There are other Hermit sires that have had this extraordinary gift of getting jumpers, though perhaps in less degrees. Cassock got some very good ones, and so has St. Honorat, Nautilus, Bookworm, Bold Marshall, Edward the Confessor, The Abbot, Hawkstone, and Peter, but Ascetic and Retreat brought in the Grand National records. It must not be forgotten, also, that the hunters by the sons of Hermit have been quite unique. If any one enquires about Birdsall or Malton, as to how the best hunters have been bred of late in Yorkshire, they will hear nothing but praise of the Gordons, and the Whisperers, Marks and Homilies have all done their meed of good in hunting quarters. It would seem that Hermit’s mission in life was to create an extraordinary family to be the very mainstay of sport in every branch that has anything at all to do with horses. It is estimated that three millions have been won by Hermit and his descendants, and yet it is barely forty years since the scene at Epsom was enacted. One recalls the suspense and excitement of the crowd, the yellow in apparent command; then like a flash there is a pink streak, as it were, closing, and the little interval, scarcely perceptible to any but the judge, has made all the difference. Other Derbies have followed in its wake—Ascot Cups, Goodwood Cups, many Oaks, St. Legers, Alexandra Plates and Grand Nationals, have shaken the very sporting world in widespread interest, and the thread of it all is from Hermit.
G. S. Lowe.
Sport at the Universities.
So far Cambridge leads in the great fight for all-round sporting supremacy this year. Twelve Inter-’Varsity competitions have been already decided, Cambridge boasting seven victories, and Oxford five. Ten contests were brought off during Lent Term, just past, and during that period honours were “easy.” Both Universities won five events. The Light Blues started well by winning the Association football and hockey matches during February. Oxford, however, were unfortunate in losing several of their best men either at the eleventh hour or during the actual fray. But for bad mishaps to O. T. Norris (the Oxford captain) and other Dark Blues, Cambridge would hardly have won the “Soccer” match by 3 goals to 1. They would probably have won the hockey match in any case, yet the enforced absence of Messrs. Round and Butterworth made all the difference to Oxford’s play. At boxing and fencing and billiards Oxford asserted superiority early in March. In the first-named competition their victory was most pronounced (7 events to 1), and some really fine science was shown both with the gloves and the foils. Although played at Cambridge, the Dark Blues repeated their 1905 billiards triumph by 2 games to 1, but shortly afterwards Cambridge beat their rivals somewhat easily at lacrosse by 10 goals to 3.
The Inter-’Varsity “Grind” was again won by Oxford (56 points to 45), Mr. H. W. Aston’s Aughamore (owner up) beating Mr. Fred Cripp’s Ballycraigy by a neck for first place. Mr. Atkinson’s Dandy Dan (the Hon. B. B. Ponsonby up) finished third for Cambridge. A course between Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard was utilised this year, and a very large and fashionable crowd was en evidence. Lord Orkney was judge, and Mr. Leopold de Rothschild and Mr. W. Selby Lowndes, M.F.H. Stewards. Oxford also retained the Chambers Shield by winning the Inter-’Varsity sports by the big margin of 7 events to 3. The Cantabs only accounted for the 100 yards, one mile, and weight items. The salient features of the meeting were the running of President Cornwallis (Oxford), who won the “Quarter” in 51 secs., and the “Half” in 1 min. 56⅖ secs., and the mile running of Mr. A. R. Welsh (Cambridge), who completed the distance in 4 min. 21⅕ secs. On the sodden track and under most wretched conditions all these performances were remarkable. Other notable feats were the hammer-throwing of Mr. A. H. Fyffe (Oxford), who created a fresh Inter-’Varsity record by hurling 136 ft. 3 ins., the jumping of Mr. P. M. Young (Oxford), who won the long jump at 22 ft. 3 ins., and the high jump at 5 ft. 7¼ ins., the weight-putting of President G. W. Lyttelton (Cambridge), 38 ft. 3¾ ins., and the hurdling of Mr. E. R. J. Hussey (Oxford), who beat Mr. F. H. Teall (Cambridge), the 1904–05 winner, in the fine time of 16½ secs.
