SPORTING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13312, 14 June 1907, Page 3

SPORTING.

• roixr 10 poixr hacks. ' Svewurds: The Hunt ConmiLtee; starter,. Mr C. X. Orbell; judges, W. rf. Lindsay, J. I).. Mee, S. xiigginooUiani; clerk of scales, Mr J. I). Maz>;; lion. Lu'r,geon, Dr W. E. Gib.-on; .sc-ci\..fary, L>r C; Ej Thomas. The annual point to point race of the South Canterbury Hunt was he:d yesterday afternoon, on a course laid, out- in the Levels Valley, for the most part 0,1 Mr C. X. Orbeii's farm, directly behind. the old Levels homestead, which was-thJ rendezvous for the competitors and visitors;, lhe attendance was small, and alrnu.t. limited to members and friends of thi Hunt. The slopes on the homestead side of the valley afforded an almo.-.t complete view of the races, and had the afternoon been clear and sunny the landscape, would have been a pleasure to see. l-.wn with a dull sky and a hazy atmosphere it wars apleasing change for the visitors from town. The memberc who laid out ih-j- couise. deserve rhe thanks of the onlookers for their judicious choice of country fiom the spectators point of view. Tor the hunters, heavy and light, the distance was abou:;our'miles, and the course b.ing in the shape of a veiy flat " S *' the field was , rery nearly all the time in view, and tighten of the four-an-1-iwenty jumps could bj seen. The course offered some variety for the riders, as it included some downy .'lopes as well as levels, and a bit of :>lough, the reft being all very good gong. • ' Most of tha fences were: moderate )b-taclet:, a few being pretty difficult, The riders spoke of the course as an ex•client- one, and those who came through kclared that they had had a most enjoyible ride, while the. onlookers said they 'iad never had. so good a view of a point .0 point before. There w,-re several bookmakers on lire, ground, and they appeared co be doing some business. At the weigh-; ing out the commonest offer was " Four pound dividend bar Craigmore and Lucky ■itar," and the result of the race justified .his selection of favourites. Six heaw weights) (13st), and nine .light weights (ll£st), started together for the lour mile spin. The si art ing point was he shoulder of a spur on the opposite ade of the valley, and to the first fence he course ran slightly downhill. There .vere two or three ispills at the second fence, and two horses got away, one joining the Held riderless. Mr C. L. Orbell on Elworthy Bros.' Matthew, led the; way, with Dr Thomas on Brownhill second, and th-y kept ihe lead nearly all the- way. The zround wasi damp on the surface from the previous nights drizz!-?, but- the field raised ■>, dust in going over the plough, which •va» an up-grade for them. Little, could be made out of the fortunes of the race at •lie further end of the long loop, owing :o the haze, but as the field cams well Into tight again, racing down the valley kit below the spectators-, and ten hors.o *e-re teen, in fairly close proces-ion, there vert- cries iliac "Lucky Star will do it," and •' Craigmore's third; a certainly for iiim." Apparently -the 1< ader, Mr C. L. Orbell * on Matthew, and ins attendant, Dr Thomas on Brownhill, were not recognised by these .vho made these forecasts. Thr- field had .0 make a short loop away to the left, and turn up hill to the finishing Hag, and in this .-.paw tome changes were made. Matthew canw down at the third knee from home. Craigmore and Lucky Star commenced a vigorous race for first place, and Gnat also' got ahead of Brownhill. TLese four passed the) po.-t with but, a few lengths between them, the order of anivai being: Mr A. S. Elworthy (13st) on Craigmore;- Mr V. r. Evans (Hi) on Lucky Star; Mr H. Elworthy lll£) on Gnat; InJ. K Ihornas (11-£) on Brownhill; Mr W. ; Bond (15) on Elworthy Bros.' Brisk; Mr L£ Ciowe ll3) on Omrah. Four others came up after the live minute limit had elapsed. Jn a farmers' race, for farmers or farmers' eon:-, ten started for a shelter ride of about 2£ miles. 1b..-conr:e being the same as for the first race, with a large part of the long loop up the valley cut out of it. The whole field started well and went more than half way before losing any of their number. Then a number of spills occurred, and only three* of the ten passed the- post within the time limit. One rider, Mr H. Coker, of Waslnlyke, on -Mr A. Austin's Lord Cardigan (a younghorse, in Ilia first; .season) came down badly and was picked up in.-e n.-ibh-, and anolh r rider .sustained a nasty cut on the head. The former pres.~nt.ly rtenv.-n-d hi- s .-r.se-; and was driven home. This race was remarkable for its close finish, being won by a- head only. So clo.-e a finish is extremely rare in point to point races, and cons.quenily it occasioned an unusual degree of interest. Afternoon tea was provided on the ground bv the Hunt, Mr Budd being the caterer, and this ■thought-fulness on the part of the committee was duly appreciated. The results were as follows : HEAVY WEIGHTS, first prize 10 <ruitir:i cud piwnled by Major W. S. Lindsay ; second 2-girinea trophy pie. enlej bv MrH. Elworthy; la t past t'«? pen; within 5 minute.-, pair of spins preK.nte.l by Mr F. Evans; about four m-'in weight Hist, Elw.-vthv Bros. Craigmore (Mr A. S. F.l worthy) \ El'.-ortv Bros' Brisk (Mr W. T.cnd) ... 2

Mr II- Crowe's Onirali (owner' 3 LIGHT WEIGH I .!SS—First prize 10 guinea cup pre-.eviled by Mr T. Tes:chemaker; second prize 2-guinea trophy; niiniimim w-ight lUsl. Mr V P. Kvans' Lucky Star (owner) 1 El worthy Bros. Gnat" (Mi- H. Elwort, hy) ■••••■ 2 Dr 0. J-'. Thomas' Browrdiill (owner) 5 Mr A. S. Elwortlry also'wen a 3-guinea trophy for first horse past the post. Time first) iiorse llmin 26sec. FARMERS' RACE—First prize 5-gi^n-:-ax presented by Major Lindsay, second 2- , guineas presented by Mr A. S. Elwortlry; catch weights,'for horses the property of farmers or sens of farmers who have given the Hunt permission to cross their country-'; distune;.' about 2£ miles. Mr A. Beattie's Rangi (owner) ... 1. Mr L. Wareing's Rufu?r (owner) ...- 2 Mr P. Hammond's Trilby (owner) ... 3 Won by a bare head. No others finished within five minutes., Time Bmin. 32sec; At the . conclusion of the race's the trophies were presented to-the- winners by Mrs Harper, Mr Higginbothan, made a. few congratulatory remarks ,tc> each recipient . who oxpre'-efl • tb-'-rr thanks for th-s trophies, a-nd .-the.: ch«rr accorded them, and all said , that they had had an enjoyable Tide. Cheers were aho (riven, at the'call .of Mr A .S. El worthy, Master- of the Hunt, for Dr Thomas as secretary, and for the.'donors of prizes: and at tire call of Mr Evans, for the fawners'of the land raced over, and for Mr Otbvll and family. It may be added appropriately here', that the success of such a. iirst-fhiss afternoon's sport was reallv due to ihe excellent course laid'.down by th> selectors! (Me?■•rs.F. Lowry and K. R. Guinres), .the country -bsing. splendidly adapted for.fsp*st- flighthunters;. The meting concluded at "3.45, all; going home thoroughly pleased with (h:ir outing. ■