Gentlemen Riders 



"History of the Brocklesby Hounds," published in 1902, 

 makes mention of the subject of our memoir as follows : — 



'* The name of Captain Jack Skipworth, of Housham, is 

 almost a household word in North Lincolnshire ; and although 

 born as long ago as 181 1, it is only a few years ago — he was 

 then in his eighty-third year — that the writer saw him out with 

 Lord Yarborough's hounds. His was a striking figure ; erect 

 in the saddle, the raven locks straggling from under the broad- 

 brimmed silk hat, the long-lapped scarlet coat, a brown top- 

 boot on one leg, and a gout-boot and a legging on the other, 

 will never fade from the memory as a light of the grand old 

 sportsman of our grandfathers' days. 



"Captain John Henry Skipworth had a marvellous career, 

 such a one as comes to but few. How many are there who 

 can boast such a record as his ? Two campaigns with more 

 than fifty hand-to-hand fights and skirmishes ; a duellist to 

 uphold the honour of his regiment ; for upwards of sixty years 

 a first-flight man with the Brocklesby and other Hunts ; a 

 breeder, and a good judge of horses and dogs — he had a breed 

 of setters that was noted far beyond the Lincolnshire borders — 

 an excellent shot, and an expert in wood craft." 



The author may well remark that such a record reads 

 more like that of the hero of a novel than a figure in real life. 



It was quite in the order of things that so good a sportsman 

 and rider should leave behind him one capable of keeping up 

 the family reputation, and it is pleasant, therefore, to find his 

 eldest son, who had already ridden with considerable success 

 in cross-country races, setting the seal on his fame by winning 

 the National Hunt Steeplechase, of 1862, the third year of its 

 existence, on Fidget, a mare owned by Mr. FitzOldaker, and 

 bred by his uncle, Mr. George Skipworth, one of the most 

 prominent sportsmen of his day, and a great friend of the 



68 



