“Our Van.”
RACING.
The retro- and introspection with which some indulge themselves during the dead winter season for flat-racing must leave in the minds of such feelings of uneasiness. One had but to read the sporting papers very deeply to realise that racing was not being indulged in in the typical spirit of give and take; and when we found staring us in the face the advertisement of the Racehorse Owners’ Association, instituted for the protection of owners’ interests, one realised clearly enough that grievances were felt to exist. Possibly in due course the particular grievances which the covenanting owners desire to see redressed will be set forth, for of course the trouble was not taken to found the Association without some ostensible reason. In the meantime, the Jockey Club has declined to take official cognisance of the Association. So far as we have gone, the state of affairs seems to be that certain owners have formed themselves into an association, and have applied to the Jockey Club for official recognition. In effect the Jockey Club asks the Association, “Who are you?” Having so long ruled supreme and unchallenged, the Jockey Club no doubt feels it a little abrupt when a body formed outside itself suddenly appears, and practically suggests that it shall have a word or two to say in the government of the Turf. If it is not to have some sort of say, then there seems to be no reason for its advances towards the Jockey Club, or for its existence even. Enough has been said in print during the past twelve months to make the Jockey Club aware that the advance is not being made in a too friendly spirit towards them; therefore they practically reply, “Thank you, we can get on very well alone, and without your assistance, as heretofore.” It does not follow that an association of racehorse owners cannot exist and do good work without any reference whatever to the Jockey Club. Leaving outside the government of racing as conducted by the Jockey Club, there is plenty of room for the operations of such an association. Combination between owners has been sadly wanting. Now that there is some sign of it, one would like to see the body establish a right to its existence by the carrying out of measures of benefit to the owners and, by consequence, to racing as a whole. To the outsider it seems a little premature for a body, before it has won its spurs, so to speak, to aspire to deal on equal terms with the ruling powers. There are several matters connected with the practice of racing with which progressive or reforming owners might profitably interest themselves in conclave. Before a body can hope to be regarded as a negotiable quantity it must show some capacity for self-government and for dealing with questions of a kind that come naturally within its scope. Owners, as a whole, complain that their interests are not sufficiently considered. The complaint is not here refuted, but so far there has been lacking that combination of action which alone can effect changes. It is not too much to say that an association of owners can bring about that which it is beyond the powers of the Jockey Club to effect, because outside their scope. The Jockey Club can only be administrative; and already it has been accused of going too deeply into minutiæ. Those details which concern the owners should be settled by the owners themselves. It does not seem necessary for them to approach the Jockey Club at all in order to make their presence and power felt. They have but to agree amongst themselves how to act and how not to act under certain conditions, and the rest will come. One can speak in this way so long as one is in the dark concerning the aspirations and intentions of the new body, which has yet to issue its propaganda. When details appear it will be possible to discuss them. For the present, therefore, we must wait in patience.
Amongst the most important matters which a body of owners coming together for the protection of its interests can take in hand is the jockey question. Despite all that has been done the jockey is still the master of the situation; and this is bad for racing. A position in which the jockey dictates the terms is an intolerable one, but that is the position in which the Turf finds itself. It is not a new state of things by any means. The “It’s no use asking me what will win; go and ask that long-legged devil,” of Matt. Dawson could be paraphrased to-day, though the question of dishonesty is not being trenched upon here. What owners have to consider is, whether the relative positions existing between owner and jockey are those of master and man, and whether the reward given the jockey is not altogether out of disproportion to the service rendered. The enormous issues that are at times at stake, and the fatal power for good or evil that is given into the hands of the jockey, as forming the last link in a chain every other link of which has been forged with scrupulous care and disregard of cost, are what give the jockey his advantage. And this advantage he will always hold so long as he is allowed to feel his power, and not made to understand that there is a master mind over him. If the hard truth has to be told, the master mind is what is lacking. By slow stages at first and then rapid ones, we have passed from the times when the jockey stood humbly upon the mat awaiting the pleasure of his lordship, to a day when it is the owner who metaphorically stands upon the mat. To put the matter in a few words, the jockey is enabled to make an income that is not only far too large to be good for him, especially when we consider the lowly station from which he usually springs, but, in addition, is immeasurably in excess of his deserts. Clearing ourselves of the glamour of custom, it must appear plain that it is a ridiculous thing to give a jockey, say, £500 for winning a race, even be it the Derby. How can a jockey ride worth £500? Only on the supposition that if he is not able to anticipate some such guerdon of victory he will not put in his best work and so possibly lose the race; in which case he will be a dishonest jockey and should be dealt with in a totally different manner. The writer does not hesitate to put it on paper that there is no reason why a jockey should be paid more for winning the Derby than for winning any other race, for the simple reason that it is just as easy to win; and we do not have to go back many years to find a jockey who rode an indifferent race, but won through the merit of his horse, rewarded in a manner that would have been extravagant had he performed some prodigy of horsemanship and snatched the race out of the fire by its means. The thing is so glaringly disproportionate, that one is driven to assume that the giving of large presents to jockeys for winning certain races is done out of deference to a custom, the courage to disregard which is lacking. So much is the thing overdone, that one almost comes to applaud instances in which an entirely diametrical course has been pursued, in which the suggestion of parsimony in the case of meritorious riding has been braved.
Even when we take the purely commercial side of racing, in which the sole object is to bring off a betting coup, we see no reason why the jockey should be made a party to the pecuniary gains. It is, of course, the common custom to make him a party by putting him on so much to win. But why? Surely, looked at dispassionately, five guineas is a very nice reward for riding a race. The question of trying or not trying is, of course, quite outside the question. The jockey who does not try when he is being paid to do so is a thief, pure and simple. Consequently, when a jockey is being bribed by promise of extra reward to try, he is merely being educated to be a thief. Why should one be compelled to say, as one practically is, “If you win I will give you so and so?” The assumption should always be that when a jockey mounts a horse he will do his utmost to win: whatever the practice may be, this is the only tenable theory. But we may set aside the proposition of trying and not trying, and come to the position of a jockey not riding at all except at a certain fee. This position is one which the owners themselves only can deal with, and here, I fancy, the Racehorse Owners’ Association, if ever they come to consider the question, will meet a serious stumbling block. The strength of those owners, racing chiefly for sport, whom, purely for the sake of convenience, I will call the Jockey Club circle, is that they do not meet in fevered competition for the services of jockeys. Here we find the distance between master and man kept as wide as it should be, and as it was in the past. The two parties concerned do not meet on the same plane as is the case when mere money is at issue and the end is considered justified by any kind of means. For the state of things at which we have arrived owners must be considered solely to blame, for they have the remedy in their own hands. No fault can reasonably be found with the jockeys for making what hay they can whilst the sun shines. Owners are not unjustifiably complaining of the heavy expenses of racing. Is not the heavy expense of jockeys an item worthy of consideration?
In this matter of over-paying jockeys it seems as though the trainer is not being treated with justice. If, for the sake of argument, it be right and proper for the rider of a Derby winner to receive a present of £500, how much, in the name of equity, should the trainer not receive? He spends anxious months, even years, with animals of enormous value under his charge, which must be kept well and brought to the post trained to the hour. Upon the successful exploitation of the horses entrusted to his charge he has to bring several qualities to bear; and if outsiders are apt to think £2 10s. per week a considerable sum to pay for the charge of a selling “plater,” it becomes insignificant enough in the case of a possible Derby winner, even if the charge be as high as three guineas. The owner has yet to be met with who says to his trainer: “You have a Derby horse of mine. If he wins I shall pay you £10 per week for his training instead of £2 10s.” But this would not be out of keeping with the presentation of several hundreds of pounds to a jockey for riding a single race. The trainer, of course, takes his chance, but so should the jockey, and it is not at all creditable that he should be made the spoiled child of the Turf that he is. The statement that jockeys make more money than anyone else is scarcely to be contradicted, and such a state of things is entirely wrong. So far from the jockey of to-day doing more work for his money, the contrary is the case, as those in the habit of watching morning gallops can testify. It is a difficult thing now to get a jockey who has reached the stage of “fancying himself” to trouble himself about morning gallops. So much, at least, English jockeys have condescended to learn from the Americans.