Cambridge again won the golf competition at Hoylake by the excellent margin of 30 holes to 7. The play on the whole was somewhat disappointing, nor did Mr. A. G. Barry (amateur champion) do all that was expected for the Light Blues. “As a team,” however, the Cantabs were overwhelmingly superior, the best form for Oxford being shown by the captain (Mr. Grundy) and Mr. H. J. Ross. The annual chess match produced some sound all-round play, and, in the result, Oxford repeated their last year’s victory by exactly the same margin (4½ games to 2½). Shortly before this, the combined Oxford and Cambridge teams had drawn with the American Universities in their periodical contests for the Rice trophy. The play was per cable telegraph, and, in the main, was worthy the occasion. The trophy still remains on this side of the Atlantic. So far Oxford had drawn nearly level with Cambridge, and the Boat Race excited exceptional interest. How Cambridge won a very one-sided race, leading from start to finish, in the fine time of 19 min. 26 secs., is now a matter of history. They finished comparatively fresh, while four, at least, of the Oxonians were much distressed.
I quite agree with a distinguished Old Blue that the history of the 1906 practice, culminating in the race of April 7th, will ever stand as the most paradoxical on record. Before the crews left home waters Oxford were vastly superior “as a crew.” They could have given the Cantabs a dozen lengths over the championship course. Upon the crews’ arrival at Henley and Bourne End respectively, Cambridge improved out of all knowledge. In a flash, as it were, they became a crew, and subsequently beat all records over the Cookham course and every part of it. Nor were the Oxonians idle. They, too, advanced in appreciable fashion, greatly pleasing such sound judges as Sir John Edwards-Moss, Messrs. Fletcher, Harcourt Gold, Dr. Bourne, &c. Then followed the crews’ advent at Putney. Cambridge went on improving, and were visibly fit enough to row the race a week before the eventful day. Oxford were clearly in the rough, yet showed the longest and steadiest swing of any Oxford eight since 1897. Most experts expected a repetition of last year’s procedure, when the Dark Blues trained on and were fit to row for their lives on the morning of battle. But something was lacking during the last week. And that something never came. The spectacle was afforded on April 7th of this fine crew being outpaced and out-rowed from pillar to post. To most it was a perfect enigma. Some blame the boat, others their lack of fitness, and others again their over-doing matters. In any case the fact remains that one of the most powerful crews of modern years were pulverised by a Cambridge eight, whose great merit was uniformity and speed. Theirs was a sculling style pure and simple, while that of Oxford at their best was that of a first-rate oarsmanship. Does this mean a new theory in the matter of future make-up, training, and coaching?
Several other Inter-’Varsity contests have to be decided during the Summer Term, now in full swing. These include the polo match (June 25th) and the cricket match (July 5th, 6th, and 7th). Cricket prospects are rosy enough both ways. Mr. W. S. Bird (Malvern and New College) is the new Oxford captain, and Mr. E. L. Wright (Winchester and New College) hon. sec. Other old blues available are Messrs. G. N. Foster, E. G. Martin, N. R. Udal, G. T. Branston, and O. T. Norris, while many well-known senior men will be again in residence. These include Messrs. A. O. Snowden, P. T. Lewis, H. H. Worsley, H. M. Butterworth, B. Cozens-Hardy, E. Cripps, C. A. L. Payne, and the Hon. C. N. Bruce. Mr. C. H. Eyre (Harrow and Pembroke) is the Cambridge captain, and Mr. M. W. Payne (Wellington and Trinity) hon. sec. No fewer than eight old blues are available, viz.: Messrs. R. A. Young, C. C. Page, F. J. V. Hopley, K. P. Keigwin, L. G. Colbeck, G. C. Napier, P. R. May, and A. F. Morcom. With only one vacancy to fill up, competition for places will be exceptionally severe this year. The best known senior men available include Messrs. W. P. Harrison, C. Palmer, R. E. H. Baily (all county players), C. B. W. Magnay, R. S. Preeston, A. P. Scott, E. A. Smythies, G. C. Humphreys, C. S. Rattigan, and G. Belcher.