HUNT CLUB.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 394, 19 April 1902, Page 3

HUNT CLUB.

A RECORD OPENING.

[By Nimrod.J

There were upwards of 200 persons present at the opening meet of the Povorty Bay Hunt Club, held at Wairakaia yesterday, and a most enjoyablo tirno was spent. Everything was in keepingfor a successful outing, the weather was fine, the going good, and all the best sportsmen of I overty Bay were in the field. Under these circumstances id is small wonder that the gathering proved a record one for the dis. trict. The annual meet at Wairakaia is always looiied forward to with pleasure by members of the Hunt Club. During the lifetime of Mr Woodbine Johnson that gentleman took a keen and lively interest in matters pertaining to the hunt, and his homestead at Wairakaia was always thrown open 'to members whenever they chose to visit it. Old sports in Poverty Bay have many pleasant recollections of meetings held in the locality mentioned, and the sight of the old homestead yesterday, with its charming surroundings, must have awakened memories of former times. The present host of Wairakaia, Mr Cyril White, is also a true sportsman and a keen follower of the hounds, and to his efforts aro in a great measure due the

great success of tho opening meet of the season. Both Mr and Mrs White did all in their power fo welcomo the visitors to the old homestead, and tho maimer in which they entertained the large gathering yesterday was truly characteristic of Wairakaia. The latter place is an ideal spot for hunting, the jumps being mostly hedges and ditches, with a stiff obstacle here and there to try the jumping capabilities of tho huntei-B. The hounds threw off on the road near the school, and ran in the direction of the homestead, tho second check finishing near the house. A number of spills occurred during the run, but no one was seriously injured. Mr J. A. Harding was in chargo, mounted on Roadster, a new hunter, upon which the popular host of tho Masonic did not care to take too many liberties, and it was observed by tho cognoscenti that some of the obstacles were approached with more than tho ordinary amount of caution. The huntsman, Mr Mulone, had the hounds in rare fettle, and the pace

from the jump oil was made a cracker. In the first check, Mr Malone rode the well-known Ikatere, but the old grey did not take too kindly to the work. lie showed plenty of pace on the flat, but there was a tendency to blunder at the jumps. In the second run Mr Malono wus up on Koteta, who showed good form all the way. Miss Johnson was riding her well-known hunter Angus, but had the misfortune to come to grief early in the first check. Nothing daunted, she remounted, and it was not until she came off a second time that she gave up the chase. Mrs Dunlop was well mounted on Sailor, and put many of the sterner sex to shame by the way she showed the way over the jumps. Upon sevoral occasions she was loudly cheered by the spectators for the plucky manner in which she put her horse to tno fences. Mr J. M. (iouldsmith was on Fencer, but the latter did not prove as good as his name, and on one occasion was absent miuded enough to land his rider in a ditch full of water. Mr Gouldsmith was not the only one to get a spill, and his performance was soon put into the shade by Mr Zachariah, who was riding a classical animal named Weta. The latter baulked at everything, and at one obstacle came down five times in succession, but at the sixth attempt the young Gisborne sportsman got his mount over. Mr C. Dunlop was on Mr Oliver Evans on Major, and Mr Cyril White on Czar. Mr Baker rode Convict, and received one very nasty fall, but the popular footballer sustained no injury, aud came up again smiling in a very short time. Mr L. C. Gouldsmith was on Ping Pong, who made good progress all the way, and was well up at the finish. Mr Jack Cumming, the Club’s secretary, was prominent, and in great form. Hn was well mounted on a new hunternamed Gamester, which ran true throughout, and gave his rider little trouble at the fences. Another well-known sport was Mr G. Oman, who, mounted on Stockwhip, held a leading position throughout. Mr F. Rhodes held his own on the Gryphon, as also did Mr D. J. Barry on Roseland. Mr O’Riley rode Pat, who showed a fair turn of speed, and also jumped well. Mr W. F. Sinclair was well mounted on Chummy, as also was Mr O’Ryan on a Bulldog colt. Amongst the ladies who took part in the hunt I omitted to. mention Miss Hodge, who rode a very fine chestnut. There was a very large gathering of spectators, including Mrs and Miss Hall, Mesdames Hardy, Hodge, Lucas, and Sawyer, Misses liaraitiana, Flossell, Bradley (4), Malone, and Lucas, Messrs T. Holden (President), D. Barry, Hodge (2), Ready, Branuigan, 8011, Lucas, Edwards, Shea, Fairlie, Currie, Hogau, Trotter, Mclntyre, Quinn, Maher, Dasent, Webb, Freeman (Napier), andH. Evans. The gathering, as previously stated, was a thoroughly enjoyablo one, and all present i(re looking forward to spending another such day at Wairakaia. Next week the hounds meet at Fairfield, when it is expected that there will be a good muster.