The National Hunt is still active in its endeavours to devise a satisfactory hurdle, but its latest effort has by no means met with general approval. The Clerk of the Course at Hurst Park received instructions from the Committee to supply a hurdle, the foot of which was to measure 16 in from the bottom rail and be wholly inserted in the ground. It was to be put in at an angle so as to slope the hurdle, the common method adopted by the farm labourers who usually undertake such work being to ram the hurdle in straight and then force it over to the required slope. This is an abundant cause of the swinging-back hurdle that is so dangerous. So far so good; but the Committee provided further that the hurdles were to be bushed in the middle part only, the bottom and top rails standing out clear. It was of course the top rail that mattered, for horses accustomed to bushed tops might easily fail to see it. The innovation came in for severe criticism at the hands of trainers, some horses being sent home without competing. The very reasonable objection was made that it is scarcely fair to horses to spring a surprise of this sort upon them. It is one thing to school a horse carefully at a new kind of obstacle, and quite another to ask him to race over it. A further item of complaint, with which, however the National Hunt had nothing to do, was against the too solid nature of the end uprights of the hurdles, two coming together, making quite a formidable obstruction that suggested risk to life and limb.
THE LATE MR. W. G. CRAVEN.
By the death of Mr. William George Craven, which occurred at his residence, 63, Curzon Street, Mayfair, last month, the Jockey Club has lost its oldest member, with the exception of the Earl of Coventry, who was elected forty-six years ago, twelve months prior to the election of the late Mr. Craven. The deceased gentleman was instrumental in obtaining several reforms in the Jockey Club which were much needed at the time. Born in 1835, the late Mr. Craven was the eldest son of the late Hon. George Augustus Craven. He was educated at Eton, and served a few years in the 1st Life Guards. He was elected a member of the Jockey Club at the early age of twenty-six, and three years afterwards was appointed a Steward. He was again appointed Steward in 1879, during which period of office he was called upon to deal with the memorable objection to Bend Or after the Derby of 1880. Mr. Craven owned many good horses in his time, and among his winnings were the Gold Vase at Ascot in 1864, and the Great Metropolitan Stakes at Epsom the following year. Most of his horses were, however, sold in 1866, since which date his colours have been seldom seen on the racecourse.
HUNTING.
The past month will be remembered by hunting people for the number of long, well-sustained hunts that have taken place. Almost any one of them would be entitled to take a place among the historic runs recorded from time to time in Baily. The most remarkable was the run of the Albrighton on Saturday, December 30th. It will be remembered that this well-known Staffordshire hunt started the season with a new master, Lieut.-Colonel Goulburn, and a new huntsman, Morris, who had been first whipper-in, under Tom Bishopp, with the Grafton, and had succeeded the latter as huntsman. The fixture was at Dudmaston, in the Bridgnorth district. This is a meet which attracts few, for one of the last lessons we learn in hunting is that it is better to go to meets, good or bad by reputation, if you have a horse fit to go. We never know where or when the great run will come off. The first fox went down to the Severn and swam across. The next fox, after a much longer hunt, also ran down to the Severn, near Apley Park, which river here divides the Albrighton from the Wheatland country. Without hesitation he entered the river and, followed by the pack, swam across. This of course threw out the huntsmen and field, but they found a bridge, and Morris got to his hounds in time, by a judicious cast, to hit off the line. Not without checks and difficulty, but with hounds and huntsman working well, the line was kept until at last darkness set in, and after two hours and a half hounds had to be stopped.
The coming change in the Blankney Hunt is a matter of rejoicing, because once more a Bentinck will be connected with a hunt which Lord Henry Bentinck did so much for. Readers of Baily who will turn back to their old volumes will learn easily how much. Then Lord Charles Bentinck, who is to become huntsman and joint master, is a well-known soldier and polo player. He was one of the team of the 9th Lancers, in their best days a most brilliant regimental team. Lord Charles will no doubt make a good huntsman, and keep up the Blankney record of sport over what is probably the best scenting and perhaps the stiffest country in Lincolnshire. On the other hand, I am sorry that it should displace an excellent hunt servant and old friend in George Shepherd, who, under three masters, has done so well. It is not likely, however, that so good a huntsman will be long in want of a situation. He is one of those instances where a first-rate whipper-in has made an excellent huntsman.
Among the packs that have had noteworthy runs must be included the Heythrop. Theirs took place on Friday, December 22nd. They met at New Barn, and found at once. In the Bourton Vale hounds ran well. The scent, though not burning, was holding, and hounds worked out the line without much help. The finish was a kill in Bruern Wood after a fine hunt of two hours and a quarter. The distance from point to point is ten miles, but hounds must have covered fifteen miles or more. Captain Daly, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Lord, and Major Scott were among those who saw it all.
As I write the news reaches me that the North Cotswold have found a master. This country, of course, is neighbour to the Heythrop. Mr. McNeill’s successor is Sir John Hume Campbell, at present Master of the Ormond, where he has not found that foxes are preserved as they ought to be. In the North Cotswold there is nothing to be desired. Sir John intends to hunt the hounds himself. It is not stated whether Mr. McNeill’s wonderful pack of Belvoir-bred bitches will be kept in the country, but no doubt this will be the case. Masters are not scarce, for there were no less than twenty-two candidates.
Melton condition seldom fails to carry the sportsman to the end of the day, but on Monday, January 8th, the Quorn, having met at Nether Broughton, hounds led them such a dance in the Belvoir Vale that many horses could not reach the end. No doubt the going was heavy, for there has been a fall of rain which has made up for the drought. In Welby Osier Beds they found their fox, and this covert is a key to the best of the Belvoir. At Bescaby Oaks, the traditional first draw of the Belvoir on the opening day, the fox saved his brush.
Even more remarkable was the run the Woodland Pytchley had on January 8th. The big woods of this country are divided by grass fields and big fences, and it always seems to me that to be practicable at all there are no more formidable fences than some of the boundary fences of this country. During the early months of the year, in a well-preserved country with strong coverts, foxes are on the move, and a stout travelling woodland fox takes a great deal of killing, even with that sharp pack of bitches which Tom Carr handles so well. Hounds ran two wide rings from Carlton Wood, and then perhaps with a fresh fox hunted on to Desbrough. Had there been a kill, this run would have been perfect in its way. In any case, it adds one more to the many old-fashioned runs we have to tell of this month.
To this must be added the run of the Blankney also on January 8th, which was one of the days that have provided a good scent in many countries. Mr. Edgar Lubbock took his hounds, by Sir Gilbert Greenall’s invitation, to Aswarby. Sir George Whichcote is such a careful fox preserver that the Belvoir, with their wide extent of country, cannot come often enough. It was a gallant old customer that they found in one of the plantations. The line was very straight, and that they travelled a nine-mile point in fifty minutes shows that the pace was more than ordinarily good.
No country has, without adding to our list of historic runs, had a better average season than the Atherstone under Mr. Munro and Whitemore. But for a long and sustained chase ending with a kill the palm must be awarded to the Fitzwilliam at Tillbrook. The bitch pack dropped on to an out-lier. Starting close to his brush, the pack settled to hunt at a fair pace, and, best of all, never left the line till they reached Barnwell Wood, through which good scenting covert hounds ran furiously for blood, and were not long in catching their fox. This was one of those runs not too fast for the horses, with no checks, and hounds doing their own with lots of drive and merry music, that keep up one’s love for foxhunting.
Still another long and good run is to hand. There are people who tell me, and I can well believe it, that Dursley is an admirable centre. Indeed, many West country people migrate thither after Christmas in search of sport, and are seldom disappointed.
