56 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



at the brook in its widest place. The widest place, however, when it 

 comes to be tested with a tape, grows wonderfully and beautifully less, 

 and jumps of 25ft., i8ft., and any number of odd inches, are reduced to 

 something considerably under. We have taken the trouble to run the 

 foot rule over the string, so speak by the book. 



" Duchess " appears to have made about the biggest jump, as, taking off 

 a good yard before it, she landed easily over the i^^ ft. of space bet-ween the 

 banks, stiff stubs, 3ft. or 4ft. high on the taking off side, necessitating her 

 taking off so much in front. Mr. Barnes, under a tree, cleared nearly the 

 same distance, and others were equally good ; but there was one easy place, 

 over which the reavguavd blobbed in single file, and this place Mr. Hart, with 

 ready foresight for the spectators' interests, had promptly made up with 

 long upright bushes, giving it a most hirsute appearance before the next 

 race was run, the result being that when Mr. Arkwright, who was following 

 in the tracks previously made, came at it he had suddenly to swerve to 

 the right, and this consequently jammed a lot of us together and helped 

 to bring three down. 



Beyond the brook was a teazer, both Mr. George Hart and Mr. George 

 Brown agreeing that it was as stiff a fence as any in the course, a high 

 narrow bank offering no purchase, with wide ditch beyond, into the plough, 

 and rather an uphill run at it. Going round the flag for home, Capt. 

 Ricardo still held a lead, and only lost it after landing over the last fence, 

 when he was collared by Mr. Jones — rather bad luck for him after cutting 

 out all the work. Mr. Jones, however, had a near shave of coming down 

 on the return journey, his horse only just getting over what at first sight 

 appeared to be a very wide place in the brook, as it was not bushed up 

 in front, but on measurement was only 12^ ft. from bank to bank and 

 14-^r ft. as his horse jumped. It was too much, however, for the next comer, 

 Mr. Howel J. Price, whose horse, taking off a yard too soon, jumped into 

 the middle, and this probably lost him his match with Mr. Ford Barclay, 

 for he had to come out on the wrong side and go at it again. However, I 

 cannot speak positively about this, for Mr. Barclay had made up his mind 

 to ride a waiting race, and allowing Mr. Price's horse, who had had just 

 about enough, to stagger over the last fence in front of him, he came along 

 with a wet sail, winning fairly easily amid great excitement and roars of 

 " Go it, Price,'" " Go it, Barclay. '' Mr. R. Hill was third, a place that 

 "Duchess" would easily have held had she not fallen at the last fence, a 

 most trappy and dangerous one to have at the finish of a long and 

 punishing course, up hill, out of plough, ditch to you, and a bank well 

 lined with stubs. With this exception, as I have previously remarked, the 

 course was admitted to have been a perfect one. 



Mr. Jones's win in the heavy-weight was a most popular, if unlooked- 

 for, event. That a man about 55 years of age, a J. P., late C.C., and 

 father of a large family, should succeed in cutting down all the young 

 bloods, with their silk caps, patent boots, and racing tits, was something 

 to be proud of. Riding a good, generous animal, one that his daughter 

 generally hunts, bred in Essex, boasting an Essex sire. Sir W. Gilbey's 

 " Pedometer," and bought at a sale for a mere song, he was heartily con- 

 gratulated on all sides, and deservedly so. He rode straight, as he always 

 does, taking his own line, and won in a common canter. Bravo, Jones ! 

 "for you are about the only one of the Old Guard" who rode in the point- 

 to-points of thirteen or fourteen years ago who can still keep up the tradi- 

 tions. For it is a curious fact that of those who did compete in those 

 days there were only two amongst the twenty-eight riders in '96. Mr. 

 Pemberton-Barnes was alive, but iiad not commenced riding in point-to- 



