266 MEMORIES OF MEN AND HORSES 



sum which the Colonel gave as the prize for that race, 

 and even in these later days, I could beat the winner 

 as he then was. 



Those functions at Avery Hill were marvellous in 

 their way. Colonel North used to challenge anyone 

 present to run sixty yards, and he would give them 

 five yards. He would always beat them, for he had 

 been a bit of a "pro." in his young days at Leeds, 

 and had all the tricks of starting. I once saw him 

 run against Rutland Harrington and Lionel Brough. 

 Brough had no chance, but Barrington was then an 

 active young man, and Colonel North made one or 

 two false starts, which led to Barrington running the full 

 distance before he knew what had happened, and then 

 when the real start came the Colonel was two or three 

 yards in front of him before he knew where he was, 

 and won easily, with " Lai " Brough distanced. 



Those were merry days, for no one troubled much 

 about this or that, but later came a time when Sir 

 Alfred Kirby, who was in his time one of the sheriffs 

 of London, ceased to be Colonel of the Tower Hamlets 

 Volunteers, and Colonel Weatherley, a very different 

 class of man, took on the job. He was a good man, 

 but not accustomed to the Hon. Colonel's habits, and 

 his wife was a lady with no idea of anything of the kind. 

 I shall always remember the last day of the week of the 

 Tower Hamlets Volunteers on that occasion, for the 

 Hon. Colonel having, as usual, offered to give anybody 

 five yards in sixty, was taken on by the new Colonel, 

 who must have been at least twenty years younger. 

 Nevertheless, in the presence of his wife, he was beaten 

 pointless by Colonel North. 



I noticed then, as I had done more than once before, 