The Fitzhardinge, meeting on January 9th, at Empney, on the Gloucestershire side of their country, drew Monkshill, and found a fox which within a radius of five or six miles knew a lot of country. He stood up for two hours. Several times hounds went very fast, and the fox was kept moving the whole time. Nevertheless, he beat them after all, fairly running hounds out of scent. Then came a bright scurry; but perhaps it is on a working day the Fitzhardinge pack are seen to the best advantage. No “sleeping partners of the chase” are allowed in the Berkeley Castle kennels.
Foxes and stags choose strange refuges, and this month has seen a fox found on a lime-kiln and in a coal-hole; a stag was hunted through the streets of Lancaster town. This season I saw a fox run up a lane on the road, spring on to the bank, and double back along the top of the bank, and lie down in the hedgerow. Naturally the hounds hit it off in the lane, and running up some distance, were then cast on either side of the road, but of course without effect. It was late in the day, and the Master had actually started for home, when some one saw the fox, which, however, deserved to escape.
No pack has had a better season on the average than the Duke of Beaufort’s. Their country always seems to me to hold a scent well, and the Duke and his huntsman are such masters of the science of hunting that it is a pleasure to see them handle hounds. Though the day in question, January 6th, at Hullavington, afforded nothing extraordinary, yet if every day we could hunt over a line as pleasant and varied as this side of the Duke’s country we should have nothing to complain of. Foxes, too, are always plentiful, and the more I hunt and the more experience of different countries I have, the more fully do I appreciate Beckford’s wisdom in liking plenty of foxes.
I suppose that the present season will be looked back on by the followers of the three staghound packs in the West as one of the best hind-hunting seasons on record. In the first place, the inclement weather which often makes hunting on Exmoor in the winter months a doubtful pleasure has this year not been endured. A few days of frost, a few of fog, and some wet days, but on the whole the weather and the scent have been in favour of the hounds, and hounds have run very straight. That is, they have made good points, but a red deer hind generally runs a ring or two, and then just when you think she is beaten away she goes straight and hard as if she never meant to stop. Mr. Stanley’s hounds, meeting by invitation of the Devon and Somerset at Slowley Wood, on Saturday, December 30th, had a run which was remarkable for straightness and pace. It lasted about three hours. There is always some preliminary work with a hind. Much depends on whether hounds can be kept at her. This one had little peace. She was found in the open, and about half an hour later the Master sent for the pack. He was enabled to steal a march by lifting hounds into the Avill valley, where they took up the line by the well-known farmhouse, and at once climbed the hill at its steepest part. Going up with them one lost ground, as they ran well and straight into a linhay behind Alcombe Village. This seemed to be the end, but some excited lads frightened the hind out. She dashed right through the pack and then went straight away for Dunkery Beacon. Those who had ridden the run had been galloping hard for two hours, and horses climbed the steep sides slowly: far more quickly did hounds reach the top. Three-quarters of an hour later this hind soiled in the stream at Nutscale and, unable to leave it, was killed. The first point to Alcombe was five miles, the second about seven, and the hind travelled quite twice as far to make her points. Allowing for the turns, though the pace was very good, hounds hunted beautifully, and every one was up at the finish. Perhaps even more remarkable was the run of January.
The Devon and Somerset met on Thursday, January 11th, at Heathpoult—a geographical expression—near the famous coverts of Throatcombe and Chargot. Three hinds were roused, and one was quickly singled out. From that moment till the hind was killed hounds hunted continuously. It was an exceedingly fine performance on the part of the hounds and huntsman. About eight couple of tufters were out, and on these fell most of the work. One incident showing the control of the huntsman over his hounds and what can be done to make foxhounds handy. These hounds, be it remembered, are big doghounds with a few large bitches. Now doghounds, as we all know, are apt to be self-willed and headstrong. I may also note that the heel-line of a red deer is often very tempting. Well, the huntsman was on one side of a valley, and the hounds were working on the other, when two or three couple hit the heel-line and threw their tongues eagerly. “Ware heel,” said the huntsman, naming the hounds. They stopped, looked across, and as if seeing it was their huntsman, left the heel-line and drove forward, and picked up the line of their quarry which had gone on. Once again the huntsman delighted me when hounds divided, by going to fetch those running on the fresh line. He saved the situation in a most difficult place. After a long, interesting and intricate hunt, we at last emerged on the heather, and for some miles stretched over the heather as far as Exford Common. Twice the hind took refuge among other deer, and each time she was driven out.
Then at the nick of time the Master (Mr. Greig) brought up the pack, and we had a glorious gallop right back to Annicombe. Then away to Cloutsham, and then the whole length of Horner to the mill; then up over the hill and across the valley to West Luccombe, where hounds took their deer. We ran from about 10.30 to 2. Besides the Master and hunt servants, only three of those who had started from Heathpoult were present. Several joined us by the way, and some good and true followers were left on Dunkery. The pace was good at times, but formed an intricate piece of hound-work, and an example of how handy foxhounds can be made, and how they can hold to the line of their quarry; for we saw at least thirty other deer on the way. With this run may be compared the very fine bit of hound-work displayed by the Cottesmore when they met at Luffenham. Thatcher is another huntsman who has made his big doghounds as handy as beagles.
I believe with these the whole secret is personal attachment to the man who hunts. Self-willed and sulky if knocked about or rated, a dog-hound will do anything for the man he loves.
The Cottesmore ran from Luffenham, though in the first place a hunt for the lover hounds, was not without interest for the riding man, since the line lay over that wild and delightful tract of the Cottesmore country which lies round Wing and Manton. From field to field hounds hunted, always working forward, always on the line, ever drawing nearer to their fox. If the fox regulates his pace, as I believe he does, by the strength of the chorus behind him, this fox could have had but little rest, as the sustained roar of the pack told him that they were relentlessly pursuing. The end came at Glaston Gorse, when a thoroughly wearied fox succumbed at last to the pack. During the past week—Thursday, January 11th—the Cottesmore and Mr. Fernie’s hounds met at East Norton, which is on the border of the two countries. Charles Isaac, Mr. Fernie’s huntsman, handled the combined packs, with his late whipper-in, Thatcher, of Cottesmore, to help him.
In consequence of the prolonged ill-health of Mr. C. E. Green, the Committee of the Essex Hunt have decided to seek a new Master, and the following advertisement has appeared in the papers: “As a Master will be required for the Essex Hunt at the end of the season, any gentleman wishing to offer himself as Master is invited to apply to the Hon. Secretary, Mr. A. Waters, Coopersale Lodge, Epping, Essex.”
HUNTING IN YORKSHIRE.
Fine open weather continues, and at the time of writing—the day on which the mean temperature is, on an average, the lowest in the year—it is so mild that one would almost think the season would get through without any lengthy stoppage. Whether sport does not benefit by a little frost is a question which is open to discussion, and at any rate it cannot be said that the most open seasons have been distinguished by the most historical runs.
Nor has there been a great average of sport since I last wrote, though there have been a few runs the records of which are worth preserving; the disposition to fog, however, is decidedly against sport, and we have had a lot of fog this season, hounds having been stopped by it several times.
It should be noticed that the good example set by Lord Helmsley in the early part of last month has been followed in many parts of Yorkshire and the neighbouring counties, and it is satisfactory to see that the Hunt Servants’ Benefit Society is likely to benefit to a considerable extent by the plan which had such a happy inception when the Sinnington met at Habton Village early in December. It may perhaps interest some of my readers to know that over £80 was collected on the day the Bramham Moor met at Tockwith. That same day when they met at Tockwith (December 15th) they had a good day’s sport. White Syke Whin, which has been a certain find this season, and has now got to be a very fine covert, provided a brace of foxes to begin with, and with one of these they had a brilliant forty-five minutes by Marston Whin, which they skirted, Bilton Grange, Bickerton Village, and Ingmanthorpe Willow Garth to Lingcroft, where they rolled him over. A second fox from the Rash took them by the banks of the Nidd, and over it to an osier-bed near Kirk Hammerton Hall, where they marked him to ground; and a short but merry burst from Hutton Thorns to Collier Haggs, ending in a kill, brought a good day’s sport to a close.
