Running Commentary on a Point- to- Point 



WILL yis stop pushing behind there or you'll land me 

 into the ditch. Can you see the horses, Mary Ellen ? 

 They're down at the starting post; and I'll be down 

 in this drain if yis don't quit shoving. Haven't you the 

 whole country for a grand-stand, and why must you all 

 crowd me off this one bit of a bank ? There's lashings 

 of room for all, if yis id have a bit of - . Oh, be 

 the lord Harry ! They're off ! There's the hunting 

 horn. Can you hear it, Mary Ellen ? Great God, how 

 the sound of it warms my old heart. 



What a wonderful start ! There's The Holy Terror 

 lying third with our wee Jamesy riding him. Can you 

 see his green jacket, Mary Ellen ? They're coming to 

 the first jump. God be with the day when I could 

 show them boys how to ride a Point-to-Point : but 

 these old rheumatics these old rheumatics ! Now 

 they're at it. They're over. Wee Jamesy's there, Mary 

 darling, and going like a Trojan. Now they're coming 

 to the first bank. Jamesy's dropped back to fourth. 

 That's what I like to see ! Holding his horse together : 

 just what his father would have done. Leave the pace- 

 making to someone else. 



95 



