting, the time taken by him over the course being a little over 38 minutes.
As far as the run was concerned there is no possible doubt but that jumping was studiously avoided, no one knowing the country well enough to venture on the N.W. passage, which is certainly the most direct way from the Handicap Bridge to the Old Woman's Bridge.
Altogether the run was a great success, and several riders now know more about the country that they would have learned in six paper hunts.
Gonz Away!1"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.