THRILLS AT SHOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21639, 3 November 1933, Page 8

THRILLS AT SHOW

STEER HIDING CONTESTS ANIMALS JUMP FROM RING BABY'S NARROW ESCAPE LIVELY TIME FOR SPECTATORS [rtY TKI.KCJII Al'H —OWN CORRESPOND KN T ] PALMERSTON NORTH, Thursday Thorn wore sonic exciting incidents in connection with the steer riding contests at the Manawatu Association s Spring Show, a child in a perambulator having a narrow escape irom injury. The animal, ridden by Mr. G. Boswcll, of Mnrton, made a spectacular leap over the fence surrounding the oval, rushed between two ears, and then bore down on a perambulator containing the, three months' old baby of .Mrs. Siversen, of Duncan 'lerrace, Wellington, a visitor to the show. The animal, however, swerved slightly to avoid a collision, but could not, prevent one of its forefeet from striking the perambulator and capsizing it. The steer partly fell to its knees. Rising again, it charged back at a small oar with lowered head and then galloped away toward the stock pavilions. The rider was still on his mount, but, as more steeplechasing seemed to lie pending, he threw himself off and made for the nearest safety point. Horsemen went in pursuit of the steer, which continued round to the buck of the stock pavilion. Its sudden appearance surprised a number of farmers engaged in absorbing studies of the stock there. The last seen of one of them was running for a fence as lie never ran bofore. The horsemen finally rounded up the animal. The perambulator was damaged, the undcr-earriage and a, wheel being smashed and the cane body twisted. 'The baby emerged entirely unharmed. After this exciting episode other steers began to show an aptitude for clearing fences. / There was a further incident when a steer ridden by Mr. G. Wright, of Silverhope, dashed up to an iron fence and cleared it, nearly battering a gate down as it got into the horse-saddling enclosure, it left behind a badly dented fence. The crowd again scattered as horsemen chased it round and ultimately returned it to the ring. The rider had been thrown at the initial hurdling essay. The next bullock, while the pursuit mentioned above was still proceeding, made for the same place, the spectators being uncertain which side of the fence to choose. This third steer rammed the fence and butted a rider who had just previously finished on another mount and rolled him over. An elderly spectator intent 011 watching the episode was caught unawares from behind and bowled over unceremoniously by a bullock inside the show ring.