71 



The course being" a long one and the fences stiff, fuH 

 law was allowed, and it was close upon a quarter to eight 

 before Mr. Petrie let them go. The first fence was a 

 hurdle, and when the signal was given, Mr. Robson- 

 Scott jumped Aurora away to the front and went out a 

 nice pace, leading his field over the hurdles, and then up 

 alongside the railway line across the Monsoon Road, and 

 further on across the Gurriah Hat Road. On both sides 

 of the road were some deep narrow little ditches, which it 

 is almost impossible for horses to see until they are right 

 on top of them, the one at the Gurriah Hat accounted for 

 three of the Welter Division. 



Othello came down first, then Nellie and on top of 

 the pair Saionara. The last-named was remounted, but 

 both the riders of the others were more or less severely 

 hurt. Mr. Lamond Walker sustained injuries about the 

 head and was knocked out of time for a bit. The next 

 obstacle was a wall this side of Pilgrim's corner over 

 which Aurora still led from Jackdaw, Miss Theo, Kailana, 

 Artaxerxes, Hardface and The Drummer, the rest close 

 up ; Dinah and Marigold whipping in with Saionara a 

 long" way in rear. 



They w^ent round the corner and ringed back towards 

 the Gurriah Hat Road again, and then turned right-handed 

 and were set going with an almost clear run of over a mile 

 with the stiffest of fences in front of them. As they got 

 into the open. Miss Theo, Jackdaw, and Kailana all ranged 

 up to Aurora, and the quartette showed the wav over the 

 stiff fences almost neck and neck. Hardface, the Drummer, 

 Merriboy, Khalid and Tafty coming next all close to- 

 gether, and Dinah and Marigold some lengths in rear. 

 Merriboy hit the top of the first bund badly, and as they 

 are not noted for much give-and-take, it sent him on 

 to his head, and as he recovered very quickly, he shot 

 Mr. Moore several feet into^ the air. There was not 

 another disaster registered over these fences, and the field 

 then drove straight ahead over two more big walls and 

 across the Toll}'gunge Lane. After jumping a flight of 

 hurdles, they ringed back on to it, and then crossed the 

 Molla Hat Road, near the old bridge, and Avent on into the 

 railway country. The Drummer had by this considerably 

 improved his position and the order in the lane was : 

 Aurora, Jackdaw^, The Drummer, Miss Theo, Khalid, and 

 Hardface, next to them coming Artaxerxes, Kailana, Taffy 



