80 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



The first of these was Mr. Emile Deschamps, 

 who had been a regular visitor to Melton a few 

 years earher and was a good man across Leicester- 

 shire, being also desperately keen. He must have 

 spent a small fortune in silk hats, as whenever 

 hounds ran fast you might be sure of seeing him 

 bare-headed. I remember an old flea-bitten grey 

 named "Bob Ridley" that carried him well in 

 many good hunts. I believe this gallop was the 

 last occasion he appeared in Leicestershire, but 

 have no idea whether he is still alive. 



The steeplechase rider was Mr. Charlie Cunning- 

 ham, one of the hardest men and cheeriest of com- 

 rades to ride a hunt with. He was very strong and 

 resolute, but with rather heavy hands, which, how- 

 ever, he usually neutraHzed by riding with a snaffle. 

 His strength and determination probably won 

 him many chases, although when he first began 

 to ride between the flags report said he caused 

 amusement to the crowd. This, however, does 

 him all the more credit, for it is very seldom that a 

 man who has previously done Httle riding can take 

 up the steeplechase game when past his first youth 

 and become proficient at it. 



I regret to say he is another of the good men 

 who have " gone West " and without attaining his 

 highest ambition, which was to win the Grand 

 National. My memory is very bad, but I think he 

 was second on " Why not ? " 



The last day of November — having given an 

 account of a gallop in December it will be said I 

 am " running heel " — the Quorn had a most enjoy- 

 able burst in their Monday country. Here is an 

 extract from my account to the Field : 



