O'NEILLS' BUCK-JUMPERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8462, 12 June 1907, Page 5

O'NEILLS' BUCK-JUMPERS.

There was a very large attendance at the tent between the Waipou'a bridges, last evening, when Messrs O'Neill Bros. (Ernie and Sydney) gave a buck-jumping entertainment. The programme was a varied and interesting one, consisting of exhibitions of riding by the O'Neills and several amateurs, lariat throwing, anri tricks by the clever pony Sandow. The humorous part of the entertainment was supplied by "Joey," the clown, and his donkey. The first item'was a "steeplechase," in which Sidney O'Neill and two local youths, B. Reardon and F. Cress, rode their horses overihurdles in a mock steeplechase. "Mexican Bili" gave a clever exhibition of lassooing, which was well received by the audience. The amateur riders competition, in which a prize of £1 was offered to anyone who could sit one of the "outlaws" for a minute, created considerable merriment. Three local horsemen essayed to ride the buck-jumpers, but all failed to "stick on" for more than a few seconds. Mr Ernie O'Neill put the pony Sandow through a number of clever tricks, which showed that the pony had been carefully trained. "Joey." the clown, and his donkey, "Janey," caused much laughter by their humorous performance. Mr Sidney O'Neill rode one of the "outlaws" "back to front," theride being enitled, "How Rafferty Won the Mile." Ruby,, the champion high jumper of New Zealand, cleared a jump of about sft llin. and Florin, ridden by B. Reardon, a Masterton lad, cleared sft Bin. Miss Button, the champiori lady rider, did not appear, as her mother had been taken suddenly-ill, and she had been called back to Chriatchurch. However, Mrs Reynolds, who had not previously ridden in public, gave a capital exhibition of riding on a buck-jumper, and was accorded a good reception. The concluding item, "Fun in the Stockyard," was productive of a great amount of amusement, and was a fitting termination to a capital entertainment. At the entertainment this evening new buck-jumpers will be introduced.