THE ANNUAL POINT TO POINT STEEPLECHASE

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XI, 13 September 1902, Page 687

THE ANNUAL POINT TO POINT STEEPLECHASE

in connection with the Pakuranga Hunt Club took place last Saturday, and brought to a close a most successful hunting season in Auckland. The rendezvous was the Royal Oak, Onehunga, a well-known trysting place in the days when Mr. T. Brown was huntsman. Drags then used to be the order of the day, which usually ran from hotel to hotel, for as the jumps were big, one's courage needed a stimulant at every point. There were twenty-five entries on Saturday last, which were divided into three classes: First, the ladies; second, light-weight gentlemen; third, heavyweight gentlemen. Two cups and silver flask were the prizes to be ridden for. Mrs. O’Rorke, presented a cup for the ladies, and Mr. O’Rorke a silver hunting flask for the heavyweight division; while Mr. Wolff gave a beautiful silver cup for the lightweight division. Mr. Dalton presented a hunting crop to the second lady. At the express wish of the ladies all competitors rode together, which made the race ever so much more sociable. Now for the competitors. The seven ladies: Mrs. Kelly rode Steeltrap, Miss Stribley Awatuna, Miss Olive Buckland Whirlwind; Miss Abbott Te Aka, Miss Rae Pohutukawa, Miss Kerr Taylor Nimrod. Miss Nora Gorrie Starlight. Seven gentlemen in the heavy-weight division: Messrs. Carminer (Natation), C. Norgrove (Polo), E. H. Cucksey (Rambler), H. Kinloch (Moidart), H. Crowther (Puriri), F. D. Armitage’s Marine was ridden by Count Kruith, W. R. Bloomfield (M’Liss). There were eleven in the light-weight division: Messrs. E. Abbott (Star). V. Ralph (Paddy). C. P. Nolan (Barrister), W. D. Pittar (Riot), H. McCosh Clark (Kangaroo), B. Dewis (Depperton), J. M. Walker (Captain), C. Crowther (Victor), A. McCosh Clark (Bonnie), B. Myers (Rally), E. Dennis O’Rorke (Dominee). Messrs. McDaughlin, Brown and • Harris were' chosen by the P.H.C. committee to pick the course. The course was shown to the competitors, which started from the vicin- - Ity of the Ellerslie Hotel, covering about five miles of country, bearing towards Mt. Smart,with stiff five-foot walls and doubles en galore, then veering to the right through Messrs. Williamson’s property. A very awkward double of walls into the golf paddocks, turning sharply back, with another double into Messrs. Williamson’s property again, similar country as when first started, finishing in a field off the Otahuhu-road. Then there was grumbling and complaining, as there were jumps to be negotiated which one certainly would not have taken in cold blood; some of them were real raspers, but when one has not time to look and hesitate it is wonderful what places one gets over, and many a narrow escape of a downer was just averted. Some of the men spectators, who were near relations to one or two of the ladies who intended to ride, used rather strong language about this course, and wished those three gentlemen who chose this course were forced to ride over it first. One of our best sportsmen, who is never daunted in the hunting field, would not allow his son to ride, and Mr Car- , miner withdrew from competing, thinking Natation too valuable a horse to risk on that rough course. Each competitor had to pick his or her own course; there were no prepared obstacles as at prior points to points, when one was sure the landing was good. This was a real point to point. Not one of those seven ladies drew back when they saw the course which had to be ridden. The Pakuranga Hunt Club ladies are all noted for their pluck and endurance, nnd it is the same riding that graces the club’s weekly meets nnd that sent the six hundred down into the blaze of the Muscovite guns. The flights of walls to be negotiated tried the

