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Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1930, Page 25 (Supplement)

Racing is still occupying the thoughts of Richard and Gwendoline. They were not at all satisfied with their display in the rowing match, and continued to argue #ibout it until something fresh attracted their attention. It was a picture poster .of a horse race. Of course they had to stop and gaze at it. "Ah!” said Richard, “That’s what I call sport. Jumping over hedges and racing across the country. "It looks interesting,” said Gwen. ,

All the way home Richard continued to talk about racing and jumping, and .he soon began to exaggerate his own cleverness in this direction. "Only a horse could jump high hedges,” Gwen declared. ♦‘What?” cried Richard, "Why, I could jump any hedge!” ♦‘Don’t be silly,” advised Gwen, “You know you cannot jump any better than I can.” - "Ted!” whispered Polly, “if they, argue much longer they will end up by challenging each other.” \-- - —

Polly was not far wrong when she said that Richard and Gwen would soon be challenging each other to a race. She and Ted were chatting under a tree that afternoon when the other two came along. “We’re going to race over hedges and ditches,” cried Richard. “Gwen thinks she can beat me.” “Good!” said Polly. ' “Yes!” Richard went on, “We’re going to be the horses and you are to be the jiders.” “What!” yelled Polly, “and get thrown into a ditch or something? No thank you!”

Neither Ted nor Polly would agree at first to act as jockeys for Richard and jiwen. But when Richard explained that the race could not possibly take place Without their help, they agreed to oblige. Ted rode Richard, and Polly jumped on Gwen’s back. ' The race started from the top of the hill. “Are you ready?” asked Richard. “Yes!” answered Polly. “But mind! I don’t want to be thrown into a ditch.”

Richard and Gwen raced down the hill, and it must be admitted that both Ted and Polly rode their “horses” very well. In fact, they began to enjoy the quick movement through the air. “It almost feels like flying,” Polly remarked. Poor Polly very soon was flying, and so was Ted, for at the first hedge they flew right off their mounts and fell into the ditch. It was just as well they did!

Because Richard and Gwen had become very excited, and were not inclined to jo at all carefully. They did not stop to pick up Ted and Polly, but just raced on faster than ever. Unfortunately, they had forgotten that there was a big ditch full of water at the last hedge. My! Didn’t they make a splash! They got their mouths so full of mud they couldn’t continue the race, and so, of course, they couldn’t decide who had won. And Polly and Ted refused to ride again. They are unlucky in their races, aren’t they?