GODFREY WATSON STEEPLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 178, 30 July 1932, Page 4

GODFREY WATSON STEEPLES

MEMORIAL TO SPOBTSMAJJ LEADING AMATEUR EIDER In the recent race for the Godfrey Watson Steeplechase at Caulfield, Vie toria. an interesting feature on this side of the Tasman was tho fact that the winner in the field of fourteen, Sarocto. was ridden by tho New Zea land cross-country horseman, 1. Tucker This has led Mr. H. H. Jackson, of Brunswick, Wanganui, to forward some interesting particulars concerning Mr. Godfrey Watson, in memory of whom the big Caulfield event was named. “I thought that perhaps these rein iniscences would be of interest to you* sporting readers.” writes Mr. Jaeks'on “I am only relying on my memory in penning these particulars, and may have overlooked one or two facts. Without a doubt Godfrey Watson was a genuine sportsman, always out to win and fond of racing. A first-class amateur steeplechase rider, on many occasions he rode with success agains r the professionals, who had great respect for him. especially as he was a good friend of any other cross-country horseman and others who were in need of a helping hand 1 ‘His father was Mr. George Watson. of Melbourne, known as the prince of starters in Australia, and he relinquished the position of starter for the Victoria Racing Club in favour of his son. Godfrey was most successful as’ a starter and • always had the riders under perfect control. After Mr. Watson senr. had retired from the position of Master of the Melbourne Hounds Mr. Godfrey Watson succeeded him.

“Godfrey Watson was also a good man at fisticuffs, whether with the gloves or without,” continues Mr. Jackson. “He had the reputation of being able to hang on like the Australian native spotted cat, while he could assimilate as much punishment as they could give him. In his early days, after having ridden the winner of the Hunt Club Cup Steeplechase at Flemington in two successive years he decided to see a bit of Australian station life, going cattle-droving away back in the Gulf country for a couple of years. There he found it necessary to be able to fight, as did most chaps in the outback those days if they wanted to hold their own. On one occasion Godfrey was driving cattle when tho necessity arose to settle an argument with h’s fists. Weakened by fever, he had to give in after doing his best for a time,, but he made his opponent promise that they should have a return bout. Three or four months later Godfrey had recovered from his hour of fever. He had with him his brother Tom. also a good horseman. who was later killed when riding in a steeplechase at Moonee Valley, Victoria. The pair rode a distance of over 70 miles—old-timers thought nothing of a feat like that, but what would people think these days?—and reached the cattle-station where Godfrey’s former opponent resided. There they settled the argument with bare knuckles, Godfrey knocking out his opponent after a long battle. “He was known and acknowledged as one of the gamest. sportsmen and was never known to refuse any horse that was offered him to ride over the ironbark fences. On one occasion/ stated Mr. Jackson, “Godfrey rode Busaco in the Grand National Steeplechase at Flemington. Three times he fell—not jolted out of the saddle — but each time Godfrey remounted, though it. took him several weeks to recover from the last tumble. Afterwards Busaco won the Caulfield Grand National Steeplechase, and afterwards came over to New Zealand and ran in the Wanganui Steeplechase with James Hickey in the saddle. Godfrey rode his own horse Boulevard into second place in a four-mile steeplechase at Caulfield, and after the race disposed of the gelding to Messrs. Millar brothers, owners of Redleap. About two months after the incident noted above Godfrey was schooling Boulevard when the latter fell and broke itj back. “Personally,” continues Mr. Jackson, “I think it a great mistake to school a proficient steeplechaser or hurdler too much, as it is apt to sicken them. The result is that they often run down their fences and baulk, or occasionally attempt to chance their fences, with fatal results. When Boulevard fell he gave Godfrey a very bad fall. Onlookers thought at first that Watson had broken his neck, but after a doctor had examined him it was found that the neck was badly wrenched. Godfrey was laid up for many weary months, but when sufficiently recovered he rode in many more jumping events. When he was hunting the Melbourne pack his hunter fell and rolled over the rider, who never fully recovered his ability to ride. “To conclude,” writes Mr. Jackson, “I may say that this good sportsman died of pleurisy. The illness had a good hold before he realised tho danger and called in a doctor. His funeral was one of the largest seen in Melbourne, and it was fitting tfcat the Godfrey Watson Steeplechase should perpetuate hia memory.” SOUTH CANTERBURY HUNT NOTES FOR WASHDYKE CHRISTCHURCH, July 29. Rascal, who is suffering from a bruised foot, is not going to the South Canterbury Hunt meeting to-morrow. K. Beale will ride High Pitch in the South Canterbury Steeplechase, also w the Grand National Steeplechase, and G. Dempster rides him in the Grand National Hurdles, in which Beale has been engaged for Conjurer Id. Starting times are:—ll.ss a.m., Bad low Hurdles; 12.30 p.m., Pareora Hau dicap; 1.5 p.m., Teschemaker Hunt Cup; 1.45 p.m., South Canterbury Steeples; 2.20 p.m., Washdyke Trot Handicap; 2.55 p.m.. Levels Handicap; 3.30 p.m., Hunters’ Plate; and 4.5p.m., Claremont Handicap.