JUMPING COMPETITIONS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10167, 17 February 1911, Page 7

JUMPING COMPETITIONS

AT THE MASTERTON SHOW. (By "Zetland.") Out of an entry of 42 for the principal jumping event on the programme <a|t the Masterton Show,' 32 of the best "leppers" in New Zealand were saddled- up. The prize money of £BS, divided into three amounts of £SO, £25 and £lO, was distinctly worthy of. the Society and . the district, and naturally brought contestants from far and wide. Included in the list were the redoubtable Hawke's Bay jumper Pickpocket, probably the best flying timber- topper in the Dominion; Fifi, winner of the Buick Cup last year; Consul, who scored in the Maiden Jumping Competition on Tuesday, and the Hunters' Competition earlier in the day; Betrayer, a good winner on the West Coast; Greydawn, who was second at Hawke's Bay and first at ,Wanganui, and Mignon, i winner of--the Buick Cup hi 1906 and 1907. Betrayer led oft', and although he showed a tendency to dwell at the fences, jumped capably. Moonlight followed, but with rather, too much pace on tipped the log jump and the first obstacle of the double. The same remarks apply to The Vagrant, Soman, Dinizulu, Chum, Lady Madcap, Ranter, Bill, Lady Creswick, Haere, Pennant, Tom Burns, Merry Girl, and Princess. Fifi jumped the course carefully, and Greydawn cleared the obstacles in fine style throughout. Kaka, a good type of a flying jumper, negotiated the jumps in steeplechase fashion, and 1 got through with 1 only a slight tip against him, and Weary Bill registered a, satisfactory performance. Minola ran off at the big jump, and retired -after one round. Mignon,' a fine type of a jumper, got. through her task faultlessly. ..Then came Pickpocket, his appearance being greeted with cheers from those who admire a first-class performer. Ridden by Mr Julian and .* following his usual tactics, he practically flew over the obstacles.at a pace worthy of a spring galloper, and it was quickly recognised that he would take a deal of beating for the coveted' first honours. Wildfire, a splendid jumper, but one' that will do better when she steadies down, .took the? brush fence's, especially well, Yeast jumped strongly, but failed to clear the obstacles as clean as usual, and. Doctor only made one faulty jump during the two rounds. Mr Buchanan's bay made a fair showing, but lacks show ring experience, and should be. "a much bettei; horse next year. This completed: the list, and Pickpocket, Be-trayer, Consul and Greydawn were then sent over the timber and brush again in . order that the judges could be better satisfied as to the placing. The quartette took up their positions opposite the stands, and the prize tickets denoted Mr J. H. McNiven's Pickpocket the winner of the con- - test, with Mr J.-Sweeney's Consul ■ J second, Mr J. R. McDonald's Betrayer (third, and Mr R. D. Morrison's Greydawn fourth. The result of the judging was well received, and the winners and riders were deservedly cheered when the vrdict was. given. Messrs R. H. Bissett (Southland) jandi A. Selby (Otahuhu) expressed themselves highly pleased with the form displayed by the competitors every one of which was well ■ worthy of , contesting such <a- premier leaping event. HUNTERS' COMPETITION. Previous to jthe big event, the Hunters' Competition, lady riders only, took place. • There 'were nine contestants, Miss Jessie Angus riding u6 less than four of them. The course and obstacles were . exactly itho same as those for the Champion i event, and the magnificent horsemanship by the lady riders was the admiration of* the thousands of spectators in the -'. grandstand and around the ring. Rata jumped as safely as .usual; Betrayer, who had baulked at (the high, brash fence on Tuesday, again did so on this occasion, Consul showed pace and,clever, jumping powers, and Kaka took everything at a -sound racing pace. The handling of this 'quartette by Miss Angus was faultless . through- i out, and the spectators -were treated /to an exhibition seldom seen in any show ring in the colonies. Playbo'v and Fifi, ridden by Miss Mc-v Kehzie, cleared the obstacles in fine style, the first named putting on plenty of pace;' The coolness 5 displayed "by the young lad •yrider. wift worthy of emulation - by some of the gentlemen riders who have had considerably more experience.' Mrs I Gaisford's handling of Lady Creswick and an unnamed bay was. most' creditable, uady 'Creswick did not settle .down nicely between the. obstacles, while the second mount was such a tcar-aAvay customer that it required plenty of nerve on the part of the rider to see the course, out. * There was plenty of cheering' from the onlookers when the jumps were satisfactorily negotiated. Miss Paul's Gayboy fell at „the first jumpy and his- rider received a rather nasty fall. The contest, which had been a very spirited one throughout, resulted m Consul being placed first, Kaka second, and Raita third, and Miss Angus, the rider of the three, was accorded a splendid ovation in the presentation' of the prize ets, mnd cheers again went u» whon the Avinners Afore ridden and led from the ring.