PRINCE OF SPORTSMEN

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1935, Page 11

PRINCE OF SPORTSMEN

THE FAMILY’S BEST RIDER FINE SHOT; BIG-GAME HUNTER. LONG DISTANCE RUNNING. New Zealand’s inherent love of horseracing—the sport of kings—is an outward and visible sign of what one distinguished visitor was pleased to call "our ruling passion.” In that we have an enthusiastic sympathiser in the Duke of Gloucester, a veritable Prince of Sportsmen, and the best rider in the Royal Family. Added to these qualities he is regarded as one of the best six shots in Europe; at polo he approximates international standard; he is a keen follower of the hounds and has done a good deal of big-game hunting. While at golf he is but an average performer, he did a good deal of long distance running in his twenties; he is a keen, if not brilliant, tennis player, a good swimmer and an expert motorist. It may be recalled that he was the first of England’s living princes to win a point-to-point race. That occasion was when he carried off the Infantry Cup in the First Cavalry Brigade Steeplechase against 12 competitors. His sue- - cess was followed speedily by the Prince of Wales, who won an event of this kind only a few days afterward, but the Duke of Gloucester is regarded as by far the better rider of the two. Those who have hunted with the Duke say that he would have made a marvellous “stunt” rider, for-he has a wonderful control over his mounts. This, combined with his lack of fear,-makes .trick riding easy for him. PREFERENCE. IN. HORSES. . The Duke ■is not heavy,. but has long legs, and prefers a horse-of a minimum height: of 16 hands. One- of the best hunters he has possessed was .over 17 hands, but it was. exceptional, as it is rare to find the necessary quality. in a horse of such size. The Duke has-always tried to obtain hunters which can gallop well. .When in Australia he was on tbe look-out for a > horse capable of winning a point-to-point race at-the . end -of a hunting season. The Duke, for the same reason, has liked a free jumping horse, and one which can jump easily and naturally out, of. its stride. The DuKe has a way with horses which is the true hallmark of the hern cavalryman. He has had a passion for horses all his life. Polo he plays' extremely well. Hunting and steeplechasing- have no- greater devotee, arid his sideboards are plentifully decorated : with regimental cups and trophies which he has won at Army point-to-point meetings- in recent years. At Sandown and Cheltenham he has been seen in the saddle competing against, professional and accomplished amateur riders and his riding has been greatly admired by regular racing men. His mounts on these occasions have seldom had good - form to their' credit, but the Duke cheerfully takes any mount which is offered hirn, a rather rare - sporting trait. ' . • ... “I am afraid that my . horse has not an earthly chance of winning, sir,” said an owner once at Sandown' to the. Duke, who had expressed a’ desire to ride the animal in a . certain event. ■ . “Good,” replied the Duke, . “the public won’t lose any money then,- even if I come in last. I like- the horse and I will have the mount.” He finished a respectable fourth. MODEST BETTOR. The Duke is not a betting man, and any wager he makes is on a very modest scale. At Cheltenham one day a wellknown racehorse trainer told the Duke that a certain horse was practically unbeatable in the big race. “In that case,” answered the Duke, "I must have a bet,” and he put 10s each way on it. The trainer had £2OO on, but he was not nearly as delighted when the horse won as ufas the Duke of Gloucester. i The Duke probably attends more rac« •, meetings than any of his brothers, and is a good judge of form. One of his most cherished ambitions is to see a Royal horse win the Derby. Like most sportsmen, the Duke is devoted to dogs. He possesses some very fine retrievers in which breed he Is keenly interested, and is usually accompanied on his journeys by one or two of„these dogs. He owns Scotch terriers, greyhounds, a bull mastiff, and a Labrador. The Duke is particularly keen on covert shooting. A few years ago he accompanied his father on a shoot at Sandringham, where the birds rise high above the tops of the trees before the guns reach them, and therefore present a difficult target. The King dischargees both barrels unsuccessfully, but the Duke brought down a bird at the first shot. The King laughingly doffed his hat, de; , lighted at his son’s skill. • Running and walking matches hold a great measure of interest for the Duke, and it was at his own wish that in 1921 he started the marathon race from the grounds of Windsor Castle. He had particulars of the progress of the race telephoned to him until its conclusion. At Eton Prince Henry was one of the best long-distance runners of his time, and he indulged in running during the afternoons in later life, in order to give himself sufficient exercise. When he was in Africa he followed t the example of the Prince of Wales, when taking long trips by train, of turning out in shorts and sprinting along the track while the train followed slowly behind. The grounds of Buckingham Palace have provided the Duke with an excellent training ground, where running and tennis can be indulged in in privacy right in the heart of London. The Duke from boyhood has always [been interested in athletics, and wMle at /Eton was an enthusiastic cross-country runrier. He can reel off all the up-to-date athletic records, a feat which always astonishes his great friend Lord Burghley, the famous hurdler. Boxing is another sport which interests the Duke. It is said that he is no mean exponent of the fistfc art, and he is credited with being the boxing champion of the Royal Family. To see boys and youths boxing always gives the Duke pleasure, and he has presented scores of cups to boys’ clubs and organisations all over England to encourage ringcraft. Prince Henry played his first- round of golf at the age of 12. He plays an averagely good game, but is not the golf enthusiast that the Prince of Wales has become, nor is he as attached to the game as is the Duke of York. Prince Henry learned to play billiards at Cambridge, and though he occasionally has a game, he is not a really keen player. For exercise while at home the Duke plays tennis a good deal and takes part in his regimental races, wearing his own colours of pale blue and scarlet He used to play Rugby regularly, but now contents himself with being a spectator. He became a member of the Automobile Club when he was 20. On most private occasions he drives himself* very . frequently in the sports model he favours. He handles a fast car well. HiS Royal Highness is keenly interested in aviation, though, being a soldier, it is natural that he should regard it mainly from the military standpoint. When his other duties have permitted he has made it a rule to be present at the Royal Air Force pageants. He has flown a good deal.