muscle of the boldest, the speed was like lightning, and those terrible stone-wall doubles that made one’s heart sink at starting were crossed as if they were paper. There were stone walls with blackberry bushes for landing, or a heap of great boulders to alight upon; and now and then a fir-tree with extended arm would do its best to part the company of horse and rider, and last, but not least, a cow must lie down to die on the landing side of a wall; all these in the furious excitement of the gallop. Now for some of the riders: Awatuna, who was carrying a very light-weight in Miss Tribley, was hard held from start to finish. He was in splendid fettle, and there was not another lady’s horse in the field could beat him. Miss Abbott, who rides Te Aka astride, threw away her saddle after the second jump, and rode bare-backed from here to the finish—a five-mile stiff course, with stone-wall jumping en galore. Who says Auckland girls cannot ride after that? I am sure there was not one of the gentlemen competitors would have done so.. There were only about ten gentlemen and six ladies who negotiated the two stone-wall doubles from Williamson’s paddocks into the golf links and back again. Here Kangaroo was seen in the lead, closely pressed by Paddy, but of the vehicles which rushed to this point of vantage threw poor Kangaroo out of his stride, so that he could not negotiate his last jump of the second double, which naturally hurt his feelings and upset his temper, and he refused to take any more interest in the race. For to manage a horse well there must exist a perfect sympathy between horse and rider, each trusting the other, but you must know his limitations, for horses are very like human beings. On the journey home to the winning goal three ladies’ horses were thrown out of stride by this wretched cow. If the rider of Puriri had not thrown back a timely warning, while Puriri was doing his best to put an end to the cow’s sufferings, the three ladies’ horses one after another would have assisted Puriri in his humane action. Miss Buckland, one of these ladies, got disheartened at this check in her career, and so did not attempt to finish the course. Lepperton, who had really had sufficient, turned a somerset at the next wall. Miss Rae and Pohutukawa parted company at another wall, but she was up and on again in a second. She is one of the wise Dianas. She rides a horse astride, and has no trouble to mount into her saddle again. Bonnie only attempted about a couple of jumps. Marine and Starlight did not show up anywhere. Rally lost his rider at a wall obstacle. Now for the winners of the prizes, which were presented in the field by Mr. and Mrs. O’Rorke amidst the cheering crowd. Miss Stribley came first in the ladies’ division, and Miss Abbott second. Mr W. D. Pittar first in the light-weights, closely followed by Mr. Ralph. Mr. Bloomfield was first in the heavyweights. After the presentation of the prizes Mr. and Mrs. Board, with great hospitality, invited the numerous followers hi to partake of afternoon refreshments. A most remarkable fact was that all the horses were such good jumpers that very few stones were knocked from the walls by the competitors. Amongst those driving were Mrs. O’Rorke and party, Messrs. H. Thompson and party, 11. Wynyard and party, W. Jagger and party, Horton, D. W. Duthie and party, Elliott, Colonel and Mrs. Dawson, Mrs. Mahoney, Mr. and Mrs. Moody, Messrs. Norton and Clifford Walker, Dr. Maitland and Mr. Seccombe, Mr. and Misses Gray, Messrs. Dawson and Bill, Mr. Cotter and Miss Cotter, Mr. Elliott and sister and Miss Peacocke, Mrs. and Miss Ching, and Miss Lennox, Mr. and Mrs. Challis, Mr. 11. Walker and party, Mr. Donald, Mr. nnd Mrs. Wynyard and party, Mr. Hansen, Mrs. and Miss Tanner and Mr. Wright, Messrs. Somers and Waller, Mrs. and Miss Buller and party, Mrs. nnd Misses Nelson, Mrs. Rutherford, and Mrs. and Miss Cuff, Mrs. Ralph nnd family. Miss Dunnett and party, Mrs. and Miss Crowe, Mr.

6. Buckland, Mrs. Dr. Scott, Mr. H. Thompson and party, Mr. Kelly and party, Mr. Walker, Missea Ireland, Mrs. Lawford, Mr. and Mrs. H. Tonks, Mr. Alexander, Mrs. Pittar, Miss Jourdain, Mr. Pickering and Miss Hesketh, Mrs. Kerr Taylor and party, Mr. Rathbone and party, Mrs. R. A. Carr and lady friend, Mr. A. Carrick, Mr. Gorrie and party, Misses Gorrie, Mr. and Mrs. Adams. Riding were — Misses McCosh Clark, Stevenson (2), Horton, Miller, Buddle, Scott, Baker, Hall, Roberts, Ware, McLoughlin, Buckland, Cotter, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, Dr. and Mrs. Stuart Reid, Mrs. Bloojnfield, Mr. and Mrs. Sehnackenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Rawson, Dr. Bews, Mrs. Bloomfield, Messrs. Horton, Burns, Banks, Foughey, Meredith, Buddle, Cotter, Sandford. Kinloeh, Moore, Jones. Dawson. Austen. Olive, Teutenberg, Nolan, C. Purehas, Board, Parkes, Hesketh, Wallace. Woods, Rae. Selby and son. Hall, Brown, Baker, Dalton, Pittor, Oo'ep—nve, Noakes. On bicycles—Messrs. Halliwell, Miller and Alexander, and Miss Miller, and a very large party of cyclists. The members of the Pakuranga Hunt Club met last Wednesday at Mount Albert, which was the LAST HUNT OF THE SEASON. The hounds were thrown off on Alberton, where two hares were chopped. The hounds were next cast in Mr. Lees’ then Mr. Stewart’s, when a hare was on foot, which gave the followers a smart run over some stiff wall country. Pussie then crossed the Avondale and Mount Albert Creek, a quiet meek-looking stream babbling through the ti-tree. but those who had seen a terrible scene enacted in it a few seasons ago knew different, and remembered well how still waters run deep. It was only a man like our huntsman of natural remarkable nerve who could ride resolutely at that, his blood no doubt being warmed to any feat of daring. His horse got over with a flounder.