On Monday, December 25th, they had a very good hunting run of a couple of hours. The fixture was Woodhall Bridge, and as they were moving off to draw, a travelling fox was viewed near Addlethorpe. Smith soon had hounds on his line, and they ran fast by Lund Head to Ingham’s Whin, and through it by Parkin Wood to Cocked Hat Whin. They checked for a moment, but ran on again cheerily over Barrowby Hill to the Punchbowl. Then came some slower hunting to Leconfield Whin, and nearly to Rudding Park; and then over the railway, when the pace improved, and they fairly raced over the grass of Spofforth Haggs to Ingham’s Plantation. Here they checked, but they hit off the line again over the Spacey Houses road, and hunted nearly to Swindon Wood, where the fox beat them.
They had a useful day’s sport on Friday, January 5th, when they met at Walton. Walton Wood, as usual, held foxes, and one went away without much pressing in the direction of Thorp Arch.
Whether he was headed, or whether it was a travelling fox making for the wood, it is difficult to say, but as Smith was taking hounds to the holloa they met a fox, and soon ran into him. Then came a long draw before they found again in New Spring, whence they hunted at a holding pace by Heslock Field Rash up to Cowthorpe Village. A right-hand turn took them thence through Lingcroft, where the pace improved, and past Bickerton Village, and they finally marked the fox to ground not far from the York Road. Champagne Whin held a fox, which after half an hour’s ringing round about the Igmanthorpe coverts was killed in Hatfield’s Plantation. They found again in Thorp Arch Whin, and hunted with no great scent over the park, and by Walton to Walton Wood, where the fox beat them.
The Bedale have been having some good old-fashioned hunting runs during the month. On Friday, December 29th, they met at Scorton, and found in a small covert named Greenberry. The fox had apparently been gone some time, for they hunted slowly at first by Hewson Hill to Streetland. Here the pace improved, and hounds ran smartly, pointing for Pepper Arden, and then by Rushwood to the Hobden Hill Plantation at Kiplin. They hovered for a moment when they got through this covert—it was scarcely a check—and Freeman held them over a sticky fallow on to the grass, and away they raced again nearly to Ellerton. Then they turned along the Swale-side to Loughton Village and Loughton Hall. Then crossing the Swale a little further on they pointed for Kirby Fleetham. Then skirting Scruton Wood they ran by Morton Flats up to Morton Bridge. The fox crossed the Swale again at the bridge, and hounds ran on by Morton Grange and Langlands, and over the Howe-beck, and past Greenhills and Low Sober, to the Low Plain Plantation at Solberge, within a couple of fields of which they ran into their fox after a good run of two hours. The point would be from seven and a half to eight miles, but hounds would run over twice the distance.
On Monday, January 8th, they met at Rudd Hall, and had another good sporting run. They found in Goskins, and ran first by Tunstall Village, pointing for Brough. Scotton Village was next reached, and then they made a wide circuit past Hawxwell Hall and Garriston. A long check took place at Garriston, and then hounds hunted through the Constable Burton coverts, and then turned to the right over Barden Moor. They hunted steadily on by Laverock Gill, and ran parallel to the Richmond Road down to Hipswell coverts, where they worked up to their fox, and they rolled him over in the open midway between the railway and the River Swale, opposite Easby Abbey, after a good hunting run of two hours and three quarters.
The Cleveland had a capital run on Monday, January 8th, when they met at Marske Station. They had a long draw, all the low coverts being blank, but they found a good fox on the historic Briar Flat in Wilton Wood, and ran him at a great pace by Dunsdale and Court Green to Guisbrough Park. Thence they ran along the brow of the hill to Osborne Rush, and skirting Jackson’s Plantation, passed Upsall, and ran by Hamilton Hills and Marton Gill, where they bore slightly to the left and hunted with a much worse scent by Grey Towers and Sunny Cross to Seamer Whin, where the fox beat them after a good run of an hour and twenty-five minutes. It was a seven-mile point, and hounds crossed a lot of country of varied kind.
Lord Galway’s had a capital day’s sport from Gringley-on-the-Hill on Monday, January 8th. Finding in Gringley Gorse, they raced over the grass to Pear Tree Farm, where the fox was headed, and crossing the Beckingham Road, ran by Clayworth Wood and Beckingham Village, and over the Great Northern Railway to Morton Point, where they turned left-handed over the railway again and ran by Walkeringham on to Mr. Naylor’s farm, where they ran him to ground in view after forty minutes at top pace. Another fox that had evidently done some work was found in Gringley Gorse, and killed after a sharp short burst on Red Hills. They found again in a patch of gorse on the banks of the River Idle, and ran by Drakeholes, nearly to Everton, and then crossed the Chesterfield Canal, took a line by Prospect Hill to Winton New Covert. Then recrossing the canal they ran by Mr. Otter’s thorns, and marked their fox to ground between Hayton and Clayworth after a good fifty minutes.
This is the time of year when changes in hunting establishments begin to be talked about, and an important change will take place in Lord Galway’s country, for Sam Morgan, who has been at Serlby for twenty-nine years, has resigned his appointment. Morgan will have been forty-one seasons with hounds at the end of this season. His first place was as extra whipper-in under his father, Jack Morgan, when the latter was huntsman for the sixth Lord Galway. He held this place for a year, and then went to the late Lord Portsmouth, with whom he stopped nine years, two as second whipper-in and seven as first whipper-in. From there he went to the Percy, then under the mastership of Major Brown, as first whipper-in, and from Northumberland he went to Serlby again. Forty-one years as a hunt servant, and only in three places during that time, is indeed an honourable record, and all hunting men will be sorry to learn that Morgan is leaving the country with which his name and the name of his family is so closely associated. I also hear that Freeman is leaving the Bedale, and rumour has it that he is going to hunt one of the Midland packs.
AMERICAN v. ENGLISH FOXHOUND MATCH.
The “Van Driver” is indebted to an American correspondent for particulars of the work done by the competing packs in this unique “match,” which took place in the Piedmont Valley, Virginia, during the first fortnight of November last. The American pack consisted of 6½ couple belonging to the Middlesex Hunt and the English of 18 couple belonging to the Grafton Hunt. The stakes were $1,000 a side, and the test was to be the killing of the fox. The English hounds were hunted on five days by Robert Cotesworth, and the Americans worked on six days hunted by the Master, Mr. H. Smith. The only kill was scored by the English pack, and as their victim proved to be a tame fox, accidentally released when the hounds were near, this did not count, and the judges had to decide the question of merit on the work they witnessed. It does not appear to have been a very satisfactory method of determining relative merit, as when scent served well either pack ran clean away from the field, “held up” by wire or by the occurrence of land on which the farmers did not desire the presence of horsemen. The number of refuges open to a hunted fox explains the lack of blood obtained; stopping earths seems to have been neglected. The judges gave their award in favour of the American hounds as having “done the best work with the object of killing the fox in view,” but English sportsmen will learn with astonishment that on two occasions when the American pack were at fault a judge lifted them and got them again on the line! Unfortunately the account sent does not give any information concerning the breeding of either pack; beyond the fact that the English were imported hounds and the American bred in the States we are left in the dark. A picture from a photograph in the Rider and Driver, showing the American pack on the kennel bench, suggests that these are pure-bred foxhounds.
THE NEW ARMY POLO COMMITTEE.
