COACHING MARATHON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 140, 20 July 1914, Page 2

COACHING MARATHON.

A POPULAR PAGEANT. BRITISH VICTORY. Quite the most attractive feature associated with the International Horse Show at Olympia is the coaching marathon, aoi event that serves as a thorough test of the coachman's skill and the pace find courage of the competing teams. To a$ ■ esteemed votary of light harness lacing,'-, who is now enjoying a holiday in England, I am indebteid for'an account •f the last contest, which was doubly •memorable from the fact that for the first time in the history of the event an Englishman, Mr •W. ■ A. • Barron, came ®ut victorious. There were 13 entries, representing international interests,- and every vantage point along the course of 11 miles, from Bushy Park to the gates of the Olympia arena, was/thronged with interested spectators. Although -it is not -a, race, the coaching classic thoroughly tries the stamina of the competing teams. These were drawn up' in the order of going in the - private enclosure at Bushy Park. '"CONDITIONS OF CONTEST. On official started each coach at intervals of one minute, though the drivers were allowed to pass each other, if this could be done according to the ordinary Tules of the road; but any obstruction of one vehicle. by another led to disqualification. Each cdach had to carry seven passengers, and to be completely equipped as for a regular journey. None was allowed to weigh less than 23cwt, ancl the journey of 11 miles had to be completed in less than 65 minutes. Not bad going this, over a course with every kind of surface, from asphalt and wood paving to stones and macadam, on which there every conceivable obstruction in the way of ordinary traffic. At one part of the journey a troop of Boy Scf&uts was encountered, while at another a patriotic American chepred .his compatriots and waved the Stars and Stripes. At Hammersmith broad way the crowd was so thick as to call forth the best drill of the drivers, and here an enthusiastic spectator attracted the attention of all by calling out: "There's nothing lilffl them. We must come back to the korse after all.'' , r

THE COMPETITORS. •' J ' At their appointed .time" the. 13 vehiclpir moved off in a long-drawn-out'proeessid^n. First came the well-known American, M \ "W: H. Moore, who has so' often won tji<; event. His team consisted of four standf-ard-bred trotters—two bays and greys. As the result proved, it was a fast team, but was a little handicapped the near leader, a well : shaped. which was not of quite the same ty|>i as the others. The next on. the road waf iLecpnfieM) ''#ith a >; bay team tone competing for the first time, and as_ a possible English' victor} his "Old Timflj'i'j coach greeted with enthusiasm all along the route. Mr W. A. Barron's famous team oi chestnuts attracted a |ot; of attention, and deservedly so. They; were true hackneys, showy, but with] |u little too much action for the road. Thpy' stepped like one, and were brimfull ofcourage and stamina; indeed, no team" flowed to tetter advantage in the rijpgi after completing the trying journey."' 11 No quartet amongst the was more foil of life and charattSr*"tli|ip| Mr Tilling's greys. They were tfel in&st' workmanlike on the ground—stout horses with both activity and substance. The only lady competitor was Miss. Brockle"bank, most accomplished of feminine whips, who drove four bays of rather a lighter stamp, one of which was hardly the same type as his companions. However, they moved very nicely, and the Jair reinswoman drove steadily, reachingOlympia well within the allotted time. Mr Alfred Vanderbilt, the previous holder of the trophy, had two very nice teams, one consisting: of four bays—handsome standard-bred trotters—which he drove himself. Both his teams showed more pace than the English-bred horses, but their action was not so showy. AN ENGLISH YICTOEY. Bight on the expected time the first coach drove into the cleared arena at Olympia. This was Judge; Moore's 4 ' Roekmarge,'' which was closely followed" by Mr Vanderbilt's "Venture." There was a considerable wait before the , horns heralded the next arrival, which turned out to be Lord Leconfield's "Old Time" coaeh. In quick succession the other "competitors arrived, each greeting the thousands of spectators with a challenging blast of the horn, and each Teceiving a Welcoming burst of applause. Then when all the turnouts had reached their goal, the judges played their part. Each team was closely scrutinised, the action of the horses shown off, and condition noted. When it was announced that the first prize had been awarded to a British sportsman, Mr W. A. Barron, the enthusiasm knew no bounds. The impressions left on the visiting New Zealander were of keen admiration for the splendid Courage of the teams, the driving of tlie coachmen, and the deep affection for horses in the hearts of English people. Truly, the Coaching Marathon has given a new life to road-coach-ing, whieli is, of course, the true school of the coachman's art. TEMPLAR.