258 STEEPLECHASING 



The sixteen started in close order, and, after some 

 trouble with the crowd at the brook, Humbug, Water 

 Witch, Rival, and Biped cleared it first, The Impostor, 

 Boxkeeper, and La Gitana getting in or falling. Hum- 

 bug and Water Witch then led, Brenda third ; Rival 

 refused the next fence, and at the fourth jump two 

 were in difficulties. Mallard proceeded along the 

 headland, and fell at the gate. At the seventh fence 

 the field was very much scattered, Humbug, Water 

 Witch, Tea Fighter, and Prima Donna leading ; Mallard 

 had another fall and was pulled up, Prima Donna 

 refused the double and turned round for the single, 

 Tea Fighter fell heavily at the eleventh fence, and 

 on cominof down the field to the double fence Hum- 

 bug and Water Witch held a great lead ; Water 

 Witch fell here, but ultimately ran up second again 

 with a broken rein and a martingale hanging loose. 

 Humbuij and Water Witch were more than half 

 over the extensive meadow towards the brook and 

 close together before any other competitor entered it, 

 Brenda being third with Boxkeeper close in her wake. 

 Humbug was first at the water, but refused. Water 

 Witch, however, jumped it, and then Humbug took it 

 standing, the two leaping the last fence almost together. 

 The mare was then beat and Humbug appeared an 

 easy winner, but Brenda, rushing up, caught him a 

 few yards from the winning flags and won by a length, 

 Boxkeeper beating Water Witch by a neck, three or 

 four lengths dividing her from Humbug. 



184s 



The course this year was at Brixworth and about 

 nine miles from Northampton, the manner in which the 

 riders of the steeplechase of last year were beset by the 



