LANDLOCK'S 7-FOOT JUMP.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 98, 18 April 1914, Page 7

LANDLOCK'S 7-FOOT JUMP.

AT THE SYDNEY ROYAL SHOW

Twice during Friday afternoon of last week (states the Sydney Daily Telega ph), the immense l crowd, which thronged every available foot of space around the ring, gave vent to thunderous salvos of cheering, and twice the hand in the stand played "See, tiie Conquering Hero Comes." The honors on the first occasion were directed at the veteran high-jumper Desmond, the hero of a hundred jumping eontests and holder of the old record high jump from the ground of 6ft lUin ; while the lienors on the second occasion were, showered upon Landlock, which, during the afternoon, won the Denmau High Jump, and defeated Desmond's record for the ground by 2in., thus establishing a new record of 7ft.

The Demnari High dump had just sornmeneed when the grey horse, rid--den by a young man wearing Mr A. hidd's well-known colors, purple and i;old, entered the arena and cantered ulong the track. Immediately the crowd hurst out in tumultuous cheering, and, an instant later, the bandsmen, recognising, as the crowd had done, that the grey was the old showI'ing idol, Desmond, struck up "See, the Conquering Hero Comos." The cheering and the triumphant music was maintained until Desmond had completed the circuit. The former was repeated as Desmond prepared to take c part ill the high jump. The height was sft Sin—the starting point —but Desmond, who should now be in retirement, was unequal- to the task, lie' -knocked the rails down twice in succession. He still had another jC-hance, a-nd as he drew back to take is run the crowd sent up an eneourag- ; ng r cheor. But Desmond was not having any. He galloped up to the fence •dl, right, but absolutely"-refused to attempt to leap. He was then obliged to retire from the arena, 'and to leave the contest to the younger and -nore vigorous animals. The ultimate winner turned up in Messrs Eroni Brothers' chestnut gelding. Landlock, a fashionable looking mimal by Landslip from a dam of i.ochiel. When the bar was raised to 3ft Gin., Landlock, Exchange, and Radium were the only three left in. Bach .failed to negotiate the increas'd height, and could not do any better tvhen given an extra try. The judge, however, wanted one of*, the three om'petitors to win, and so he ordered • hem. to be tried once agiiin. This lime Landlock was successful, easily -earing.the Carrier w ith •aUieautiful Landlock "»-a«: then.'scyit after the .peeial prize of £loj offered,for the : iorse breaking the record ..-for the -round}..pf Gftjlpin., put-up by Desmond in 1907. The bar-was placed at "ft,; 'and Lajidjork, at h.is'-third attempt, literally flew over, it. It was •i magnificent jump, the fiqrse- clearing •die bar by fully- 4 in,. The. feat was'received with a tornado of cheering, w>di the. • band.- struck no the niece with which, a couple of hours before, it had honored the old champion. Landlock, it might no mentioned. hap beaten'■■; tfeis record, on three previous ocs%si«))ls. Ho" cleared 7ft *2iu at« Beiidigp,! 7ft 1 in, •at ■ Quirindi, and 7ft 0.-JinvJlfc- Horsham,; all during the past 18 mpnths. ;\\\\ , ; ,