BRITISH SPORT PAST AND PRESENT 



entangled in those of his adversary, but soon extricated him- 

 self, and went on at a killing pace. In attempting to catch 

 him, it is generally considered that Douglas pumped the wind 

 out of Radical, which occasioned him to fall at a small fence ; 

 and, by all accounts, his rider had a narrow escape of being 

 seriously injured. Nothing daunted — for few men are harder 

 or have better nerve — Douglas was in his saddle again, and 

 charged a very large place (to get back into his line), which 

 Radical cleared in a most workmanlike manner. His chance, 

 however, was now out ; Ross was gotten more than half a 

 mile ahead of him ; and when he passed me, about a mile 

 from home — he was going quite at his leisure, not three parts 

 speed. 



' The scene at the Coplow beggars description. I can only 

 compare it to a charge of cavalry, without the implements of 

 destruction, although those who were in the thick of it were not 

 free from danger. I never saw so much hajipiness depicted in 

 one man's face as shewed itself in that of the winner, and the 

 acclamations of his friends rent the air. 



' That Captain Ross appeared the favourite of the field, 

 truth compels me to state ; and I think it was to be attri- 

 buted, among others, to these causes : — first, the unassuming 

 conduct he has invariably observed on the occasion ; and 

 secondly, to the great and never ceasing exertions of his 

 friend Mr. Holyoake, to pull him well through. My old 

 acquaintance, Mr. Frank Needham of Hungerton, exerted 

 himself most powerfully in his favour, and no doubt his friends 

 were pretty numerous on the ground. 



' Some idea may be formed of the pace these gentlemen 

 must have gone over the first part of the ground, when I state 

 the fact, that the distance was performed by Clinker in eleven 

 minutes thirty seconds ; ^ although, as I have before stated, 

 he was going quite at his ease for the last mile, or more. Dur- 

 ing this part of the race I rode by the side of, and conversed 



' Captain Ross says the time 'by stop-watch was 11| minutes; a good pace over 

 a very hilly country." 



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