Birchwood Hunt Club.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 16, 15 August 1905, Page 2

Birchwood Hunt Club.

The point to point steeplechase held under the auspices of the Birch wood Hunt Club took place on Wednesday last. Though the weather was very inclomunt, a large number of spectators attended to witness this interesting event, and the whole of the' course could be well seen from the FairfaxBiverton main road. The course was laid off over natural country from Mr P. Sherridan's Farm, Groper's Bush, to a paddock at the back of the Fairfax hotel. The boisterous -weather prevented some of the intending competitors from a distance turning up. Notwithstanding, there were five starters, Mr. Kelly's " Wee McGuire," Mr Kean's " St. Kooringa," Mr EUett's " Prince Ching," Mr Crook's " Red Leap," and Mr McGavock's 'Bun Tuck." A good start was effected, and for tho first three fields and jumps the horses kept well together, though the pace was made very fast. At the third obstacle Bun, Tuck, who struck heavily, dislodged his rider (Lyon) but finished the course with empty saddle, jumping m beautiful style. All the horses came down the hill at Bonnie's cutting at a great bat, and then Wee McGuire, who rose too early at hia jump, lauded m a boggy place, and unfortunately broke one of the legs of his rider (McNay). From thi-f point Prince Ching, who had been jumping faultlessly throughout, and St. Kooringa-, were racing neck and neck, and a great race ensued to the last fence, when St. Koorjiiga fell, "leaving Prince Cbincr a comf triable win. Mr James Millar, of Drummond, acted iv the capacity of ju ig-, and a'.-'O as clerk of sotte*. An old sport, who ufurwards inspected the con rvo, said he won-.h*r„d how tho horses ever got over somo portions of ir, and considers it was just the pace which drove them through so many bogs, creeks aiid rough' places, and siysmany of our old hunting men would not think yood huutcis a scarce commodity m Southland if they had aeu the hunt last Wednesday. Or townsman, Mr Alex Mclvor, rode the winner.