As it was an awkward jump with a bad take off and a villainous mud bank for landing, Mr. Ralph, on Paddy, followed, negotiating it cleverly with just an inch to spare; but next oame Nil Desperandum ridden by Mr. Tutt, when there was heard a heavy plunge and splashing of water, and poor Nil Desperandum was bathing In the wate.r. Then a scene repugnant to the feelings of a thoroughly humane person was enacted on the banks to force the animal out, which was quite impossible, as the banks were too steep. Ropes and the strength of many- bipeds had to be used to haul the poor quadruped out, which had bathed for half ; n hour in those icy waters. Pussie in the meantime led the huntsman and his one faithful follower away to Waik>wai ami on.'k again to Mr. Stewart’s then pussie seems to have made for Mount Albert, while the hounds, picked up a fresh hare and lost her. The hounds were next cast in the Mission Swnmp. where there are plenty of hares, but some of the followers wanted to get into better hunting country, and the hounds were called off to pursue a myth of a hare which h >d gone to Mr. Moody’s, but whi<‘h was drawn for in vain, and naturally we all turned for home thoroughly disappointed with our day’s s;>ort. During the day the followers wer" ent rfalned by Mrs. Kerr Taylor, and later on by Mr. Ash. Amongst those present were Mr. O’Rorke, Mrs O’Rorke, who again was seen to the fore negotiating the stiffest of stone walls, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Bloomfield, Mrs. Crowe, Mrs. Moody, Misses Gorrie, Stribley (2), Buckland (3). Roberts, Abbott, Rae, Moody, and Messrs. Pittar (2), Meredith, Tonks, Adams, Carminer, Moody, Ralph (2). Rae. Kerr-Taylor (2), Armitage. Norgrove, Dalton, Parkes, Bloomfield, Stewart, Tutt, Kinloch, Dawson, Baker, Miller, Count Kruith.

A very attractive entertainment was provided by Mount Eden College in St. Barnabas’ Hall on Thursday even-

ing before last. The entertainments given by this school are much appreciated by friends of the Misses Bews and pupils, and the assemblage was, as usual, delighted with the variety and excellence of the items. •The operetta, "Will o’ the Wisp,” was, perhaps, the piece de resistance, and in this the stage was all too small for the fairies, villagers and elves of the marsh, who gave a lively and spirited rendering of the choruses, and w;ere appropriately costumed. Limelight effects gave an added charm to the picturesque groupings. Miss 8. McLean, as Will o’ the Wisp, Miss M. Coates as the Fairy Queen, and Miss Orr Hunter as the Maiden, did credit to the lending parts. In the musical drill and figure marching the younger scholars acquitted themselves with such precision and swing as to elicit hearty applause. In fact, a repetition of this item would have been most welcome. Two dances formed features of the evening. One of these, quaintly performed by 12 girls, in Japanese costume, was irresistibly amusing, and the little maids from school were recalled to the stage. The other—a rhythmics, dance—in which a number of girls personated different flowers,was also well given. The staging of a scene from “Princess Ida,” with girl graduates in caps and gowns, was very effective. The apostrophe to “Minerva,” and the dissertation on “Man, Nature’s Sole Mistake,” were acceptably rendered by Misses Hunter and Towsey, while, as Lady Blanche, Miss Stella McLean proved herself the possessor of a voice of much promise. Mlle. Coche and her pupils gave a scene from Be Musset’s '*ll ne Fant Jurer de Rien”—Mlle. Coche as La Baronne, Misses M. Hesketb, L’Abbe. K. Richardson Cecile, and I. Alexander Le Mail re de Danse. This was an excellent item. Pianoforte music played by senior and junior pupils was interspersed agreeably throughout the programme.

WAIKATO NEWS. My Cambridge correspondent writes: — Deal' Bee, —This week the weather has been perfectly lovely, and the hunt on Monday was a great success. There was a large number of ladies present, most of whom were well mounted, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Mr Bullock Webster, who lias been the master of the Waikato hounds for the last 11 years, and is shortly leaving the district, was presented by Dr. Douglas, on behalf of the members of the club, with a handsome marble clock and silver cigarette case. Mr Bullock Webster, in replying, said that he had made many friends, and as far as he knew no enemies, on the huntingfield. lie maintained that hunting was the best of all sports, and he would always remember the good times he bad had with the Waikato hounds. The Cambridge Choral Society gave a very successful concert last Friday, and are now preparing a new work, “Trial by Jury." The members of the Ping-pong Club are practising energetically for the forthcoming contest with the Hamilton players, who are, so we have heard, most efficient. Let us hope the Cambridge players will meet with their usual success. Two Auckland lacrosse teams, the Pawnees and Dacotas, gave an exhibition match here on Wednesday. The Cambridge band was in attendance, and added greatly to the enjoyment of those present. The games were very even, the Dacotas: winning by a small majority. The Cambridge Tennis Club held their annual meeting on Monday, but was adjourned until Friday, owing to the secretary’s omission to produce the balance sheet. Then- was a fair attendance of both ladies and gentlemen. It was decided to lay down two loam courts, and the following officers were elected: President: Mr W. R. C. Walker; vice-presidents, Messrs. R. J. Wilkinson and E. J. Roberts: secretary, Mr C. Stewart; committee. Misses Kingsford, Skeat •nd J. Hally, and Messrs. Shepherd, Empsom, Furucll, and Bouillon. PHYLLIS BROUN.