SPORTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1778, 8 June 1906, Page 3

SPORTING.

THE GRE\TNORTHERN STEEPLECHASE.

Tho Auokland Ho .'aid givss the following account of thj Grra' N .rsliorn Sice* pleohase in which the Qitbo in horse, Medsllius, wai enga;ed : The prediction offered that a record field wo .ill go to the post fur the Great Northern S eeplcohaso wae borne out, and when the numbers wont up for tho oroiscountry race it was found that 15 horaea were to engago in the ooQte:t. The sight

in the enoloeure when the horses were paraded in the birdoage was most impressive, and as there was no diapating the fact that the contestants represented one of the bast looking fields ever drawn together in a steeplechase contest in Maoriland, there wa3 much to engage the attention of those who follow jumping events- Sol, who was lan led at the post in splendid oondition by D.nnis Morraghan, was the popular fancy, Comfort and Aka Aka being tbs pair most fancied of tho other?. Mr O’Connor did not keep them long at ibe pos‘, and when the ory *• They’re cfT!” went up there was o.aoiog of necks to secure a full view of the fioe field as they da-hud up to the initial obstacle. The jumping all round was of a most proficient orde-, and with tho field unreduced when tho hill came to be asoenled the second time bookors were all in a position to bo hopeful

From a beautiful atari I-ish and Medallins wore quickest into prominence, but when the first f tes oime to be negotiated Swimmer toik up tha running, and he raoed up to the Lest ob,taolo just olear of Catherine Gordon and Aka Aki. Medallins was aguia in the van as they made their way up through tbs trees to the poet and rail fence?, where bo was joined by Aka Aka, and the pair negotiated the j .mps together, closely attsnded by I ish uni O.therine Gordon, with Haydn well up among the others. Modaliius showed the way down the hill to the stone wall, with Aka Aka close bandy, and they were almost on terms at the sod wall. Medaliius was the first to get over the water jump, with Aka Aka and Irish almost on h : s quarters, and a bunched lot fed owing, and tfie son of Medallion carried the field over the next obetaole, where Irish headed Aka Aka, and then came Bariione. Going out by the old water jump Medallius had a three lengths’ advantage from Irish, who was closely attended bv Baritone and Aka Ak >, and the leading positions remained unchanged in the run down past the seven fnrlong po t to the obstsclo at the back d the course, which Med-dlius c'oared two lengths to the good of I'ish, Barit?n-, Aka Aka, Haydn, and The Bwimmer being most forward of the other?. I ish appeared to ha\o a trifle the beßt of it at the following fence, bat as they started up the hill again Meld ins once more assumed ermmand. When he poat and raili were ret c'ied Irish, Baritone and Aka Aka bad headed Medallins. Comfort- fell at tha first obstic'e and Medallins came down at the second. Baritone to.k a turn at setting the pnoe as they oame bowling down to the stone wall, with Irish on his quarters, and he was still in the lead when the sod wall had been cleared. As they drew up to the double Pharos and Irish joined Baritone, and they cleared the jumps almost in line, with Aka Aka well up next, and then came Swimmer and Hedalliu3, AS the second fence Moccasin came down. Going out through the rails Pharos was showing the way, just clear of B.ritone, but the latter was at the head of affairs again as they made their way to the hurdle at the back of the coarse, where Irish and Pharo3 were running close up next, followed by Baritone and Sol. Sol joined the leaders at the noxt jump, and in company with Irish mads the running goiDg up the hill, followed by Baritone, Pharos, and Aka Aka. At the post and rails Sol was leading Irish and Baritone a oouple of length?, and then, five lengths back, came Aka Aka, and as they dashed down the hid to the stone wall Sol was holding his own. The son of Soult got ovrr the ob.-taole in good order, and, pleating the final fence in the straight well clear of the opposition, he ran in an easy winner by over fpur lengths from Swincupr, baritone filling third place two lengths away. Irish finished fourth, and then came Pbaetonitis, Aka Aka, Mawhiti, Nadador, Eclair, Haydn', and Phaios io that order, Time, 8m 17 3 5 s.