ABOLT THE BIG STEEPLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 188, 11 August 1931, Page 4

ABOLT THE BIG STEEPLES

INTERESTING HISTORY. NEARLY SIXTY YEARS OLD. The fact that the Grand National Steeplechase will be run at kiecarton this afternoon lends considerable interest to a few reminiscences on the subject scat in by Mr 11. IL Jackson, of “Norton,” Brunswick. It was in 1876 that the first race was held, Riccarton being tue venue, but on several occasions during the years that followed the rave was run respectively at Timaru and Oamaru. Then Riccarton again became the scene of the contest. It was in 1888 that the Canterbury Jockey Club took over control of the race, and since then it has been decided at Riccarton, to-day's contest ranking as the 56th. The result of the first race, which was run over a distance extending to four miles, was as follows: Air Brittan’s Royalty (Air Alartelli) 1 Mr Markey’s Mousetrap (T. Lyford) 2 Air Campbell’s Tommy Dod (F. Hedge) 3 Also; Air Dan O’Brien's Auckland Kate (owner), Messrs NichoiSou and Mcßae's Gazelle (Air W. G. Nicholson;, Air Revers' Don Juan (Ji. 13. AKivor;. Royalty won by three lengths from Mousetrap. The fences those days were ver; nigh and solid, writes Air Jackson anu they included an immense water jump. However, it was in the Grand Nation al of 188 U that they were described by Air H. Lunn, of Christchurcn, as being “the biggest ever." Both Air E. J. Bae and the late A. J. Keith were of the same opinion. Cutts’ fence was sft. 7in. high and unbreakable, as it had a stout rail tied down with hoop iron and gorse just above the rail. It was at this fence, which, was really out of all reason, that tue late A. J. Keith crashed with Mickey Free. The horse fell and roiled over him, breaking one of his rider’s legs. Keith remarked that in those days there was no ambulance, and he had to be taken to his home in a two-wheeled spring cart after a dreadful journey as the leg was badly smashed. Another of the obstacles to be negotiated was a thick gorse fence, sft. 3in. in height, with no give in it. On the d;»y prior to the Grand National Steeplechase in which Alickey Free fell, Keith won the Alaiden Steeplechase on a brown mare Venture (by Diomedes), owned by Mr J. Butcher, now residing at Wanganui East. Venture was later sold to the late Air WiLiam DouglaS, of Hawke's Bay, and for her new owner she won the Wanganui Handicap Steeplechase .••.nd the Grandstand Steepiecha.se in one day, at the 1881 meeting, with A. J. Keith in the saddle. Getting back to the first Grand National Steeplechase, however, it is interesting to note what happened to some of the riders in Royalty’s race. The amateur rider of the winner, Mr de Courcy Martelli, who was also a good cricketer, was killed in the hunt ing field with the South Canterbury hounds. Roddy Alclvor, as all old-time sportsmen will remember, was a firstclass all-round athlete. He died years later in Melbourne. F. Hedge, who was on Tommy Dod, was drowned at Timaru. Dan O’Brien, ten years or so later, was to achieve fame as the owner of the mighty Carbine. He died recently at Maitland, New South Wales. Air W. G. Nicholson, another amateur rider, died in Auckland. Tommy Lyford, who was on the run-ner-up, Mousetrap, now has a farm at Waitara, Taranaki. He has a fine record over the Grand National Steeplechase course, for ho has ridden over it on fourteen occasions. He was on the winner in 1884 (the Agent), 1887 Faugh-a-Ballagh) and 1890 (Daddy Longlegs). He was on the runner-up also when Faugh-a-Ballagh followed the winner home, and on no fewer than sixoccasions his mount was third. Three times he was unplaced. As all oldtime sportsmen will remember, he was a most daring rider and was never known to leave his saddle unless his mount came right down. One wellknown horseman who has won the Grand National and other steeplechases remarked, says Air Jackson, that Lyford was a wonderful man on “rough Stuff.” and could stick like glue. AVhen riding in the Auckland Steeplechase his mount- crashed right into a stiff fence r ut Lyford did not 1 ave the saddle. “I remember," continues Air Jack son, “that in the Hawke’s Ray Steeplechase won by Clarence with 13.2 he rode a grey gp’dii.g owned by the late Patsy Butler (owner of The Agent). At one of the stone walls, built of boulders without any earth on the top and measuring 4ft 7in, Lyford received

a very severe fall, and at the time we thought he was killed. That jump was situated on the boundary fence and the course, going through the adjoiningpaddocks, made an idea! steeplechase course." It may not be generally known that Air 11. Lunn, who now resides on his farm at Aniuri, Canterbury, rode as an amateur on several occasions in the; Grand National Steeplechase, with the i following results: — 1880— The Agent, won. 1881— The Agent, second. 1882— Clarence, second. 1884—Hercules, unplaced. 1886—Canard, won. “In a letter that he wrote to me,’’ concludes Air Jackson, “Air Lunn stated that he had ridden in the Grand National Steeplechase as stated and had won the Hunt Club Cup on four occasions without receiving any return for his services. When the Canterbury Jockey Club brought in a rule that- no trainer could ride as an amateur that prevented Air Lunn from riding as an amateur again. In the files of the Canterbury papers Air Lunn ’s name appears as the amateur rider."