CHARMS OF RANELAGH

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1926, Page 3

CHARMS OF RANELAGH

A WAY THEY HAVE WITH WHIPPETS. LONDON, July 1. Ranelagh Club was the setting ior a delightful picture of the London season on Saturday afternoon. It was as cheerful as a country fair, smart as Ascot, and lively in the way of varied sport as any lover of animals could wish. The velvet green lawn held a throng representing almost every part ot the British Empire, drawn there by the triple attraction of polo, whippet racing, and sheep clog competitions. The sheep dog competitions were highly diverting. Six dogs, all experts, three of them winners of innumerable prizes, including national and international championships, again proved that any crowd—slieop as well as human beings—can he handled easily by a leader showing determination, adroitness, and a, certain amount of " bluff.” ■ The three championship herders, representing England, Wales and Scotland, were set a task that seemed far from easy. In turn they were sent half a mile to round up ten unseen sheep, drive them through a gate obstacle, return for another ten, join the two flocks, and then shunt the lot through two gates before “shedding” live marked sheen for penning. bad AND STUBBORN SHEEP.

Each dog showed distinct personality in his methods as he obeyed the signals of the distant shepherd. Air Robert’s JufT (Wales) found his two lots of ten promptly, manoeuvred them with a flourish, and penned the allotted five with tho cold decision of a warder locking up his prisoners for the night. Lad (England) an all-black professional, showed more deliberation. Like Spot (Scotland), he made no attempt to hurry his charges, but on the other hand he stood no nonsense. Lad s twenty sheep were gradually shed until there wore only five, but these fine included a peculiarly obstinate animal that flatly refused to lie bullied or coaxed into the pen. The other four were evidently perplexed by the tactics of their strange master. When he lay down almost at their feet and glared threateningly with his tongue out they bloated apologetically and tried to go elsewhere. Tho minority of one declined to he intimdated by scowls or sudden rushes, and even jumped out of the pen on one occasion. Lad. with furv in his eyes, and tail, felt his reputation at stake. Minutes passed, and the last obstacle to a complete roundup still remained obstinate. When finally all five entered the pen. Lad visibly sighed with relief and went away To explain matters to his master. SYNTHETIC) RABBITS.

Whippet racing in another part of the club grounds, refereed by the Duchess of Newcastle, comprised British championship competitions. There were racing dogs of high reputation from the Midland and Northern counties and Wales, and their efforts were watched with keen interest. The only difficulty was that unless one kept both eves on tho course the moment the dogs were unleashed one saw nothing for they covered tile course like flashes of liojotuing ami were worrying synthetic rabbits (handfuls of white cloth) at the other end is less than a quarter oi a minute. Some of our overseas guests were plainly puzzled by tho method of whippet racing. Said one American: “It’s a speedy sport all right, but why does the man behind each dog tilt his dog on end and throw him into the ail 1 like a kite?”