It will be remembered that at a meeting of senior Army officers held last summer at Hurlingham, it was unanimously agreed to form a new polo committee, consisting of the Inspector of Calvary (President), cavalry brigadiers, officers commanding regiments, and representatives of corps, interested in polo, and the three members of the Inter-Regimental Tournament Committee (with the Secretary to act in a similar position to the new committee). The meeting agreed that the objects of the new committee should be: (1) To deal with questions affecting principle in the management of regimental polo, especially with a view to keeping down expenses, &c. (2) To act as a consultative and authoritative body on all questions affecting Army polo. (3) To receive from regiments any suggestions, &c., regarding principle or expenditure connected with polo, &c.; and (4) to strengthen the Executive Inter-Regimental Tournament Committee, but without interfering with its management of the details of the tournament. As a result the following Committee has been formed for 1906:—
Major-General R. S. S. Baden-Powell, C.B., Inspector of Cavalry, President; Major-General H. J. Scobell, C.B., 1st Cavalry Brigade; Brigadier-General Hon. J. Byng, M.V.O., 2nd Cavalry Brigade; Brigadier-General M. F. Rimington, C.B., 3rd Cavalry Brigade; Brigadier-General E. H. Allenby, C.B., 4th Cavalry Brigade; Major-General F. J. W. Eustace, C.B., and Colonel E. J. Phipps-Hornby, V.C., representing Royal Artillery; Colonel G. F. Gorringe, C.M.G., D.S.O., representing Royal Engineers; Major-General Sir W. G. Knox, K.C.B., Major-General A. H. Paget, C.V.O., C.B., Brigadier-General E. A. Alderson, C.B., A.D.C., and Colonel A. J. Godley, Irish Guards, representing Infantry; Colonel T. C. P. Calley, C.B., M.V.O., 1st Life Guards; Colonel C. F. Anstruther-Thomson, M.V.O., D.S.O., 2nd Life Guards; Colonel H. T. Fenwick, M.V.O., D.S.O., Royal Horse Guards; Colonel S. B. Bogle-Smith, C.B., 1st Dragoon Guards; Lieutenant-Colonel H. Mercer, 3rd Dragoon Guards; Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Thompson, D.S.O., 7th Dragoon Guards; Lieutenant-Colonel C. Williams, Royal Scots Greys; Lieutenant-Colonel H. W. G. Graham, D.S.O., 5th Lancers; Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. Herbert, M.V.O., 6th Dragoons; Lieutenant-Colonel R. L. Walter, 7th Hussars; Lieutenant-Colonel H. N. M. Thoyts, 8th Hussars; Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Rycroft, 11th Hussars; Colonel E. D. J. O’Brien, 14th Hussars; Colonel G. P. Wyndham, 16th Lancers; Colonel P. S. Marling, V.C., C.B., 18th Hussars; Lieutenant-Colonel H. G. de Pledge, 19th Hussars; Lieutenant-Colonel W. D. Whatman, 20th Hussars; and Colonel J. Fowle, 21st Lancers. Major Lord C. Bentinck, (9th Lancers), Major G. F. Milner, D.S.O. (1st Life Guards), Major G. K. Ansell (6th Dragoons), and Major S. L. Barry, D.S.O. (10th Hussars) (Hon. Sec.), Inter-Regimental Tournament Committee.
The Committee will assemble at Hurlingham the day of, and previous to, the final of the annual Inter-Regimental Tournament.
THE M.C.C. CRICKET TEAM IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Two defeats out of the first three eleven-aside matches was a pretty bad start for Mr. Warner’s team, a batting collapse against the Transvaal being followed by a defeat by one wicket in the first so-called Test Match. One may well ask, “Why Test Match, and of what is the match supposed to be a test?” If a test of anything it is probably a test of the judgment, or rather lack of judgment, of those who selected the M.C.C. team. If the South Africans, who are paying the piper, had called this tune and asked for a nice easy team to beat, we could better apprehend the position, but we understand that the South African cricket authorities took an early opportunity of remonstrating against the unrepresentative quality of this team sent out under the ægis of the Marylebone Club. There may be many points of resemblance between the management of the War Office and the Marylebone Club—at any-rate, they seem to have been of one mind in consistently and resolutely under-rating the strength of our opponents in South Africa.
In 1904, when a strong South African team visited this country, they modestly enough asked that they might be allowed to play just one match at the headquarters of cricket against a team representative of the strength of England.
Instead of this, the Marylebone Club put “An England XI.” into the field, and the South Africans won with great ease a victory to which they attached but little importance. This slight has been followed by this unfortunate selection of a team to represent, not the Marylebone Club, for some of the players have nothing to do with that institution, but probably the authority and wisdom of the M.C.C.; and for English cricket and for Mr. P. F. Warner—the Commander-in-chief of this at present somewhat unfortunate team—we much regret that cricketers more representative of English cricket should not have been chosen. But still more do we regret this error of judgment from the point of view of South African cricket. Here is a colony which has beaten the Australians, which has beaten most of our counties, and triumphed over “An England XI.,” at Lord’s, asking for a good England team to come out and teach her cricketers something more; and then comes this melancholy but extremely probable downfall of a moderate enough team in no way representative of English cricket.
No doubt the difficulties in the way of our best amateurs getting away for a winter’s cricket tour are very great; but if it is impossible to get a really good side to accept the hospitality of the South Africans, it would be almost better for the M.C.C. executive to confess their inability to organise a team than to send out anything second-rate.
GOLF.
The Royal Liverpool Club has come to arrangements with Lord Stanley of Alderley, for a lease of the ground at Hoylake, with the loss of which it was threatened some time ago. Considerable addition of expense is entailed upon the club, and to meet it the club subscription and other charges will have to be raised, but the result of the transaction is to preserve the round at Hoylake in its entirety, a consummation for which all golfers will feel devoutly thankful.
It is announced that the Irish Open Championship meeting will be held this year in the first week of September. Last year the experiment was tried of holding it a month earlier, but it did not succeed, and it is hoped that reverting to the old date may draw to the meeting many of the best golfers on this side of the Channel. Portrush is the place of play on this occasion.
The Cricketers’ Golfing Society has set on foot an inter-county tournament on the lines of the County Cricket Championship. The membership of the society is confined to members of first and second class county cricket teams and to University Blues, and it will furnish the teams for the golf tournament.
Teams representing the Stock Exchange and the Dramatic Profession in London engaged in a competition on the links of the Burnham Beeches Club, the former winning by 8¾ against 5½ points.
The Earl of Dudley has decided to give a Challenge Cup for competition each year among members of the two clubs which play on the links at Dollymount and Portmarnock. This cup is intended as a souvenir of the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland of Lord Dudley.
THE WINTER EXHIBITION AT BURLINGTON HOUSE.
The thirty-seventh Winter Exhibition of the Royal Academy opened on New Year’s Day, consisting this year of a very excellent and representative collection of works by the old masters and deceased masters of the British School. The exhibition is particularly strong in paintings by Reynolds, Gainsborough, Romney, and Turner; and among more recent painters represented are admirable examples of Millais and Burne-Jones. Sporting and animal subjects are not very numerous on the walls. Attention may be drawn to J. F. Herring’s “Return from Deer-stalking” (No. 40); to Sir Edwin Landseer’s “The Catspaw” (No. 50), which, it will be remembered, furnished the late Sir John Tenniel with a text for one of his cleverest Punch cartoons; and to Ralph Caldecott’s animated “Hunting Scenes” (Nos. 240 and 243); “Rabbiting near Cromer” (No. 51), by James Stark, deserves notice, and so does James Ward’s spirited picture of “The Hetman Platoff on the charger which he afterwards gave to Hugh, Earl Percy” (No. 67). The charger, a grey Arab, is a singularly fine piece of work, though it may be objected that no horse, even an Arab, possesses eyes so large as those in the head of this otherwise perfectly drawn animal. The Arabs or Barbs in J. F. Lewis’s “Study of Horses” (No. 246) are well worth close examination as masterpieces of equine anatomy.
PELOTA AT THE WINTER CLUB.
