A STIFF COURSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 678, 1 June 1929, Page 10

A STIFF COURSE

THREE TIMES OVER THE HILL TWENTY-FIVE FENCES Here is a description of the famous steeplechase course at Ellerslie, perhaps the most spectacular jumping contest to be found anywhere, with a description of every fence: Ist (at six-furlong post).—Hurdle 3ft 6in. 2nd (at five-furlong post).—Brush hurdle, 3ft 10in. Then climb the hill to the 3rd (on top of hill). —Post-and-rail fence 3ft 8in f with hedge at back, 4ft 6in. 4th (still on hill). —Post-and-rail fence, 3ft Bin, with live hedge at back 4ft 4in. All down hill for about furlong, and then to the sth—Stone wall, topped with turf, 3ft Bin. Cut sharply across course proper and training tracks to the flat, to the 6th.—Sod bank, 3ft 7in, with live hedge on take-off side. 7th—Water jump, 10ft wide, with 4ft live hedge in front. Bth—Stone wall, 3ft Bin, with turf on top and faced with palings. Then cutting across training tracks and course proper to the alley for the 9th—Brush wattle fence, 3ft 10in (known as the old water jump), and lar.ding on course proper again, to pass the starting point half a furlong further on. 10th—Hurdle, same as that at number one. 11th—-Brush hurdle, same as number two. 12th (on the hill, second time).— Same as number 3. 13th (on the hill, second time).— Same as number 4. —Stone wall, same as number 5. J? . hank, same as number 6. 16th (first of double) —Brush fence 3ft 10i n. 17th (second of double) —Post-and-rail, 3ft 7in, with hedge on take-off side. Ifth —§ to?1 * wall > same as number 8. 19th—Brush fence, same as number 9. This completes second circuit. 20th—Hurdle, same as numbers 1 and 10. 21st—Brush hurdle, same as numbers 2 and 11. 22nd (on the hill, third time)— Same as numbers 3 and 12. 23rd (on the hill, third time) § ame as numbers 4 and 13. 24th—Stone wall, same as numbers ' 5 and 14. On to course proper again, landing practically ! on to course at bottom of straight, a little over two and a- half furlongs to go. Thence j to the last jump, the 25th—Brush hurdle in straight, 3ft Bin, leaving a run to the winning post of one furlong and about 100 yards.