HUNT RACING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 648, 28 September 1933, Page 6

HUNT RACING

TE PUKE MEETING R. AND B.P. GYMKHANA PROYES YERY ENJOYABLE SOME CAPITAL SPORT / The Point-to-Point Sfseplechase meeting of the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt • Club held at Te Puke yesterday provid a most gnjoy,able outing. Taken generally the raeing was good and the informality of a country meeting belped to contribute largely to the pleasure of the day. The Te Puke braneh of the elub had spared no pains to m-ake the meeting thoroughly pleasant both for the club members and the public and the reward was the appreciation of everyone who attended. The weather was ideal for a hunt meeting; there was ibright sunshine but ;a cool breeze kept everything pleasant for raeing conditions. Support by entries came from all sections of the club's district and the results of the day should encourage the extension of the sport. Mr. E. La Trobe Hill, secretary of the club, went over from Rotorua to assist Mr. D. S. Neilson, the1 branch secretary and under their management everything went smoothly and the races _were got off well up to schedule time with the exception of a short wait for the first event to allow some of the competing horses to arriv-q by train. Mr. I. Vercoe, the deputy-master at Te Puke, with the co-operation of his brother officials, was generous in his hospitality and regard for the .enjoyment of the visitors. The course was one to test the qualities of the competing horses and many came to grief during the day, but no spill ended in seriou consequences. While some of the race's were a little bit disappointing there were some exeellent finishes which fully compensated. The splendid riding of the ladies was a special faature of the meeting. Mrs. O'Connell's win in the Lightweight Steeplechase and Mrs. Stanier's and Miss B. Bertram's battle for victory in the Ladies' Steepltchase provided a fine example of horsewomanship which was fully appreciated. Among the lady riders Miss J. M. Roberts had exceptional hard luck in. the Ladies' Siteepleehase. She had Tenderfoot well in hand for a certain win. Her mount had been leading the field throughout but at the lasi hurdle on the home bend disaster came ,and she lost her chance plus a bad shaking. Several other girls haa unpleasant partings from their mounts, hue ic was particularly hard on Miss TI- oerts with almost an assured victory in sight. There was ,a good deal of laughtei combined with disappointment ovei the Hunters' Steepl' chase. Ihe entry was narro~red down to Tarrapeen Wb"vo King and Grantham. After same demy th.rc was a cry "their off", but Grantham absolutely refused to take part in the conttst and Whako King and Tarrapeen went oh on their own, but only for a short distance as Tarrapeen came to grief. Whako King proceeded gaily on the journey iamid che.rs, but Tarrapeer. was not deserted. Mr. C. Duncan caught him and proceeded to finish the race (albiet a lap behind) foi second place amidst loud cheers. The worlc of the judgts, starter and | other officials was entirely satisfactory. The following are the detailed results : — REAVYWEIGHT STEEPLECHASE, min. weight 12.7, about 2\ miles. First prize challenge miniature cup; second, trophy: MASTER ALBYN, Mr. W. J. Tanner's (owner) ' 1 SHEIK, Mr. J. Iiawson's (Mr. II. Hill) 2 KNIGHT, Messrs Wickham Bros', (Mr. F. Collins) 3 Also: Lady Ruthern. Master Albyn got away at tk start and obtained a lead of 20 tr 30 lengths and was ntver trouble.i. Time 6m 25s. LIGHTWEIGHT HUNTERS. Ov r jump, hunting style, min. weight, 9st. BLUIE TRAIN, Mrs. Stanier's .... 1 PETER, Mrs. O'Connell 2 KURPAI, Miss B. Bertram 3 There were 14 -entries for the evr .t. HUNTERS' TRIAL STEEPL'lCHASE. M,in. weight 11st Tio, about 2h miles. Open to qualihxd hunters. SILVER DIVISION, Mr. C. Duncan's (owner) 1 AOTEROA, Mrs. Bella Humphrey's (Mr. Y. Graham) 2 KING FAME, Dr. H. Bertram's (Mr. R. Gordon) 3 Also started: Silver Comet, who ran off. Silver Division got away at the start and for the. first round held a substantially easy lead, but in the second round King Fame and Aoteroa challenged strongly and for a time closed up with the leader, but on the home turn Silver Divis re•established his control and wo\ a fine race by about one length, r.alf a length separating the seco'n.l and third horses. Time 5.15. LADIES' STEEPLECHASE. Ladj riders only; min. weight 9st About 2 miles. Firsf pri:;e ch-" lenge miniature bowl: BLUE TRAIN, Mrs. F. Stanier's (owner) 1 GLENHOUM, Miss B. Bertram's 41b over (owner) 2 SOX, Miss M. Ilamilton's, 201b over (owner) 3 Also started. Miss P. MJcDougall on Moonbeam, Miss Wiison on Skipper, Miss J. Benner on Tony, Miss J. Roberts on Tenderfoot (141b over), Miss Joan Bertram on Diana. 'Won by three-quarters of a length. four lengths separating second and third. This was one of the best race' of the day, but was marred by two •spills. Miss McDougall came down with Moonbeam early in the race and Miss Roberts crashed on Tenderfoot at the last hurdle on the home bend when she had the race well in hand Mrs. Stanier and Mjiss F. Bertram then took charge and fought out a

close finish up the straight, Blue Train having just enough pace to give Mrs. Stanier a well-deserved win by three-quarters of a length. Both' ladies were warmly applauded for th(ir splendid riding. [ HEAVYWEIGHT HUNTERS, over ' jumps, min. weight, 12.7. KNIGHT, Messrs Wickham Bros' (Mr. A. Morton) 1 SHEIK, Mr. Taller's (Mr W. Tan- _ ner) 2 *ROCKET, Mr. Les Hart's (Mr. Leither) 3 Twelve entries. OPEN HUNTERS' STEEPLECHASE Min. 12st, about 3 miles. Open t0 qualified hunters. WHAKO KING, Mrs. D. S. O'Connell's (Mjr. D. O'Connell) .... 1 TARRAPEEN, Messrs S-nodgrass and Neilson's (Mr. R. Gordon) 2Mr. J. Brown's Grantham, the only | other starter (Mr. C. Ritchie) refus- I ed to leave the post. Tarrapeen lost j his rider at an early hurdle, but Mr. j Colin Duncan mounted in his place i and finished second a lap behind "Whako King, who practically had a walk over with 7lbs over weight. LIGHTWEIGHT STEEPLECHASE Min. 10.7. About 2i miles. First challenge miniature' cup. KING FAME, Dr. H. Bertram's (Mrs. O'Connell) 1 STARLIGHT, Mr. H. Hill's (owner) 2 BLACK BEAUTY, Mr. G. Eagle's (owner), 11b over 3 Also started: Red Wings (201bs over), Lady Fortune, Lady Albyn, Silver Comet (201bs over), .and Glenholm (11b over). Starlight and Black Beauty made the running from the start and raced on even terms for the whole distance, Mrs. O'Connell lying well back on King Fame with the other unplaced horses, but round the back of the coursei on the last round she gradually improved her position until entering the home bend when she came with a splendid effort, challenge d the leaders up the straight and got a victory by one and a- half lengths, half a lepgffr seplarating Starlight and Black Beauty. Time 5.40. The win was immensely popular, the lady rider rcceiving an ovation, eventually being carried on the shoulders of her friends to the saddling paddock. JUVENILE HANDICAP open weight About three miles, five furlongs. For ponies, 14.2 and under, juv.enile riders, 14 years and under. SISAM 1 WEHOHIA 2 O. EVANS 3 r A very popular event with Wehohia leading until well up the straight when Sisam came through to win. The youngsters were loudly cheered.