CHAMPION EQUESTRIENNES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 4 November 1907, Page 2

CHAMPION EQUESTRIENNES.

[ MEKE MEN DEPOSED. | If one is to judge by the result of the 1 bare-back riding competition at the ' Jlanawatu Show, man's dominion has . been again successfully invaded by the i eternal feminine, and that an exercise . about winch he has always prided him- ■ sell. Jn ting competition (says the i Dcnii.iion) the pick of the masculine ; rulers from the West Coast, from Wai- ; rarapa, from M.unwatu, i/ad to accept ■ deleat at Ihe hands of Aliss E. Abbott, "I Wli«7gu<u<,moiu, .Stratford, and \ri-s ■ -Maggie Briggs, uf Manaia. There were m all sixteen competitors (fourteen men and two young ladies). The odds were heavy, but the minority won easily. Hiss Abbott was first, Alias Briggs was second, while Mr J. Connor was third. There was absolutely no compar' .; between the style of tlie'masculine rulers and the ladies. The men were generally "all legs and wings"; the ladies rode like young centaurs. (Irvat interest was manifested in this event, because it was a battle between the two champion horsewomen of the Dominion. Both held records. Both were unbeaten. Miss Maggie Briggs is a fifteen-year-old girl who has been winning prizes in the show-ring since 1001. She has won as many as twentythree prizes on Czarina, the champion West Coaster, which pony" has almost one hundred jumping prizes to its credit, and which is now on the brink of a' well-earnod retirement at the age of 18 years. On Wednesday Miss Briggs was riding her champion pony Rawhiti, and the people from Taranaki pinned their faith in her. Her rival. Miss Abbott, : formerly of Auckland, but now of Slrat- i ford, has also a career as an all-round ; horsewoman, mid she had many admir- j ers, especially when it was known that she was riding .Messrs O'Neill Bros.' unbeaten pony high-jumper Rubv. The styles of the riders were both most graceful, and yet wonderfully dissimilar. Miss Brigg's pony was docile, and went ] over the hurdles in a lovelv rocking- , horse style. Miss Abbott's mount was in | a fever of excitement, pulling and ( wrenching over the bit, and fairly flew r over the hurdles. The rider sat like a \ young O'Neill, and showed wonderful c command over Hie brute. Miss Abbott t is said to be the only New Zealand o equestrienne who can successfully ride a this chestnut champion, and her victory a was ini.eli applauded. As a rider, Miss e Abbot! stands out by herself. She ha:. c ridden buck-junipers, and has also rid- p den a horse over a hurdle oft 3ln high, ],