SPORTING.
POINT TO POINT STEEPLECHASE. R
The first point to point steeplechase, under the auspices of the Aahburton County Hunt Oldb, was held yesterday. The course was abont foar miles, and the horaes had. to be bona Jide hunters, the property of a member of a recogaiaed Hunt Club: No weight under 12 stone was allowed, and a sweepstake of 1 soy ; with 75 per cent for tbe first horse, and 25 per cent tbe aeoond horse constituted the stakes. The entries closed on Tuesday night with eleven nominations, and at 1 30 yesterday all these weighed out at the Commercial Hotel. After weighing out the sportsmen left for the soene of the race In the Wakanui district. A course of fu'ly four miles had baen arranged for by the management, and withMrDenabiceas starter, the contestants took their way to the farm of Mr P. Hyland, below Elgin, where they were all despatched on fairly even terms. A Urge number of people remained at the finishing point, on the main. road near the Convent, where Mr UptoD, as judge, also remained, while those who were well mounted made for the points of vantage to see the raoe. A number 'also went to see the field start. Perhaps there were a couple of hundred people taking an Interest In the proceedings from different points. Upon getting away tbe first obstruction was a huge gorse fence, vrhloh Mr H. G. Moore on Fox was the first to plunge through. Several baulked, but ultimately all got over. Then came • very stift double whioh Mr W. P. Olaridge on Pitch ford was the first to get over, all the other horses baulking. Pitobford kept his advantage with Mr F. Olaridge on Romeo, who was next over, m close proximity. Mr H, G. Pitt on Squib, Mr F. Kearney on Larry, Mr Worner on Morok, Mr Lewis on Nero* Mr J. Oorbett on Captain, Mr H. Williams on Lord Burlelgh, Mr A. Butterlck on Voltlgeur, Mr Oorrigan on Jonathan Roberts, and Mr H. G, Moore on Fox, were soon over, but tbe latter became unmanageable, and took a line of his own on neariog the Elgin bridge, whioh put the rider out of the contest entirely. Pitohford, now care* fully piloted, waa leading by chains, and Romeo, who with Nero, divided the honors as to being favorite, kept a good position. The horses were now straggled over a great extent of country. Half-a--mile of plough aoon brought the training of the horses into requisition, and when a dangerous looking bare wire fenoe loomed aoross the end of it, hopes were not bo high as to Its being safely negotiated* Those who had the organ of locality very folly developed, saw where to make for without increasing the distance from the post. However, a word of encouragement and a pressure of the spur, or a touoh of the whip, lauded all safely over. What followed Is now a matter of oonjeoture. Those who were present to see tbe Btart of tho race raced their horses along the highway, and there waa great excitement among the spectators to be present at the finish. The jampiog of the steeplechasers was. really superb. Nothing could have been better or more satisfactory to a sportsman that to see Pitohford, Sqaib, Larry, Romeo, Morok, Lord Burleigb, and Nero taking their fences. Romeo on one occasion misjudged his distance when taking a heavy fence, and losing his stride, parted with Mb rider. Tit parting, however, was only temporary, for Olaridge was soon up and away. Burleigh was being ridden well, and Worner on Morok showed judgment and horsemanship. Passing out of Mr HylancTa property, Messrs Dryer's, Butterlok's, Jury's, and fl. Kennedy'a paddooks were crossed, while some of the horsemen got Into Mr Bonlfant'a property. Two wheat fields In Mr OavlU'a and Mr Oochrane's farms were crossed, and though the going was heavy, the horses showed no want of staying power. AcroasMra Brankln'a land were found more stiff fences, and also on Messrß Maws on Bros property, the going was a thorough test of the capabilities of the hunters. There was a lot of ploughed land to oroßa and ths boundary hedges were very heavy! As the horaea came to a heavy double, across a road, below the Convent, at right angles to the Wakanui road, Pitohford was leading and came over on to the road first; Morok, Larry, Voltlgeur, Squib, and the others were not long m getting aoross. The short ran and the heavy range of gorse on the other side rather quailed the horses and Pitohford who was put at lfc near the main road junotion swerved off and thia allowed the others time to olose up. At the aeoond attempt he «ras successful and reassumed h's lead, as all the others refused more than once. Sqaib, Burlelgh, Morok, Larry and Romeo were eventually got over and It looked a moral that the raoe would bePitohford's. Pace was however telling on him and Romeo soon closed up with Morok and Burlelgh as cloae attendants. As the winning post drew near the field began to close In and as Pitohford was being fast overhauled it looked like as If an exoltfng finish would be the result. The exoltement of the spectators was Intense. Romeo, Morok and Squib were fast going up. Everything depended on whether Pitohford could negotiate a huge gosae fence aoross his path. Over that victory was his. Every nerve was strained and Squib and Morok taking out from the main road circled so aa to get a fair jump out of the paddook they were In rather than face tbe terrible fence ahead m which no shadow of an opening appoared, and Pitohford, who was hugging the fenoe running parallel with the main road, seeing their move jumped at an obtuse angle on to the road hoping to gain an advantage. The movement was a fatal one to hla aucceas. The horse landed heavily on the gravel and the rider was thrown and pretty badly shaken. Meanwhile Squib and Morok and thel olose attendants safely negotiated the fenoe. Frcm the road a return had to be made to Mr Hunt's land once more. A sharp gallop along a grass field and then^on to the road again would end the raoe. Borneo was now the likely winner, but Morok temporarily displaced him and taking the lead made a bold bid for viotory. Worner, however, had the misfortune to have his horse baulk as he was taking his stride to jump through Squib catting m, and before he could wheel, Squib was over. Romeo following closely raced after Squib who had, however, gained too great an advantage and won tbe finest cross country race ever witnessed m New Zealand by a couple of lengths, Romeo second and Morok third; Larry, Captain and Nero were m a ruck behind. After congratulations had passed to the winner a turn was taken to see how Pitohford fared and It was found that he was rather badly out about the fore logs while Mr Olaridge waa ao severely shaken that he preferred being taken home In a trap to remounting. He certainly rode a sterling race and the error In taking suoh a side jump was only one of judgment. Romeo's rider lifted his horse splendidly to the jumps and the same might be said of Mqrok's. Burlelgh was ridden (n a true sportsmanlike style. In faot the riding all round was a thing to be admired. Fox who had taken hia rider through some foreign country In an altogether different direction to that intended came In before tbe spectators had dispersed. The afternoon was all that could be desired for the race, and altogether the Brat point to point ateepleohase m AaU burton tvaa one the merits of which oannot 38 too highly commended. The farmers who allowed the use of tbe {round for the raoe are deserving of the lordlal thanks, of the Olub and thapabllo t
and parodlsing some well-known lines wg , might say Long may these courteous farmers lire And oft our sports ouch gallops give, Should each a race again be run, May we be there to see the fun. Following is the result : Mr H. G.Pitt's Squib ... (Owner) 1 Mr F, Clarldge's Romeo ... (Owner) 2 Mr H. G. Moore's Morok... (Worner) 3 Mr W. p. Olatidge'aPitohford (Owner) 0 Mr W. Mitchell's Nero ... (J. Lewis) 0 Mr A. Butterick's Voltfgeur (Owner) 0 Mr H. Russell's Lord Burlelgh (H. Williams) C Mr T. Kearney's Larry ... (Owner) 0 Mr H. G. Moore'a Fox ... (Owner) 0 Me J. Oorbett's Captain ... (Owner) 0 Mr 3. R. Oocrlgan's Jonathan Roberta (Owner) 0
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1937, 6 September 1888, Page 2
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1,448SPORTING. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1937, 6 September 1888, Page 2
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