OBITUARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 298, 18 December 1933, Page 8

OBITUARY

MR. D. R. RIDDIFORD One of the best known and certainly the most highly respected figure on the hutting field on the West Coast of the i North Island, Mr. Dan. Riddiford, of “View Halloa,” Marton, heard tho call of the Great Master yesterday afternoon While resting in a chair at his residence Mr. Riddiford passed peacefully away. Born in New Zealand in August 1859, he was educated at Uppingham, England, and afterwards at Oxford, lie returned to the land of his birth in 1879 and spent four years on his father’s station in the Wairarapa. Mr. Riddiford, sen., was a Yorkshireman, and it would be strange indeed, remarks Mr. J. Chadwick in “Men of Mark in the World of Sport,” if Mr. Dan Riddiford had not displayed a love for horses and hounds. It was in 1885 that he took over the Rangitikei Hounds, and as he had been mastei from that date, a period of just on half a century, his record was an outstanding one in the hunting world. He was president of the New Zealand Hunt Clubs’ Association for many years, and was always devoted to sport of every description. Naturally, Mr. Riddiford delighted in owning hunters and ’chasers, afc well as weight-carrying hack.;, and as ho had many high-class 'horses in these classes ho won numerous prizes at the various agricultural and pastoral association shows in Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Wanganui and other centres on this coast, especially in the jumping classes. Mr. Riddiford, as a true lover of the horse, was every ready to ride a good performer over the fences, and even after his 70th. birthday he was to be found astride a competitor in the annual point-to-point steeplechases of the Rangitikei Hunt Club, frequently finishing ahead of rivals fifty years younger than himself. Mr. Riddiford in t*ie spring of 1904 imported a stud hound for the Rangitikei Kennels and built up the pack to be one of the best in New Zealand. He was a life member and steward of the Rangitikei Hunt Club as well as of the Marton Jockey Club. In polo also he took a keen and active interest, being an ardent player and a member of the Rangitikei team which won the Saville Cup in 1894. It was in 1904 that Mr. Riddiford retired from active farming, disposing of his farm to Messrs Purnell and Deighton but retaining the homestead and a, small area surrounding ’t. Mrs. Riddiford, who shared the joys of the chase wilji her husband and friends for close on forty years, seldom missing a day when hounds were out, predeceased her husband by some six ears. Mr. Don Riddiford, of Masterton, is the only son, and Mrs. Rat kin, of Worcestershire, England, is a daughter of Mr. Riddiford. The funeral will take place to-mor-row afternoon, interment being at St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Mount View.