October lo, 19 14 
LAND AND WATER 
scent the members of the Meath Hunt made a capital start 
at Gibstown, where Major Colhns's woodlands were drawn 
and several foxes scattered effectively by the hounds, which 
were followed in a capital run from Arch Hall, heading back 
towards Balsaw and into the Decoy, where the quarry was 
killed. The Donaghpatrick Moat also held a leash, and one 
was marked to ground. The Ballinter Woodlands were 
visited, a fine show of cubs being successfully hunted to the 
neighbourhood of the kennels, where hounds caught their 
fox. The Clewd Wood and surrounding plantation afforded 
scope for a brisk run. Colonel Stuart's Pond Wood, at 
Dowdstown, was hunted through to Brady's Wood, several 
local sportsmen being well in at the death. 
Rod and Gun 
A NGLING and rifle shooting have played an important 
■**- part amongst Irish sportsmen for some time past, and 
although the former may be said to be on the decline, owing 
to the passing of the year and the absence of many devoted 
fishermen, interest in the latter recreation continues unabated, 
local clubs holding their periodic meetings with success. The 
bright and sultry weather and general calmness of the waters 
tend at present to retard fly fisliing and to reduce the 
importance of captures generally. The chief resorts at 
Waterville, Castleconnell, and adjoining lakes are growing 
less frequented, and sport is mostly backward. Sea trout 
take well at Lough Currane, one of the best baskets being 
that of Mr. Thompson, who captured several beauties one 
day last week. On the Inny, Mr. Verschoyle landed a fine 
salmon, and on the Cummeragh the former gaffed a salmon 
weighing 6 lb. and a few nice sea trout. The salmon and 
peal running on Waterville river is at a standstill, but sea 
angling is affording a pleasant alternative. The need of the 
hour is being promptly recognised by the various rifle clubs 
throughout the country, and a gratifying instance of un- 
swerving loyalty is afforded in the offer to the military 
authorities by the Ulster clubmen to form a corps of expert 
Service shots. The Ulster Rifle Association numbers amongst 
its members some of the foremost marksmen in the kingdom, 
and the addition it affords to the ranks is a welcome one. 
Irish Turf Topics 
TPHE third meeting of the season at Kells brought a strong 
■*■ contingent of sportsmen to the popular Meath event, 
where, with favourable weather and excellent fields, there 
was no lack of enjoyment. The hurdle racing and steeple- 
chases were well contested, Mr. J. Rogers riding two winners. 
The Tipperary fixture was a powerful attraction, and, despite 
the fact that there are few families in the county who have 
not relatives at the war-— for the district has always 
given of its best to the Army — there was a large and fashion- 
able attendance at Powerstown Park. Gloriously fine weather 
— more suggestive of mid-summer than advanced autumn — 
made for unalloyed pleasure. The Greenmount stable was 
in capital form at Iramore, where a well-raced programme 
formed the attraction for the Waterford people and visitors 
from all parts. Large fields ruled and good going was general. 
Angling 
T^ISHING on the River Forth, Mr. Alan Hannah, president 
■• of Bonnybridge Angling Club, was successful in landing a 
salmon weighing 19 lb. The fish, which was a beautiful, 
clean-run specimen, measured 38 in. in length and 20 in. in 
girth. In the opinion of Alexander Greenhill, keeper of the 
Forth fishings, the salmon was the finest specimen taken from 
the river for fully ten years. Mr. Hannah hooked the splendid 
creature with the fly known as " a small turkey." In the 
Esk and Liddle an increased number of salmon are now in 
evidence, especially in the lower waters. Herling and sea 
trout have afforded good sport with the fly during the past 
few days. In the stretch below Longtown, Mr. Makant 
secured, with a minnow, a salmon weighing 14 lb., and 
Mr. Keith Makant, fishing with dun turkey winged fly, had 
three fish of the same species, weighing respectively 10 J lb., 
12 J lb., and 12 lb. Mr. Keith had also a splendid basket of 
thirty herling. The River Tay continues low and clear, but 
despite this fact a few fish are showing, and some nice sport 
has recently been obtained. In one day's fishing Mr. J. 
Cattanach landed three salmon, 10 lb., 11 lb., and 12 lb. ; 
Mr. J. Jack, a fish of 151b.; and Mr. W. R. Stuart, two 
salmon, 61b. and 11 lb. 
