JUDGING A HUNTER.

Matamata Record, Volume XIII, Issue 1104, 10 March 1930, Page 4

JUDGING A HUNTER.

A QUESTION OF CLASS. Eleven Stone or Thirteen. a Should an eleven-stone hunter be eligible to compete in the class for thirteen-stone hunters? This was the conundrum pro- 5 - pounded by a competition through the secretary, Mr. F. Banks, at the last meeting of the executive of the Matamata A. and P. Association. The statement made to the secretary was that an eleven-stone hunter could enter for the thirteen-stone class, but the thirteen-stone hunter could not enter in the eleven-stone class. Both were eligible for tn© championship, therefore the thirteenstone hunter was penalised. At first blush it appeared that opinion favoured the .complaint, hut then the “ horsey ” men got to work but their explanations for a start only tangled things somewhat and the discussion became more involved. During much cross-talk the chairman was heard frequently to remark that it was a question for the judge, who, if he knew his job, would throw an eleven-stone hunter out of a thirteen-stone class. Mr. C. G. Payze stated that to his recollection the same horse had never won both classes at Matamata. Mr. Stevens: Then there is no complaint. After the secretary had refused to divulge the name of the competitor propounding the conundrum, despite the cajolery of being told the meeting was “in committee,”. he pointed out that in his opinion there' was something in the complaint. Referring to the award book he drew members’ attention to the fact that El Arish had taken first prize in the eleven-stone class and second prize in the thirteen-stone class. Discussion then started all over again for a short period, and one member stated the rider might make the difference. M-***-^ This was .countered by another . member, who stated in that case the eleven-stone horse should be in the thirteen-stone class and that class only. “ I don’t know a seven-stone horse from a twenty-one stone horse,” he concluded, “ but it appears wrong to me.” Again those with a knowledge of horse-fiesh raised their voices loud enough for the chairman’s opinion to be supported, and the matter was dropped as being one for the judge Only. » '.->*< It seemed, however, from the discussion, that members agreed that the statement, which the secretary said was not in the nature of a complaint, was justified.