Those who have organised the new club at Olympia have left no stone unturned to provide for the increasing demand for all kinds of games during the winter months. There is something very novel in seeing football played under cover upon the huge grass carpet, provided, we understand, at a cost of some five thousand pounds, and covering the entire floor of the building. There are four or five squash racquet courts, twice as many billiard tables, a rifle range, and sufficient space for several games at croquet. But the attraction which will probably draw many visitors to Olympia is the game of Pelota, the national game of Spain, now played for the first time in England by six pelotari, drawn from the professional champions from the Basque country. The game is played on a cement court eighty yards long, by fifty broad, with a front wall, but no side or back walls, though in Spain we believe that some of the best courts have back walls. It is of the same nature as racquets, only the ball—a rubber-cored ball of the size between a base-ball and a fives-ball—is slung by the players against the front wall after being caught in a sickle-shaped basket-work scoop, resembling more than anything else the semi-circular mud-guards held over the wheels of carriages to prevent the soiling of ladies’ dresses. This scoop or chirista is about two feet long, and the dexterity with which the players catch the ball in it, whether it comes straight to them or they have to take it back-handed or on the half volley, is little short of marvellous; the pace of the ball from the back-handed swing is simply terrific, and when it is remembered that the line above which the ball must strike the front wall is of much the same height as that in an ordinary racquet court, it can easily be realised that the server and the front players, who are constantly under fire from the slingers at the back, require a skill which can only be acquired by life-long habit not merely to take their part in the game, but to avoid being seriously injured.
FANCY DRESS BALLS AT COVENT GARDEN.
The fortnightly masquerades at the Royal Opera House are more popular than ever with light-hearted Londoners. Now that the autumn season of opera is over, the whole of the large house is available for the accommodation of the merry throng of dancers who flock to Covent Garden on alternate Fridays, and the additional space afforded by the stage and its surrounding area is beautified by scenery from the near East. The competition for the prizes for the best and most original dresses is apparently more keen than ever, and the march past of competitors is certainly one of the sights of London.
“CINDERELLA” AT THE EMPIRE.
The name of Cinderella certainly is just about now one to conjure with. The phenomenally successful “Catch of the Season” is none other than our old friend in modern dress; at Drury Lane the most attractive pantomime is “Cinderella,” and now the management of the Empire have produced a beautiful ballet in five scenes, which present for more than an hour twice a day a series of some of the most beautiful and striking effects that have been seen for many a long day.
The one and only Mademoiselle Adeline Gênée is the most delightful and dainty Cinderella, and of all her artistic triumphs she has enjoyed none greater than the present, and she is well supported by Mademoiselle Zanfretta as the fairy godmother, Mr. W. Vokes as the décavé Baron, and Mr. Fred Farren as the Baroness. “Cinderella,” produced as a matinée on January 6th, speedily found herself in the evening bill as well as in daily matinées.
The revue “Rogues and Vagabonds” has proved a great attraction, thanks to the extremely clever mimicry of Mr. Arthur Playfair and Miss Marie Dainton, and the performance of Miss Sibyl Arundale as Harlequin. Miss Arundale has a genius which seems to be incapable of being misplaced, and whether she play “Lady Molly,” “Nanoya, the Cingalee,” “The Gipsy Girl,” or Harlequin, she is invariably a great artist.
With the revue written up to date, there seems no reason why it should not remain a prominent feature of the Empire programme for a long time to come.
The Barber-Ritchie cycling trio is one of the cleverest turns at the Empire, and certainly it seems unlikely that proficiency in cycling can well reach a much higher development than this. Unless our memory fails us, we were thrilled some months ago by seeing Mr. Barber loop the loop on the Empire stage, and Mr. Ritchie is, we hope, none other than our old friend the Tramp Cyclist, whose grotesque disasters and stock of superfluous collars caused us so much merriment a little time ago. We hope that the Barber-Ritchie combination will be visible in London for some long time to come.
BALLET AT THE ALHAMBRA.
The grand ballet “Parisiana” now holds the stage at the Alhambra, and a very magnificent show it is, with its variety of kaleidoscopic scenes ranging from 1760 down to 1906. The chief scenes are by Menessier, representing “Grand Magasins du Printemps,” with a ballet of peignoirs, parfumerie, corsages, and so on, and the final scene, “La Fête de Neuilly,” which is a fine spectacle.
Mademoiselle Jane May, the pantomimic success of “L’Enfant Prodigue,” is to be found playing a silently voluble Pierrot and gamin, and perhaps there is almost too much of her performance, as the pantomime appears rather to check the action of the ballet. La Sylphe executes some of her characteristic dances, and the entire setting of the production is very beautiful. “My Lady Nicotine” still holds its place in the programme of the Alhambra, in which also La Sylphe and Miss Edith Slacke are to be seen. The other items of the programme are good, but almost too fleeting for us to mention in a monthly notice, although “Urbanora,” or “We put the world before you,” is always with us, and very amusing indeed are the pictures of “Dolly Land” and “Noah’s Ark.”
We have received from Messrs. Lawrence and Jellicoe, Limited, 16, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, W.C., a set of four coloured drawings by Mr. Leonard Ravenhill, entitled “Bridge Problems.” The drawings, which are published by special arrangement with the proprietors of Punch, depict the humorous side of the game, the expressions of the players’ faces being particularly well portrayed. The set of four signed proofs can be had from the publishers at four guineas, the price of a set of prints being one and a half guineas.
Such elementary ideas as to the correct management of foxhound puppies as those possessed by many by whom the youngsters are walked must have frequently given cause for anxiety to the Master and his kennel huntsman, who have entrusted their charges to the tender mercies of the walkers. Often a few hints are all that are needed to enable the well-meaning but inexperienced walker to provide against the mishaps to which puppies are peculiarly liable. These hints are supplied in a leaflet by an M.F.H., which gives instructions on walking hound puppies, and which is being sold for the benefit of the fowl fund of an Irish hunt by Lady Coghill, Glen Barrahane, Castletownshend, co. Cork, at 2d. each, or 1s. 6d. per dozen. Directions as to food, lodging, manners, and illness are briefly given, which, if intelligently followed, will prevent avoidable illness, which so often ends the career of a promising puppy, and will make the huntsman’s task of training them far easier than is often the case when the puppies have contracted riotous habits while at walk.
Sporting Intelligence.
[During December, 1905—January, 1906.]
On December 16th, Sir C. Courtenay Knollys, K.C.M.G., Governor of the Leeward Islands, died at Southsea. The deceased was in his college days a very fine sculler, and in 1872 won the Diamond Sculls. In the following year he rowed in the Oxford crew at Putney.
There was an interesting function in connection with the meet of the Sinnington Hounds at Douthwaite Dale, Kirby Moorside, on December 16th. This was the presentation to the late Master, Mr. Sherbrooke, and Mrs. Sherbrooke, of a large oil painting, representing Mr. and Mrs. Sherbrooke, mounted, with hounds, in charge of Mr. Robin Hill, breaking cover at Riseborough Haggs. The presentation was made by Lord Helmsley, who followed Mr. Sherbrooke in the mastership of the pack, and who paid a warm compliment to the manner in which hounds had been hunted during the ten years Mr. Sherbrooke had held the mastership. In his reply, Mr. Sherbrooke spoke with deep satisfaction of the host of valuable friends he and his wife had made during the time hounds were under his care.
We have to record the death of Captain Hugh Browning, of Clapham Park, Bedford, which occurred on December 18th, in his sixty-seventh year. Captain Browning was Master of the Oakley Foxhounds from 1888 to 1897, and showed consistently good sport with the pack.
We regret to record a nasty accident to Lord Chesham, which occurred while out with the Pytchley Hounds on December 20th, and resulted in three fractured ribs, through his horse falling in jumping a fence.
At the meet of the Earl of Eglinton’s Hounds on December 23rd there was a pleasing incident, when Mr. and Mrs. William Baird, of High Balsarroch, were the recipients of a presentation from the members and subscribers of the Hunt on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage. The presentation was made on behalf of the subscribers by Lord Eglinton, and consisted of a piece of plate and a purse of sovereigns. His lordship alluded to the assistance Mr. and Mrs. Baird and their family had rendered to the Hunt during their long residence in the country. They have been at High Balsarroch for twenty-six years, and occupied the neighbouring farm of Mount Fergusson for thirty years previously.
