CAPT. Johnstone's hounds and country. 233 



received the attention they so much needed, and 

 which the daJes farmers are all eager to offer, when 

 necessary to belated foxhunters and their be- 

 longings. 



In the early part of 1888, there was some 

 talk about having a point to point race amongst 

 the members of Captain Johnstone's hunt, and 

 when it was finally decided that one should take 

 place, the excitement it created in the country 

 was great indeed. The conditions were that 

 horses should be the property of members of the 

 hunt, and that they should be ridden by gentle- 

 men who had hunted regularly with the hounds 

 during the current season. 



There were no fewer than twenty-two entries, 

 and although the race had been postponed more 

 than once on account of the long continued and 

 often returning snow and frost, most of the 

 entries came to the post. The line was chosen 

 by the master, and was from Yedingham Lane 

 by Snainton Whin to Ruston Railway Bridge, a 

 distance of about four miles and three-quarters, 

 over the cream of the Howe Bridge country. 

 There were forty-two fences in the line, most of 

 them having big drains at one side or the other. 

 The pace, as is usual, in such races as these, was 

 very hot for the first two miles, some young 

 and ardent spirits putting on the steam with 

 the evident intention of going from end to 

 end. But 



