CHAPTER V 



A Bit of Sport The Question of Supplementary Attractions A 

 Practical Committee The Future of Shows. 



IT was at Witney the next year that we may 

 be said to have turned the corner, for the 

 show was a triumphant and unequivocal 

 success. The weather did its best to make 

 amends for its previous endeavours to throw cold 

 water on our efforts, for it was a brilliant day. 

 Another circumstance a piece of exceptional 

 luck was an immense help to us. Two well- 

 known sporting farmers in the district who had a 

 good hunter apiece had long had a friendly dispute 

 as to which of the two animals was the best goer. 

 In those days jumping competitions had not 

 become a feature of agricultural show yards, but 

 the Oxfordshire Society, under the new regime, 

 was a bit in advance of the times in several 

 respects. So we took our courage in both hands, 

 laid out a regular steeplechase course round the 

 yard, and offered a prize for the horse that nego- 

 tiated it best ; having first satisfied ourselves 

 that the two farmers in question would bring 

 their horses to the test and thus settle the merits 

 of the animals and a long-standing bet at one 

 and the same time. The event was noised abroad 

 in all directions, for such a trial of strength was 



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