Mr. William Hanway, of Laragh, near Maynooth, died from heart failure on December 24th, in his seventy-first year. Mr. Hanway, who was a well-known rider across country and at the Kildare and Punchestown meetings, rode at the latter in April last, and was out with the Kildare Hunt the day before his decease.
A banquet was given at the Blue Bell Hotel, Belford, on December 28th, to Mr. Richard Burdon-Sanderson, who relinquished his pack of foxhounds last season after a long period of office, when a testimonial was given. The presentation took the form of a dessert service of old silver, and there was also given to Mr. James A. H. Burdon-Sanderson a silver tea-tray in recognition of his valuable services as deputy master of his brother’s foxhounds. The presentations were made in the presence of a large company by the Duke of Northumberland.
At the early age of fifty-one years, Mr. Clervaux Morley Saunders, of Bovicott, Devon, died at his residence on December 28th. Mr. Saunders was well known in the West country as a keen sportsman, and only a few years ago formed and hunted the Bovicott Otterhounds. He was also a breeder of horses, a member of the Council of the Polo Society, and a good supporter of agriculture.
While hunting with the Whaddon Chase Hounds on December 30th, the Countess of Orkney was thrown from her horse and sustained concussion of the brain.
On January 4th there died at Tissington Park, Derbyshire, the Rev. Sir Richard Fitzherbert, Bart., who was in his day a fine athlete and horseman. In the sixties the deceased gentleman represented Cambridge against Oxford at the hurdle race, and he was always a very good man across a country.
While out with the Duke of Buccleuch’s Hounds on January 6th, Mr. John Clay, of Chicago, who is hunting from Sunlaws, Kelso, had the bad luck to break his collar-bone.
Will Thompson, huntsman to Lord Fitzhardinge’s Hounds, sustained a bad fall on January 6th, through his horse swerving and coming down at a gate.
On January 6th, the Hon. Ivor Guest sold Pat 350 gs., Cotton 200 gs., Rarity 350 gs.; Captain the Hon. F. Guest’s Ireland made 200 gs., Spade Ace 280 gs., Scotchman 150 gs., Limerick 200 gs.; the Earl of Lonsdale’s Wallaby 300 gs., Fairy Saint 120 gs.; the Hon. Gilbert Johnstone’s St. Patrick 140 gs., Clansman 100 gs., and Call Boy 110 gs.
The Bedale Hunt has lost a prominent member in Mr. R. Hutton-Squire, who died suddenly at his residence, Holtby Hall, Bedale, on January 10th.
The skeleton of Ormonde has been received in England, to be added to the relics of the many other famous British racehorses now reposing at the Natural History Museum. Mr. Macdonough, his owner, having generously acceded to a request of the British Museum that his remains should be sent to this country to be preserved in the national repository of his native land. The skeleton will, it is understood, soon be exhibited to the public in the Gallery of Domesticated Animals.
A really comfortable general purpose glove, adapted equally well for use when hunting, driving, riding, or walking is a very desirable article to possess. The “Pytchley Hunt” glove would almost appear to fill the requirement. Manufactured of tan cape, specially cut, hand sewn, with Bolton thumb, it is claimed for it to be the best all-round glove upon the market. One feature is the fastening, a single button, which is on the reverse side to the ordinary use and undue pressure upon the wrist is prevented by this arrangement. The glove is one of the specialities of the Barnard Glove Depot, 52 and 53, Cheapside, London, E.C.
We regret to record the death of Mr. W. N. Heysham, the Honorary Auditor of the Hunt Servants’ Benefit Society. Mr. Heysham was one of the originators of this Society, and from its conception was one of the most energetic workers on its behalf. Mr. Heysham was an old contributor to Baily.
Last year the only stallions to be represented by two-year-old winners alone, according to Horse and Hound, were Balsamo, £475; Benvenuto, £100; Bertie, £547; Catch the Wind, £141; Damocles, £826; Diamond Jubilee, £3,999; Diplomat, £973; Elopement, £100; Grebe, £424; King’s Messenger, £1,246; Mackintosh, £395; Galashiels, £2,723; General Peace, £292; Glencally, £200; Ninus, £196; Spook, £276; Tom Cringle, £195.
The bay horse, Pietermaritzburg, foaled 1898 by St. Simon—Sea Air, by Isonomy, has been sold by Mr. George Faber to go to the Argentine for £16,000. As a four-year-old he won the Jockey Club Stakes.
The sales of hunters during the past few weeks include Colonel Grenfell’s Rogers 200 gs., Gimlet 175 gs.; Mr. Austin Carr’s Electric and Duchess 135 gs. each; The Slave 120 gs., Favourite 100 gs.; Mrs. Barclay’s bay gelding 160 gs.; Colonel Malcolm Little’s, C.B., Kuroki, 300 gs.; Mr. Charles Jenkinson’s Mars 160 gs., Ladybird 180 gs., Ginger 130 gs., and Rattle 135 gs.
A celebrated oarsman lately passed away in Mr. H. W. Schreiber, of Trinity Hall, President of the C.U.B.C. in 1855. In that year the long “Crimean” frost, which did not break up till February 24th, and which left Father Thames full of ice-floes for much later, effectually preventing any Putney matches being brought off. But by consent the two U.B.C.’s met in the Grand Challenge Cup at the ensuing Henley Regatta, and Cambridge won somewhat easily. Mr. Schreiber on that occasion, says the Field of December 23rd, rowed No. 3 at 11st. 5lb. In the following year he was expected to take an oar in the Cambridge Putney crew, but was prevented from doing so by reason of examinations.
TURF.
