228 SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



a natural brook which, if its width did not set 

 the notorious Skittles at defiance, brought many 

 of the opposite sex to grief when taking part in 

 the great contest. The thirty-one starters here 

 constituted a record until 191 1, when, at the pre- 

 sent Cheltenham home, it was broken with the 

 seven and thirty that followed in the rear of Sir 

 Halbert, who belonged to Captain Frank Grissell, 

 an old 9th Lancer amateur steeplechase rider. 



It is sino-ular that among- Sir Halbert's backers 

 was the Earl of Coventry, now President of the 

 New Club at Cheltenham ; moreover, his lordship 

 was one of the above-mentioned party of noble- 

 men and gentlemen to flock round Mr Angell in 

 the formation of our National Hunt Committee. 

 Among others in that party were Lords West- 

 morland, Poulett, Suffolk, Grey de Wilton, Sir F. 

 Johnstone, Captain "Josey" Little of Chandler 

 fame. Captain Henry Coventry, Mr George Payne, 

 Mr W. G. Craven, Mr A. Sumner, Mr C, Carew, 

 and last but not least. Lord Chaplin. Concerning 

 the last-mentioned, few are aware that when known 

 as "the Squire of Blankney " his lordship suc- 

 ceeded in placing his name thrice as the winner 

 of the National Hunt Steeplechase : first with 

 his Emperor, Mr A. Goodman, at Wetherby 

 in 1865 ; another called Emperor III., Captain 

 Henry Coventry, at Bedford in 1867, Hermit's 



