HORSE JUMPING

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 47, Issue 2669, 13 September 1937, Page 3

HORSE JUMPING

SHOW TIME AT CAIRNS NEW AUSTRALIAN RECORD PERFORMANCE BY VETERAN. Queensland is the Australian home of horse-jumping and the Cairns Showground is the premier one of the Commonwealth for this type of competition, as has been demonstrated on several occasions. The fact has been once more established at this year’s show, when Mr E. Nelson’s Plain Eagle, ridden by Ron Hull, cleared the bar at 8 ft. 31 in., creating a new Australian record.

“The attempt on the record was made following the conclusion of the W. J. Houston high jump, when three horses, the record breaker, Plain Eagle, C. Perry’s Plain Bill and Lookout, divided £7O prize money when they jumped a height of 7 ft. 71 ins.,” says the Cairns Post. “Nine horses started in this event, E. Nelson’s Plain Eagle; C. Perry’s Plain Bill and'Lookout; A. L. Payne’s Joker; E. Nelson’s Euchre; A. L. Payne’s All Fours; E. Nelson’s Domino; and A. McHardie’s Mandrake and Johnny Graham.

“The jumping commenced at 5 feet, and all nine horses were jumping exceptionally well, clearing without difficulty until the 7-foot level, when Plain Bill and Plain Eagle gave the crowd some moments of suspense by failing in their first two attempts. 'Then came the 29-year-old veteran, Domino, also ridden by R. Hull, who, in company with Dark Man and Lion, in 1935, broke the existing Australian record by jumping 8 ft. Oi in. at Cairns, and has jumped in more high jumps than any horse in Australia. In spite of his years Domino was one of the most spirited jumpers of the day, and his retirement at 7 ft. 4i in. removed one of the favourites with the crowd.

A Clever Pony. “The effort of Mr A. McHardie’s Johnny Graham, however, was hardly a whit less outstanding. This 12.3 hands pony, ridden by Ken Aspinall, cleared 7 ft. 4 in., which equals the record set up by the famous Thumbs Up. But it is very doubtful if ever tliesc figures have been exceeded by a pony of Johnny Graham’s .height. It would be safe to say that in no ring outside the great capitals will there be found a better programme than that presented by the Cairns Show Association, and so far as the ing is concerned Cairns must be regarded as the most successful in Australia, even including the capitals. The figures set each year in this event speak for themselves.

“Another record went by the board

when the night jumping record of 7 ft. 1 in., held by the ex-Australian champion, Coaldust, was lowered in the Consolation High Jump by A. L. Payne’s Joker, who, ridden by Mick Garrahy, cleared 7 ft. 3 in. Euchre, who figured in last year’s dual record with Lookout, jumped 7 ft., but baulked at the extra height.”

Whole Populace Attends.

“These shows in northern Queensland are really wonderful affairs,” writes a former New Zealander. They are attended by the whole countryside for nearly 1000 miles around and accommodation is always at a premium. That does not worry some people who doss in a tent or under a rug in the open air. In the daytime there are the sports, races, and side-shows, and of an evening a good variety of entertainment. This year there was Mackay’s Gaieties, Stanley Grant’s “White Horse Inn” Company, Wirth’s Circus and three open-air picture shows seating from 1500 to 2000 people each, enclosed on the sides only, but open to the heavens. If it chances to rain, most of the audience has to beat it for shelter as only one part of the enclosure has a tented covering. But the nights are usually fine and warm up here, and the open air is preferable to a theatre.”