A Run with the Feiiding Hounds

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 13, 17 July 1890, Page 3

A Run with the Feiiding Hounds

: . ♦ The weather for the above meet was all that could be desired. The meet from £ rst to last was most successful, and was -witnessed by some 400 spectators. Sportsmen gathered at the residence of . Mr H. D. Crawford shortly after 2 o'clock, -where luncheon was provided with a thorough huntsman's hospitality. The meet proper took place about 3 o'clock, when the hounds were thrown off by Mr ■"Dick" Eoake, the huntsman, with Mr Clissold as first whip. A field of some 30 Norsemen and a few ladies followed. The drag started in the grass paddock at the right of the station buildings, and in a. few moments were quick on the scent. A rapid run ensued, the whole field following, but at the extremity of the paddock a stiff fence and ditch tried the mettle of the horses, and the field became j scattered, some dozen or so riders merging out ahead. The scent lay close up ■ to the fringe of the beach. At the feuce Miss C. Webb's horse came to grief, falling with her rider, who fortunately sustained no hurt. At the second jump Mr J. Mills came a cropper, closely followed by Mr Lingard, whose horse stopped short, pitching his rider clean over the ditch, but the latter remounted. A rattling run ensued, Messrs Cooper, Bidwell, lingard and Fearce leading the van. The course lay well up to the foothills on the eastern side of the fiat and crosscountry toward the road. Here the hounds lost scent for some few minutes, but were quickly brought to boot by the huntsman and laid on the run. A sharp race up the flat ensued, and as the field thinned out the excitement among the spectators became intense. The run home was brisk, and afforded some capital jumps, the last one being a stiff post and rail, which the leading horses took «asily. At this point Miss Webb, of the Lower Hutt, who had been riding gamely all through on the clipped brown cobb mare Vixen, put the animal at the obstacle with a refusal, but in the second try the mare rose at the timber with a grand leap, which elicited loud cheers trom the visitors. Following closely at the heels of Miss Webb's mare came Mr J. Mills, who for the second time touched earth. The run was a £&st one throughout, and with a course of nearly six miles some of the riders were as much blown as their horses. There were several spills, but luckily none of them were of a serious character. In the evening a meeting of sporting enthusiasts was held at the Occidental Hotel to discuss the possibility of obtaining greater hunting facilities for this district. The matter was fully discussed, and the following committee was appointed to make future arrangements : — Dr Cahill, Dr Newman, Messrs C. Phillips, Wardell, Crawford. Bidwell, Mcßae, Cooper, Lingard, Buiek, Eiddiford and J. S. M. Thompson, It was decided to obtain the Feilding hounds again at an early date for another run, and to visit shortly the Wairarapa district for a meet. In case the public support the movemeni arrangements will be made to get a paci of hounds for the district, but failing this efforts will be made to amalgamate witb the Feilding Club for an interchange o: sport.— N.Z. Times.