HUNT CLUB

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 7 May 1928, Page 2

HUNT CLUB

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The Waimate Hunt Club Committee met on Saturday evening, there being present: Messrs E. C. Studholme (president), D. McDonald, J. S. Manchester, N. A. Rattray,’R. J. Wallie, H. J. C. Harper, A. Medlicott, R, Rickman, and E. B. Fraser. Improvements At Kennels. Captain Rattray reported that re.pairs had been affected at the Kennels, the cost being about £6. The outside of the Kennels had been improved tremendously. Correspondence. The Racing Conference advised that the annual meeting of the Conference would be held in Wellington I on Friday, July 30.—Received. . The Waimate Racing Club wrote granting the Hunt Clhb the use of its track for its steeplechase meeting , for a fee of £3O, provided ( hat the | track was left in as good order as !found. | It was decided to write thanking 1 the Racing Club for granting the use of the cuorse. The resignation of Messrs H. Smith and' W. Bolaud was accepted with regret.

Hunting In Oamaru. | In regard to the endeavour made recently to revive hunting in the Oamaru district, Captain Rattray reported (that the Hunt had been held at Hilderthorpe on April 21. The week before, the speaker and deputy master had seen Mr Orbell, who had been hunting in Oamaru some years ago, Mr •Orbell had kindly taken I the visitors round the country, and obtained country for the hunt. He had been rather sceptical regarding the success of the attempt at revival, and the meeting had demonstrated that the sport would be quite impossible of revival. Thirteen horses from Waimate had hunted, but there had been only three horses from the district, and all were from close by. Nobody had come from Oamaru proper except Mr Orbell.

I The president remarked that there had been many attractions at Oamaru on that day. Captain Rattray said that nevertheless, he did not 'think it worth while trying to work up interest in hunting in Oamaru district. He mentioned that Mr Orbell had gone to considerable expense in advertising the meeting and had donated £5 to the Waimate Club to cover the ex-

! penses of Jhe trip there. I The president agreed that it would i not be worth while trying to revive hunting in Oamaru, and other mem-

bers were of the same opinion. It was decided to write thanking Mr Orbell for his donation.

Point to Point Meeting. The date of the Point to Point meeting was fixed for June 28. I Captain Rattray suggested that (the farmers’ race be made a flat , race instead of a steeplechase. In ■ the past, horses that ran in the farj mers’ race were .qualified hunters and could compete in the other I races. All sorts of horses would com 'pete in a flat race. The change had been successful at the Christchurch meeting. The difficulty was the finding of a paddock large enough. Mr Fraser said there was also the big difficulty of getting such a large paddock .sufficiently flat. Captain Rattray said there were a number of lady followers who would take part in a flat race. Mr Harper moved that the farmers’ race be a flat race, but that any horse that had been in a licensed trainer’s hands was not eligible. The race should be for those on whose property the Club bunted. As it was at present it was a race for hunters. Mr Rickman did not approve a flat race in a point to point meeting. Mr Medlicott suggested that the flat race be a walk, trot and gallop. It gave the untrained horse a chance. He moved an amendment in that direction. The amendment was carried. It was decided that onlv horses

that had no tbeen trained by a licensed trained be eligible; and that colours need not be worn. The minimum weight was fixed at eleven stone. The prizes, it was agreed, would be £3, £2 and £l, and the entrance fee 5/-. It was decided that the other two races, the heavy-weights and lightweights, be the same as last year. The officials for the meeting were appointed as follows:—Hon. judges, Messrs E. C. d’Auvergne and E. B. Fraser; hon. starter, Mr E. C. Studholme; hon. clerk of course, Mr R. Frost: hon. clerks of scales, Messrs A. Dunstan and K. Stewart; hon: vet. surgeon, Mr G. C. Hayhurst; selectors of course, Messrs E. C. d’Auvergne, J. S. Manchester, C. S. McLachlan and E. C. Studholme. Steeplechase Meeting. The secretary reported that he had received a letter from the Canterbury District Committee asking to be advised of the date of the Club’s race meeting before April 30. As notice had been too short to call a meeting, lie had applied for the same date as had been taken in previous ! years. The meeting would therefore be on Thursday, July 18. The action of the secretary was approved. Dealing with the programme, Captarn Rattray moved that the Studholrae Hurdles be placed second and the Bluecliffs Steeplechase first, on the programme, instead of vice versa as at present. This was because the Bluecliffs Steeplechase was a bad belting race. The motion was carried. The stake for the Bluecliffs Steeplechase was reduced from £65 to £6O, the rest of the programme being left unchanged. The officials appointed were:—

Stewards, Messrs Reg. Richards, M Cooney, J. Matheson, B. Richards, T. Waldie, C. Douglas, F. Brown, and the Committee; timekeepers, Messrs. J. F. Cooney and J. Dench; hon. surgeon, Dr. Collier: hon vet. surgeon, Mr G .C. Hayhurst; hon. starter, Mr W. B. Freeman; hon. clerk of course Mr R. Frost ; hon. clerks of scales, Messrs A. Dunstan and K. Stewart; j.udge, Mt A. Dickson; handicappers: Gallops, Mr J. E. Henrys, trots, Mr H. Brinkmail. The closing dates for nominations and acceptances were left in. ' the hands of the secretary. New Members.

Messrs L. Cooney (Glenavy), S. Dixon (Grassy Hills), J. Holmes (Wintuna), and L. Chapman (Waiinate), and Miss Verity (Waihao Forks) were elected members of the Club. Trophies. The master and deputy-master and Air E. B. Fraser were appointed to choose the trophies for the- point to point meeting, and also the Hunt Club Crip.