1890] POINT-TO-POINT RACE. 179 



Hon. R. G. Vonicy. Mr. T. W. Tliorntoii, Mr. W. J. Blacklock. R(>v. C. H. 

 Leg'Jird, Sic. Tln' nio('tiii<>' was arrangHMl under tho auspices of tlie Pytcliley. 

 Grafton, Bicester, Warwicksliire, North Warwicksliire, and Heytlirop Hunts. 

 Last year tlie races were brought oft" at Kineton, tlie Aveather l)eing tlien 

 charmingly fine. The course selected was situate about two miles outside 

 Banlmry, on the Chalcoml)e road, and Avas a))out three and a half miles over a 

 stiffisli bit of very fair hunting country. There were no particularly difficult 

 ol)staeJe.s, yet so heavy was the going, and so numerous the fences — twenty- 

 eight — tliat very few of the com^ietitors successfully got the country. There 

 were three events on the card, but the Welter Sweepstakes and the Farmers' 

 Plate were run together. Each of the three items brought out large fields. 

 The competitors first assemlded at the Red Lion, Banbury, where Major H. 

 Norris got the twenty-three competitors weighed out for the Light Weight 

 Sweepstakes in fairly good time, and a move was made for the starting point, the 

 ])arty being conducted thither by Lord Cheshani, followed by a large nundier 

 of other horsemen. The lot were got away about three, and at once made for 

 Williamscote Hill, and from there back to Snail's Hill, over the famous 

 Chalcombe Bottom, across the Clialcombe Road a second time, and into a field 

 a little distance from Mrs. Gibbard's farm, wdiere the winning post was. As 

 before stated, falls were frequent, only al)out half a dozen getting the country. 

 Mr. Martin, who came down at the third fence, pulled off the opening event 

 on The Captain, a splendid jumper ; but Captain Middleton destroyed what 

 chance of securing the Welter he had by going the wrong course. In this 

 race Cricket, three fields from home, got in a grip, and liroke its back, and 

 the same fate, w^e hear, befel Ronachan. The finish for the Farmers' Plate 

 was an exciting one l)etween Sunshine and Clarissa, the first-named, a very 

 .smart animal, being well ridden by the owner's son, getting the verdict by 

 half a length. With so much fire did this pair finish, that on passing the 

 post they dashed straight for the " weighing-room," knocking down a coujilc 

 of lads in so doing. Fortunately they sustained little injury, althougli 

 smothered in mud, which was about here several inches thick. Bird also 

 lost his seat, but he also found nmd, and sustained no injury. The judge 

 was Yiscouut Valentia ; the starter, Lord Chesham ; whilst the duties of 

 clerk of the scales and course were undertaken by Major Norris, who as 

 hon. sec. had spared no pains to make the affair the success it undoubtedly 

 w^as from a .sporting point of view. From a spectator's view not much can 

 be said, for but little conld be seen of the course, which, as one of the 

 compi'titors remarkc^I, was "'a capital hunting one, lint very difficult to find." 

 The huntsmen and whips from tlie Graftim and Heythrop assisted in clearing 

 the ccmrse, &c. Details : 



LIGHT WEIGHT SWEEPSTAKES, of 2/. 2.s-. each, with 207. added, for 

 horses bond fide the property of subscribers to the Bicester, Warwickshire. 

 Grafton, Pytchley, N. Warwickshire, and Heythrop Hunts or covert funds, 

 and that have been regularly and fairly hunted during the present season 

 by their owners or their sons, and that have not been in a training stable 

 since November, 1888. Hunting costume. Catch weight, not under 12 

 stone. 



Mr. J. E . Martin's The Captain Owner 1 



Mr. Larnack's Tomboy, 12st. 21b Owmer 2 



Mr. C. Adanithwaite's Rookwood Owner 3 



N 2 



