SUGGESTIONS 



FOR THE 



Building of Steeplechase Courses 



As will be noticed in the accompanying photographs, 

 two methods have been accepted by the Stewards of the 

 National Steeplechase and Hunt Association for the con- 

 struction of the guard-rails or supports used for the 

 retention of the brush, namely a rail (see Plates IV. and 

 VII.) and an inclined board box (see Plate VI.). While 

 the former is the cheaper and the form generally adopted, 

 the board construction is the stronger and less ex- 

 pensive to maintain. The boards should be not less 

 than two inches thick. 



The brush should be of some stiff variety — cedar or 

 spruce are best. If a lighter brush has to be used it is 

 well to tie it up in fagots and to fill the cases with them. 

 Care must, however, be used to see, on the completion of 

 the fence, that no cord or wire has been left above the 

 rail or support. 



After the frames are full, the brush should be evenly 

 trimmed off with a pair of hedge shears and slightly 

 rounded on the " take off " side. 



The guard-rail at the Liverpool may be made solid to 

 the ground. This should always be done when the 

 "take-off" is soft or liable to break away. The plank 

 used should be two feet wide, of which six inches buried 

 in the ground, and slanted towarc^s the jump. 



