WAIRARAPA HUNT CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9154, 30 July 1908, Page 3

WAIRARAPA HUNT CLUB.

» " * ' (From Our Own Correspondent). TINUI, July 27. A meet of. the Wairarapa Hunt Club was held here on the 25th inst. The weather was perfect and a large number of huntsmen were present. With the Hunt Club Steeplechase meeting close at hand, several huntsmen who intend racing their horses atthe meeting, suggested that it would be a good opportunity to test the horses that will be taking part. So the hounds were allowed a long start, and as everything pertaining to horse racing had to be done in a proper manner, some amusement was caused. In the first instance, there was no starting barrier, and to overcome this difficulty, the horses were backed up to a wire fence, and when nl 1 the horses' tails were touching th e fence the starter struck the fence with a stick which meant "go." The second condition under which this "great race" was to be run was, that in the event of one of the leaders getting a "spill," that the rider had to pull up and not jump on top of a fallen rider. All arrangements beii.g complete, the fence was struck and away the steeplechase field went. One sportsman pulled out a book and called the odds on the field, but his calling was quickly suppreyed, as this "bookie" is credited with not paying out on the race last ytar. The horses raced together to the first fence and all got safely over, but Molly, who absolutely refused to jump. "Take her to the Arbitration Court for refusing to work," cried an onlooker. "Take her to the Abattoir," said another. The field by this time were rattling along at a great pace, and the spectators were crying words of encouragement to the riders. A crash, followed by a splash in the mud. "Pull up, pull up; there is a man down; I can't see him, but I can hear something crawling in the rr.ud like a swamp eel," cried one of the huntsmen. The fallen rider turned o it to be Mr W. S. Barr, who was, however, none the< worse for the fall and remounted. The next to coma to grief was Mr C. Ireland, and then followed Mr A. Hasting and Mr D. Stephen, who all ramounted and continued the race. Ttio race ended as follows: Surpise 1, Lister 2, Rata 3. The following took part in the race —Messrs H. Welch (huntsman), on Caroline; R. Morrison (acting-mas-ter), on Rata; J. Floyd, on Jess; J. Munro, on Gunmetal; J. Douglas, oil Robin; J. Hudson, on Forest King; J. Hyde, on Sandy; A. Hasting on Affinity; J. O'Brien, on Surprise; W. Douglas, on Lister; C. Ireland, on Cornet; W. G Lang, on Otaki; T. Crawford, on Molly; A. Schofield, on Dauntless; W. T. Barr, on Lady Guy; D. Stepehen, on Regret; E. Collerton, on Lady Flintlock.