A Sportsman at Large 151 



I held my own pretty well, I was not so successful as at the 

 more open and business-like Gun Club. 



It was also my wont to repair to the grounds of the Welsh 

 Harp, Hendon, there to shoot for the valuable prize annually 

 offered (under the auspices of Mr. H. Holt) by " The Gun 

 and Polo Club." This trophy was named " The Grand 

 Aristocratic Cup/' valued at fifty-two guineas, added to a 

 sweepstake of five pounds each. Fifteen birds ; handicap 

 distances. 



I had the luck to win this desirable prize two years running, 

 and, curiously enough, under exactly similar circumstances. 

 On the first occasion, I was handicapped at twenty-six yards. 

 I killed all seven birds on the first day ; missed my first on 

 the second, and yet had only to kill to win at the finish. 

 The next year I was put back to twenty-eight yards. Other- 

 wise the course of events was identical ! 



Later on, another valuable competition The Portland 

 Cup was offered by Mr. Holt at Hendon. H. T. Bentley, 

 who had been closely associated with me in pony racing,* and 

 who was an associate of mine at Hurlingham, tied with me at 

 the finish. I was at twenty-nine, and he at thirty yards' rise. 

 This was the first time I had shot with Ballastite powder. 

 Not being used to such a quick explosive I began to suffer 

 from gun-headache by the time we had reached the ninth 

 round. This infliction increased in severity every time I 

 faced the traps. 



Bentley and I were the only ones left standing when we 

 had eleven pigeons " straight " credited to our respective 

 names. Then we killed bird for bird up to seventeen. 



Long ere this, I was in agony and almost on the point 

 of collapse. I did not care if I missed ! I only longed to be 

 quit of the distressing business. But, somehow or other, I 

 kept scraping down my birds with my " second." 



At last, after the nineteenth kill by Bentley, I did manage 

 to let one go, and was unfeignedly thankful ; though the cup 

 was a very handsome one. We had agreed to divide stakes 

 when the tie was declared, and had then shot out for the trophy. 



I was now really ill and in dreadful pain and distress. My 



* See " Chasing and Racing." 



