HUNT CLUB OFFICIALS

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1930, Page 4

HUNT CLUB OFFICIALS

SOME LONG SERVICE RECORDS.

(By

“Mot tiros.")

The Taranaki Hunt Club has been particularly fortunate in its officials sine© it became a firmly established club in 1905, but the Master, Mr. A. H. Halcombe, holds an especially fine record. In the first place he was instrumental in forming the club and was then elected to the position of Master of the North Taranaki Hunt Club and gave his services continually" until 1926, when ill-health forced him to retire for a while from the saddle. He was succeeded by Mr. B. H. Chaney, whose tenure of office was also attended by success, but when Mr. Chaney left the district at the close of the 1029 season, Mr. Halcombe was prevailed upon to take up again Uje position he had held for twenty-one years in succession. Throughout lust season he rode to almost every hunt and astride his bold veteran ’chaser, Passport, he was a conspicuous figure in the field. Close on the allotted span, Mr. Haleombe is a fine example to the younger followers, and I the words of advice from this whitehaired gentleman are accepted with appreciation by every member of the club. It will be a sorry day, indeed, for the club when the venerable Master decides definitely to retire from the field, ami it is it is the hope of all that it will, be postponed as long as possible. Mr. .Percy Sole, New Plymouth, was the first huntsman of the club and there followed him Messrs. A. Cliff, 11. D. George, E. J. Rook, E. Mason and N. iPepperill. Now the position is filled by Mr. John Sexton, who was appointed in 1925. Mr. Sexton had a long experience with the Manawatu Hunt Club and since the Kennels have been under his jurisdiction the North Taranaki pack has responded remarkably well to his treatment. The first secretary of the club was *Mr. E. P. Webster, who is even more widely known through his association with the Taranaki Jockey Club, in which he also filled the position of secretary. Mr. Webster was followed by Mr. A. L. Humphries, who in turn was succeeded by his brother, Mr. E. L. Humphries, in 1913. Mr. Humphries has held office since that date, aiid it was in his time that most progress was made towards obtaining a totalisator permit. In this position Mr. Humphries has made efficiency his motto and he too has done much to further the interests of the club —interests he holds dear through his enthusiasm for hunting. TURF TOPICS. Bless The Warden of our fortunes tomorrow. • ■ « * « >s Miss Pat (Acre —Sartovna) ran third at the Gosford races on August 19. « « « * King Quox (Lord Quex—Circle Lass), whose form in New Zealand was nothing to enthuse over, is doing well in South Australia and on August 16 he won the Lightning Handicap, seven furlongs, from a good field. lie was at a nice price. ft ft 4 Starting at a long price, Lord Abbey (Lord Multifid—Quin Abbey mare) won the hurdles at Belmont Park on August 16. John Bradbury ran third in •the Flying 'Welter. \ # King March was favourite for the second division of the Three-year-old Handicap at Rosehill on August ifl. Bayacre, who led all the way and finished third, .was not greatly fancied. « a « e There was not a great deal of money for High Disdain in the second division of the High-weight Handicap at Rosehill, but the ex-New Zealander ran a good second, carrying 10.7. and will not lose any friends for the Epsom. EBOR HANDICAP AT YORK. British Wireless. Rugby. Aug. 27. 'l’he race for the Ebor Handicap, one of the great races of the year for Yorkfihiremen, was run at York. It resulted in a dead heat between Mr. Arkwright’s Gentlemen's Relish and Sir Hugo Hirst’s Coaster. Sir H. Wernhcr’s Brown Jack vvas third, half a length away.