| WINDSOR DECEMBER. | |||
| December 19th.—Clewer Handicap Steeplechase of 150 sovs.; three miles. | |||
| Mr. J. Carlin’s b. g. MacSweeny, 6 yrs., 10st. 8lb. | W. Morgan | 1 | |
| Mr. C. E. Byrne’s ch. m. Strategy, 6 yrs., 11st. | Mr. Cullen | 2 | |
| Mr. F. R. Hunt’s b. g. Sweetmore, aged, 10st. | W. Taylor | 3 | |
| 5 to 1 agst. MacSweeny. | |||
| December 20th.—The December Handicap Hurdle Race of 150 sovs.; two miles. | |||
| Mr. T. Clyde’s br. c. Sachem, 4 yrs., 11st. 12lb. | J. O’Brien | 1 | |
| Mr. A. Gorham’s br. g. San Terenzo, 5 yrs., 10st. 11lb. | T. Fitton | 2 | |
| Mr. J. Bancroft’s b. h. Exhilaration, 5 yrs., 10st. 13lb. | T. Dunn | 3 | |
| 2 to 1 agst. Sachem. | |||
| KEMPTON PARK. | |||
| December 26th.—The Christmas Hurdle Handicap of 200 sovs.; two miles. | |||
| Mr. H. Heasman’s br. h. Stephanas, by St. Serf—Lucky Lady, 5 yrs., 12st. 7lb. | T. Fitton | 1 | |
| Sir S. Scott’s b. g. Series, 5 yrs., 10st. 12lb. | H. Aylin | 2 | |
| Col. R. L. Birkin’s b. c. Baron Crofton, 4 yrs., 11st. 11lb. | Mr. Payne | 3 | |
| 4 to 1 agst. Stephanas. | |||
| December 27th.—The Sunbury Steeplechase Handicap of 200 sovs.; two miles. | |||
| Mr. B. W. Parr’s b. g. Orange Field, by Winkfield—Orange, 6 yrs., 10st. 9lb. | M. Lowe | 1 | |
| Mr. R. Courage’s b. g. World’s Desire, 4 yrs., 12st. | T. Dunn | 2 | |
| Mr. S. Jousiffe’s ch. f. Red Mantle, 4 yrs., 10st. 8lb. | F. Freemantle | 3 | |
| 5 to 2 agst. Orange Field. | |||
| MANCHESTER. | |||
| January 1st.—The New Year Handicap Hurdle Race of 200 sovs.; two miles. | |||
| Mr. G. Menzies’ b. h. Donatello, 6 yrs., 11st. 3lb. | S. Menzies | 1 | |
| Mr. S. J. Bell’s ch. m. Cheriton Belle, 6yrs., 11st. 10lb. | G. Williamson | 2 | |
| Sir Peter Walker’s b. g. Aultbea, 6 yrs., 10st. 11lb. | E. Sullivan | 3 | |
| 13 to 8 agst. Donatello. | |||
| January 2nd.—The Manchester Handicap Steeplechase of 200 sovs.; three miles. | |||
| Mr. John Widger’s ch. g. Royal Bow II., 5 yrs., 11st. 7lb. | Mr. T. Widger | 1 | |
| Mr. J. E. Rogerson’s b. g. Wee Busbie, aged, 10st. 11lb. | D. Phelan | 2 | |
| Mr. C. T. Garland’s br. g. Questionable, 6 yrs., 10st. 11lb. | F. Mason | 3 | |
| 11 to 8 on Royal Bow II. | |||
| WINDSOR. | |||
| January 5th.—The Eton Handicap Hurdle Race of 150 sovs.; two miles. | |||
| Mr. J. S. Morrison’s b. g. John M.P., aged, 12st. 7lb. | W. Terrell | 1 | |
| Sir S. Scott’s b. g. Series, 6 yrs., 10st. 12lb. | H. Aylin | 2 | |
| Sir H. Randall’s b. or br. c. Frisky Bill | J. Dillon | 3 | |
| 100 to 1 agst. John M.P. | |||
| January 6th.—The Castle Handicap of 150 sovs.; three miles. | |||
| Mr. G. Johnson’s b. h. Gladiator, 6 yrs., 11st. 3lb. | E. Driscoll | 1 | |
| Mr. C. T. Garland’s br. g. Questionable, 6 yrs., 11st. 4lb. | F. Mason | 2 | |
| Mr. T. Tyler’s br. g. Trueman, aged, 11st. 2lb. | W. Morgan | 3 | |
| 15 to 8 agst. Gladiator. | |||
| BIRMINGHAM. | |||
| January 9th.—The Grand Annual Handicap Steeplechase of 200 sovs.; two miles. | |||
| Mr. J. G. Houghton’s b. g. Desert Chief, aged, 12st. 12lb. | Mr. Fergusson | 1 | |
| Lord Coventry’s b. g. Kepler, 6 yrs., 10st. | Mr. W. Bulteel | 2 | |
| Mr. P. Gleeson’s b. h. Lord of the Level, 6 yrs., 11st. 4lb. | F. Mason | 3 | |
| 5 to 4 on Desert Chief. | |||
| HAYDOCK PARK. | |||
| January 11th.—The Haydock Park Handicap Steeplechase of 200 sovs.; two miles. | |||
| Sir Peter Walker’s ch. g. Flutterer, aged, 12st. 7lb. | E. Sullivan | 1 | |
| Mr. C. W. C. Henderson’s b. m. Ashton, aged, 10st. 11lb. | J. Seymour | 2 | |
| Mr. J. E. Rogerson’s b. g. Wee Busbie, aged, 11st. 8lb. | D. Phelan | 3 | |
| 10 to 1 agst. Flutterer. | |||
FOOTBALL.
December 16th.—At Birkenhead, North v. South, latter won by 16 points to 10.*
December 16th.—At Inverleith, Edinburgh Wanderers v. Cambridge University, latter won by 21 points to 6.*
December 21st.—At Swansea, Glamorgan v. New Zealand, latter won by 3 tries to 0.*
December 26th.—At Cardiff, Cardiff v. New Zealand, latter won by 2 goals to 1 goal 1 try.*
December 28th.—At Everton, Northern Nomads v. Corinthians, latter won by 4 goals to 3.†
December 30th.—At Swansea, Swansea v. New Zealand, latter won by 4 points to 3.*
December 30th.—At Blackheath, Blackheath v. Marlborough Nomads, former won by 2 goals 2 tries to 1 goal 1 try.*
January 1st.—At Glasgow, Queen’s Park v. Corinthians, latter won by 2 goals to 1.†
January 1st.—At Paris, France v. New Zealand, latter won by 38 points to 8.*
January 6th.—At Upton, Casuals v. Clapton, latter won by 2 goals to 1.†
January 6th.—At Richmond, London Scottish v. United Services, former won by 27 points to 5.*
January 6th.—At Leyton, Casuals v. Belgian Association, former won by 12 goals to 0.†
January 6th.—At Richmond, Richmond v. Marlborough Nomads, former won by 1 goal to 0.*
January 8th.—At Fulham, Amateurs v. Professionals, latter won by 1 goal to 0.†
January 13th.—At Richmond, England v. Wales, latter won by 15 points to 3.*
* Under Rugby Rules.
† Under Association Rules.
Baily’s Magazine
OF
Sports and Pastimes.
| DIARY FOR MARCH, 1906. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day of Month. | Day of Week. | OCCURRENCES. |
| 1 | Th | Sandown Park Races and Steeplechases. Essex and Sussex County Clubs Coursing Meetings. |
| 2 | F | Sandown Park Grand Military Meeting. |
| 3 | S | Sandown Park Grand Military Meeting. |
| 4 | S | First Sunday in Lent. |
| 5 | M | Wolverhampton and Wye Races and Steeplechases. |
| 6 | Tu | Leicester Races and Steeplechases. Hackney Horse Show at Royal Agricultural Hall (4 days). |
| 7 | W | Leicester Races and Steeplechases. Gravesend and Cliffe and Hornby Castle Coursing Meetings. |
| 8 | Th | Warwick National Hunt Meeting. |
| 9 | F | Hurst Park Races and Steeplechases. |
| 10 | S | Hurst Park Races and Steeplechases. |
| 11 | S | Second Sunday in Lent. |
| 12 | M | Derby Hunt Meetings. |
| 13 | Tu | Derby Hunt Meeting. Plumpton and North Union Coursing Meetings. Royal Commission on Horse Breeding and Hunter Show at Royal Agricultural Hall (3 days). |
| 14 | W | Gatwick, Shincliffe and Chepstow Races and Steeplechases. |
| 15 | Th | Gatwick and Shincliffe Races and Steeplechases. Sussex County Coursing Meeting. |
| 16 | F | Kempton Park and Hooton Park Races and Steeplechases. Polo and Riding Pony Show at Royal Agricultural Hall (2 days). |
| 17 | S | Kempton Park and Hooton Park Races and Steeplechases. |
| 18 | S | Third Sunday in Lent. |
| 19 | M | Birmingham and Folkestone Races and Steeplechases. |
| 20 | Tu | Birmingham Races and Steeplechases. |
| 21 | W | Portsmouth Park Races and Steeplechases. |
| 22 | Th | Portsmouth Park, Rugby and Dunbar Races and Steeplechases. |
| 23 | F | Haydock Park and Lingfield Park Steeplechases. |
| 24 | S | Haydock Park and Lingfield Park Races and Steeplechases. |
| 25 | S | Fourth Sunday in Lent. |
| 26 | M | Lincoln Spring and Hawthorn Hill Races. |
| 27 | Tu | Lincolnshire Handicap, Hawthorn Hill Races. |
| 28 | W | Lincoln, Cheltenham and Atherstone Hunt Races. |
| 29 | Th | Liverpool Spring and Cheltenham Races. |
| 30 | F | Grand National Steeplechases. |
| 31 | S | Liverpool Spring Races. |
WORKS BY SIR WALTER GILBEY, BART.
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