Monday, March 16th, 1896. 



Meet at Evendon's. Owing to the absence of the Juniors at 

 Shoebury we only had a field of ten riders, excluding Master and 

 whips. We ran from the farm in almost a bee line to Barkham 

 Square, sharp to the right round the house, down hill over the brook, 

 then to the left over the brook again and on to the check. The 

 going was on the whole very good, and the pace fast. Bram 

 and the Father of Sorrows were in great form, riding neck and neck 

 almost throughout the line. Bram's victory by a head provoked 

 much applause except from a bookie, who hastily altered his price 

 from 66 to io to i against. The effect of horses jumping on the 

 banks at Barkham Common was very similar to that created by a 

 burst of a shell. The spectators from the Square saw more than one 

 rider suddenly surrounded by a cloud of dust. 



A rider in apricot breeches had much trouble. His horse, as we 

 know from the experience of last year's Point to Point, has a big 

 bump of locality. He soon recognised the line and some old 

 enemies in the way of blind ditches, and determined to let his rider 

 know that he wasn't taking any. It required all Sydney's gentle (?) 

 persuasive powers to make him change his mind. 



About the rest of the line I have no criticism to make, it is logical 

 and shows — What are we saying ! Damn that memoir, it absolutely 

 haunts one ! 



The second line from Handpost Farm to Heath End Farm, 

 good though it was, saw a very small field, and the second whip was 

 without a mount. No incident or accident enlivened or marred the 

 proceedings, and though Bram did not ride, the Father of Sorrow- 

 again gave us a taste of his mettle. 



( 62 ) 



