3i6 Reminiscences of a 



hospitable, and don't like anyone to pass without a salute — 

 generally a liquid one. Another good old sort of a farmer was 

 Mr. Dent of Goosepool, one of a very sporting breed, who 

 both race and hunt, and always have a nice horse or two. 

 I believe all the family were nailing good dancers. 



Rare men were the Hardys of West House, Trimdon — 

 father and three sons. John, who lives there now, and had 

 once a good bi'own mare that he sold to Mr. James Cookson, 

 master of the Hurworth Hounds; Robert (who took his 

 degree in Mr. Appleby's office) who had a good dark chestnut 

 mare and was very keen to hounds ; and William, who farms 

 somewhere near West Hartlepool, and had a brown horse 

 by "Omega," one of the biggest jumpers I ever saw, especially 

 for such a strong horse, but he was a little bit after my 

 time, though I have seen him. Young John was as keen as 

 mustard for a bit of hunting before his accident on January 

 16th, 1878, when he broke his ribs over a great strong piece 

 of timber in a gateway, that knocked poor John's light out 

 so far as hunting was concerned. Though it is six-and- 

 twenty years ago I can distinctly remember all about it, and 

 was riding " Bob " Stephenson's grand old horse " Game- 

 boy " that afternoon. Robert and William both promised 

 well in the hunting field, but I am sorry to hear that they 

 retired, either from the claims of business or ill-health. 



Young Tom Crow, of Crow's Moor, was bad to beat 

 over a country when he rode " Beaconsfield," afterwards 

 purchased by Mr. John Beach, of Foggyfurze, who converted 

 him into a steeplechaser, and I should have ridden him at 

 Sedgefield, but for the accident I had on Mr. Stephenson's 

 "Gameboy" in a previous race, and for which I have to thank 

 old " Pigeon," Charley Robinson's chestnut mare, alluded to 

 before. Boag rode " Beaconsfield " instead of me, and got the 



