BUCK-JUMPING AT WEMBLEY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19048, 27 June 1924, Page 5

BUCK-JUMPING AT WEMBLEY

AUSTRALIAN DISQUALIFIED USES UNAUTHORISED GEAR. Received June 27, 12.55 a.m. (Reuter). LONDON, June 26. Tho Australian “Snowy” Thompson started off in fine style in tho first round of the buckriding contest tor £lOOO, in which he and a Canadian (Vandemere) and an American (Edward Tegland) are participating at Wembley. Thompson made an easy journey, his mount galloping down the Stadium and not indulging in bucking, but the others had a livelier passage. Immediately afterwards the cowboy* and spectators protested against Thompson riding with a crupper, which is an iron attachment to the saddle, and it is declared, absolutely prevents bucking. Thompson declined to reride without the crupper, so was automatically disqualified. .

BRONCO AND A CRUPPER A WEMBLEY FIASCO. Received June 26, 7.15 p.m. LONDON, June 26. The Daily Express reports an incident which caused much excitement. It says: Thompson mounted on Headlight, one of the best broncos, used a large Australian stock saddle with the crupper over the tail. When he found the animal did not buck he dismounted and returned to the pens indignant and said: “I cannot help it if these horses of theirs won’t buck when ridden with the crupper. Our horses in Australia will. I was told I could use any saddle, and the one I used won’t stay on any horse’s back without a crupper.” Tex Austin, the Rodeo manager, said: “You cannot win money in a broncho-bucking competition unless the horse bucks. None of our horses will buck with a crupper, and cannot possibly do it. Thompson can ride the same horse with his saddle, or any other without a crupper, and would not stay on if he had both hands full of saddles. A Canadian and an American will ride the same horse with Thompson’s saddle, so there can be no complaint.” Cochran said: “I don’t want Thompson to feel there is anything against him. I am prepared to agree to have two Australian judges in the arena during any further ride, or that the judging be left to ku Englishman.” The Daily Herald says that Tex Austin said the introduction of the crupper was not anticipated, or a clause would have been inserted against it. Ultimately Cochran offered £lOO if the three would ride again, using Thompson’s saddle without a crupper, but the suggestion was not adopted. Thompson was offered the option of re-riding cnipperless, but this he refused, and so he was disqualified, against which he vigorously protested.