BRITISH SPORT PAST AND PRESENT 



entangled in those of his adversary, but soon extricated him- 

 self, and went on at a killing pace. In attempting to catch 

 him, it is generally considered that Douglas pumped the wind 

 out of Radical, which occasioned him to fall at a small fence ; 

 and, by all accounts, his rider had a narrow escape of being 

 seriously injured. Nothing daunted — for few men are harder 

 or have better nerve — Douglas was in his saddle again, and 

 charged a very large place (to get back into his line), which 

 Radical cleared in a most workmanlike manner. His chance, 

 however, was now out ; Ross was gotten more than half a 

 mile ahead of him ; and when he passed me, about a mile 

 from home — he was going quite at his leisure, not three parts 

 speed. 



' The scene at the Coplow beggars description. I can only 

 compare it to a charge of cavalry, without the implements of 

 destruction, although those who were in the thick of it were not 

 free from danger. I never saw so much happiness depicted in 

 one man's face as shewed itself in that of the winner, and the 

 acclamations of his friends rent the air. 



' That Captain Ross appeared the favourite of the field, 

 truth compels me to state ; and I think it was to be attri- 

 buted, among others, to these causes : — first, the unassuming 

 conduct he has invariably observed on the occasion ; and 

 secondly, to the great and never ceasing exertions of his 

 friend ]Mr. Holyoake, to pull him well through. My old 

 acquaintance, ]Mr. Frank Needham of Hungerton, exerted 

 himself most powerfully in his favour, and no doubt his friends 

 were pretty numerous on the ground. 



' Some idea may be formed of the pace these gentlemen 

 must have gone over the first part of the ground, when I state 

 the fact, that the distance was performed by CUnker in eleven 

 minutes thirty seconds ; ^ although, as I have before stated, 

 he was going quite at his ease for the last mile, or more. Dur- 

 ing this part of the race I rode by the side of, and conversed 



' Captain Ross says the time 'by stop-watch was llj minutes; a good pace over 

 a very hilly country.' 



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