34 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



came into Mr. Mansfield's possession. He has now 

 been seven years in the county as hunt-servant. He had 

 the great advantage of serving under the best gentle- 

 man huntsman of the day as whip, Capt. Thompson, 

 when he carried the Pytchley Horn. He knows every 

 inch of the Kildare territory, rides well, has a splendid 

 voice ; and as the hounds always look well, it is appa- 

 rent that he knows his business in the kennel as well 

 as in the field. 



Two years ago public kennels were erected at 

 Jigginstown, one mile from Naas. They may be de- 

 scribed as being " neat but not gaudy," and they are 

 very commodious. Builders are at present at work 

 there erecting stables and other accommodation, and 

 when complete it will be a very excellent establishment 

 in a very central position. 



Mr. William Forbes, the present master, is a native 

 of Scotland ; his home in the Highlands is near a 

 village known to tourists who have travelled to the 

 Trossachs via Callendar. But he is well known in Kil- 

 dare, where he has resided during the hunting season 

 for several years past. That he loves the " mimic 

 warfare" is proved by the fact that he hunts six days 

 a week, although he often has a very long journey to 

 the trysts. He is a supporter of steeplechasing too ; 

 though he seldom races his horses anywhere except in 

 Punchestown, where he won the Prince of Wales* 

 Plate in 1871, with Huntsman, and was second with 

 Delight. In the year following, the French bred, 

 Heraut d'Armes, made a grand debut as a chaser, by 

 winning the Conyngham Cup, ridden by Capt. Smith, 

 beating Curragh Ranger, Bashful, and several other 

 good horses ; Gaskill and Kingswood also carried the 



