160 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 1888 



April 10, iu as good weather as this eokl spriug has given us ; aud were 

 in every sense a success. The idea — hy combination of the Masters of the 

 Warwicksliire, North Warwickshire, Pytchley, Bicester, and Heythrop 

 countries — was to hokl Point-to-Point Cliases, in which the members and 

 farmers of tlie five hunts miglit compete together. Kineton was at the last 

 moment divulged as the rendezvous — Hei-d Hill (about two miles from the 

 station) being the scene of operations, and all arrangements being perfected 

 under the secretaryship of Mr. B. Hanbury. Lord Willoughby de Broke 

 took personal charge on the ground ; and competitors were sent forth on 

 their jouniey with a complete knowledge of where they were to go (a 

 condition that is by no means invarial)ly attained on such occasions). The 

 start was from the summit of the natural Grand Stand; they then dipped 

 into the valley, disap])eared in the far distance to round a farmhouse and 

 prominent white flag, circled a second similar mark to the left, and then 

 "made the best of their way" home to the winning flag in a meadow 

 beneath the Hill. The course was four miles of good grass ; the fences 

 of a fair and proper lumting type ; and of the field of some thii-ty horses 

 contending in the first race (the Light Weight 12 stone Sweepstakes), the 

 greater number kept quite as close together as they could have done in a run 

 with lioimds. Satellite, who won the Grand National Hunt at Melton a few 

 years ago. was among the runners ; and went amialjly enough till he was 

 called upon to win, when lie protested Avitli a loud neigh. Mr. Hanbury 

 reaped the reward of his labours by carrying off this race with his second 

 string. The Stag, ridden by Mr. King; and Mr. Arkwright rode Mr. 

 Graham's Genei'al Gough a good second. 



The other two events, the Welter (14 stone) and the Farmers" Plate 

 (13 stone) were run together — the Welter being a red coat race, whereas the 

 Light Weight had been run in black. Capt. Middleton came in first with 

 Revenge, after a good race with Mr. Lort Phillips on Mr. S. Davies' Ulster 

 Chief; and Mr. Johnson won the Farmers' with British Yeoman, Mr. 

 Wliite's Sailor being second, and Mr. Goodman's Roy third. There were 

 few falls, no mishaps, and no hitch, throughout a charming day's sport. 



From Sir C. Mordaimt's diary : 



This was not a good hunting season, and it was much too diy until March, 

 when rain fell for the first time. There was a great deal of frost and snow 

 at intervals for ten weeks, beginning the third week of November, and lasting 

 as late as March 19th. Altogether it was the severest winter since 1860. 



A very succes.sful point-to-point race was nm on April 10th from Herd 

 Hill to a point near Radway. and by the Oak Fields Covert back again. It 

 was open to members of the Pytchley. Bicester, Heythrop, and Warwickshire 

 Hunts. The course was very practical)le, entirely over grass, and hardly a 

 horse fell. The light weight race was Avon by Mr. Basil Hanbury 's chesuut 

 horse, i-idden by Mr. Ernest King, aud run in ten minutes. The welter race 

 was won by Captain (Bay) Middleton, riding his own horse. 



It was a very cold, wet summer, and a dry autumn. We had veiy fair 

 grouse shooting, and during twenty-four days' stalking I killed eighty-seven 

 stags. On September 13th I killed thirteen, the best day I ever had. and it 

 was curious that the number corresponded with the day of the month.* 



* I have heard it said that Lord Warwick, then Lord Brooke, shot seven in the 

 .same forest on the same dav. — W. R. V. 



