JONES' BUCK JUMPERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9190, 12 September 1908, Page 5

JONES' BUCK JUMPERS.

AN ENTERTAINING AND DARING PERFORMANCE.

There was a large attendance of the public in Hodgin's paddock, Lincoln Street, last evening, when Jones' New Zealand Buck-jumpers gave an exhibition . The show was a really meritorious one, and besides being educational it furnished patrons with a couple of hours hearty laughter. There were bucking bullocks, bucking donkeys, bucking ponies and bucking hordes, and the most satisfactory feature of the exhibition was that there were plenty of plucky riders, amateur and professional, to put the jibbing quadrupeds to the test. The provision made for accommodating the public was on circus lines, with the notable addition of a strong and high-roped fence around the arena, vhich was a commodious one. The illuminations were of gas, and enabled the display to be plainly visible to every spectator. * The first item on the progiamme was a competition for local equestrians, who were to exhibit their capabilities at riding or. a bucking bullock. There were six entrants, and considerable skill they all displayed in keeping astride their unique mount. Alter a splendid exhibition the prize was awarded to W. Desmond, but he generously stood down in favour of a lad named Reardon, who also showed great riding accomplishments. An exhibition of how to manage a buck-jumper was next given by a member of the company, Mr G. Pennell. He rode in a stock saddle, and appeared very much at home when most riders would have been full length on the ground. His efforts were loudly applauded. "Dynamiti" was the appropriate title of a horse chosen for a non-professional competition which followed Mr Pennell's exhibition. Of a number of really creditable riders Mr Ross was the pick, with Messrs W. Desmond and L. J. White being equal for second. There was little to

choose between any of them. "Bucking Jack, 1 ' a donkey with marvellous powers of rearing, supplied the spectators with some good sport when ridden by numerous juvenile competi- . tors. Of these, George Dean and i Alfred Munn were selected as first [ and second prize-winners respec- . lively. Then came an t xhibition on "Tarpot," a darit-colnuted bucker, i who, with all hH antics, failed to unseat the member of the company who rude him. The next novelty was a bucking calf, who was mounted by sundry youths, and the pranks of the young animal kept the crowd in roars. A lad named Miller was awarded the prize for keeping his seat the longest. Jones' men fii.i'Jhtd B up the programme with an exhibition 5 ride on a "prince of buck-jumpers" n named "Roeking-head," who tested y his riders to the utmost. n Tho display was a genuine treat to 6 witness, the animals, except when 3 ridden, showing no signs of vice, be-, ing ay quiet and docile as the most domesticated cart-,horse. Mr Jonea supervised th? ring arrangements, which were well curried out. 0 There will be another exhibition '.", this evening, when those who did l(1 not witness last night's performancl ' a . are advised to attend. They wile g not be disappointed, as the show is ig one of the best of its kind ever seen in Masterton.