PAKURANGA HUNT CLUB POINT TO POINT STEEPLECHASE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 55, 13 August 1891, Page 3

PAKURANGA HUNT CLUB POINT TO POINT STEEPLECHASE.

This Club, to fill up a blank day owing to the hounds being in the Waikato, arranged to have a point to point steeplechase. This was brought to a successful issue on Saturday last, and gave a great amount of pleasure to a large and fashionable turn out, consisting of about 300 people. The Committee appointed to arrange matters and carry out the details were Messi®—Percival, McLaughlin'and Garrett, nd right well did they perform the duties entrusted to them. The course arranged was from a point on the Avondale road round Mount Albert,.across Mrs Taylor’s property, and on to the grounds connected with the Wesleyan College at the Three Kings, finishing up at the Three Kings’ school-house. The distance was about four miles. The jumps were principally stone walls, with some good stiff post and rails, and a gorse fence or two thrown in. There were fully thirty-five fences in the line. The competitors were in two classes —13 stone and 11 stone. The winner of the 13 stone class was Dundee, ridden by Mr. Walter Paul, with, Mr. Shera’s Bradlaugh second ; the winner of the 11 stone class was Mangere, ridden by Mr. George Paul, with Mr. Percival’s Tommy second, well ridden by Mr. T. McLaughlin. ‘ The following were the starters :— 13 Stone Class. Mr. W. Shera’s BradlaughOwner Mr. Haultain’s Gamecock Mr. A. Yonge Colonel Dawson’s Ike Owner Mr. Lockhart’s Eros Mr. F. Shera Mr. Paul’s Dundee Mr. W. Paul Mr. F. Yonge’s Fly Owner Mr. Percival’s Jim Mr. Abbott 11 Stone Class. Mr. Vincent Taylor’s Bob Owner Mr. Kettlewell’s Don Owner Mr. Bloomfield’s Bachelor Owner Mr. Garrett’s GuadalquiverMaster C. Yonge Mr. Paul’s Mangere Mr. G. Paul Mr. Gilmore’s Tomato Owner Mr. Gordon’s Pawa Owner Percival’s Tommy Mr. T. McLaughlin The start was from a grass paddock close to the Avondale Hill. The first four or five fences were small stone walls. All the horses got over nicely. The pace was made pretty fast—in,fact, too fast for the journey before them. The first to stop was Tomato—at a double crossing the road close to Mount Albert. Here also. Colonel Dawson got out of the line and had to go round. Eros also came down at this fence, giving his rider a nasty fall. After crossing a fine grass paddock, making a circle towards the mountain, there was another double crossing the road. One fence of this double was a very handy jump, but the other was a real rasper. The first to take the fence was

Mr. Bloomfield on Bachelor, followed by Mr. Shera on Bradlaugh, Mr. Gordon on Pawa, and Mr. McLaughlin on Tommy. The line was now round the mountain facing for Mrs. Taylor’s. Col. Dawson was riding in a very determined manner, and Jcaught up to the leaders , the two brothers Paul were riding in a good position and with judgment Coming on to the road leading from Mount Albert to the Three Kings the field spread out a bit, some taking one line, some another. The point aimed for was a house down towards Mount Roskill, which had to be rounded. Coming round the house there was a piece of road which was allowed to be ridden over, then a good wall with a ditch in front. Prominent here was Pawa, Tommy, Fly, Bradlaugh, Bachelor, and the winners Dundee and Mangere. Col. Dawson came to grief here through breaking his saddle bar, and right gallantly did the Colonel ride to this point. Now came the critical spot in the race. The order of the day was, “ Make your way as best you can to the winning post.” Some went one way, some another. Fly, Bradlaugh, and Eros took a line of their own, which proved to be the wrong one; Mr. McLaughlin took another line, closely followed by Mr. Gordon on Pawa, Mr. Bloomfield on Bachelor, and the two Pauls on Dundee and Mangere. This was the best line for home. The pace now improved, and the excitement was rising. Mr. McLaughlin was still leading, but unfortunately for him his horse, not being used to white-thorn fences, refused at one, when the two brothers Paul got a chance, and both got away to the front, racing home together, with the result that they ran a dead heat, but as the horses were in different classes that did not matter, both being winners. Mr. McLaughlin was close up for second in his class ; then came Mr. Shera on Bradlaugh, second in his class, with Mr. Bloomfield on Bachelor close up, taking third place in his class, whilst the others came straggling in from all directions. The fencing of the following horses was greatly admired : —Pawa, Tommy, Bradlaugh, Ike, Bachelor, Fly, Dundee, and Mangere. Dundee and Mangere seemed to be in the best condition. In many cases the riders were clean done. Everyone entered into the spirit of the thing and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The Club is to be congratulated on the day’s sport provided. The win of the brothers Paul was very enthusiastically received.