Trotting and Steeplechasing 
TN dull but dry weather the open trotting handicap was 
■*■ decided on Victoria Race course, Glasgow, in three heats 
and a final. There was a large attendance of spectators, and 
the sport provided was of an excellent character. The 
starters in the preliminary heats were well up to the average 
in point of numbers. For the final, George IV. was in most 
request at even money, and next in favour came the two 
ponies Wee Pod and Cinderella. At three-quarters distance 
it seemed as if the ponies could not be overhauled, but on 
coming into the straight the champion put in some capital 
work and ultimately won a well-contested race by half a 
length. George IV. is the property of Miss Trail, Wee Pod 
is owned by Mr. MacCusker, and Cinderella belongs to 
Mr. Clark. There also ran in the final, Walter W. (Mr. 
Alexander), Dun Jack (Mr. Lindsay), His Worshipful (Mr. 
Johnstone), and Directese (Mr. Binnie). The effects of the 
war in taking away owners and producing a scarcity of steeple- 
chase horses in training induced the committee of the United 
Border Hunts to apply to the National Hunts stewards for 
permission to abandon the October fixture at Kelso. Leave 
has been granted, and the meeting has been removed from the 
calendar. 
Retriever Trials 
nPHE annual field trials for retrievers, promoted by the 
-*■ Gamekeepers' National Association, was held on the 
Duchess of Norfolk's estate of Caerlaverock, near Dumfries, 
and extended over two days. The weather was simply 
perfect and the meeting was largely attended. The opening 
day was devoted to the competitions in the Castlemilk Stakes 
for ten dogs or bitches, the property of ordinary members. 
The challenge cup was taken by Ian Earsman, Hoddam, with 
Jubilee Drake ; T. Parmley, Bradfield Kennels, came second 
with Pallinsburn Nell ; and R. Reay, Wooperton, third with 
Ilderton Ben. The prize for the best handler was awarded 
to Ian Earsman, and that for the best-looking Labrador to 
R. Reay for his Ilderton Ben. On the second day the 
National Stakes for dogs owned by honorary members of the 
association was decided, and the entries numbered sixteen. 
The winner was Snipe, belonging to the Hon. Mrs. Lionel 
Walrond, Bradfield ; the second prize went to Mr. T. W. 
Twyford, Whitmore Hall, for Peter of Whitmore ; and the 
third to Mr. R. A. Ogilvie, London, for Caulcleuch. The 
judges were Mr. Ernest E. Turner, Gloucester ; Captain G. 
Hutchison, of Kenbank, New Galloway ; and Mr. Wilson 
Davidson, jun., Beechgrove, Annan. The work of the dogs, 
taken as a whole, was decidedly good. 
Golf 
A T the business meeting of the Royal and Ancient Golf 
-^*- Club, St. Andrews, it was reported that on account of 
the war the captaincy of Major Bethune had been deferred 
till next September. Mr. H. W. Forstcr, M.P., is to continue 
to discharge the duties of the office for the next eleven months. 
Referring to steel-shafted clubs, the chairman of the rules 
committee stated that clubs of this make had been carefully 
tested for a number of years and the results had from time to 
time been placed before the committee. It had always been 
decided that such clubs were not a permissible departure 
from the traditional instrument and that their adoption ought 
not to be encouraged. In the final round for the hole-and- 
hole tournament, under the auspices of the Musselburgh 
Royal Club, Mr. Richard Niven (receiving 6 holes) beat the 
club honorary secretary. Mr Herbert Millar (owing li holes) 
by 10 to 9, and won the Menzies Cup. Mr. Harry Hope, 
M.P., has presented the Bute Club with a handsome cup, and 
the final in connection therewith was played on Saturday. 
The result was a victory for William T. Esplin (scratch), who 
beat Malcolm Bell (2) by 5 up and 3 to play. In the hole 
tournament for prizes presented to Cochrane Castle Club 
(ladies' section) by Mrs. H. W. MacGregor, the winners were : 
1st, Miss Jessie Jackson ; 2nd, Mrs. James MacNab. 
Items of Interest 
TOURING the past few days some very good stags were 
■'-' accounted for in the forests of Ross-shire and Inverness- 
shire. A considerable number of excellent heads are reported 
from Gaick, Killilan, Cozac, Monar, Strathconan, and Loch- 
rosque. Colonel Clarke, Fasnakyle, brought down two 
magnificent stags, each of which scaled 19 st. 41b. clean. 
One carried a grand head of 11 points and the other had a 
fine, rough head of 16 tines. The latter is regarded as the 
outstanding trophy of the season. — Owing to the war the 
executive of the Border Coursing Club have cancelled the 
Spotsmain and Redden meetings fixed for October 1;^ and 
November 5 respectively. It is announced by the Mid- 
Annandale Club that unless there is a satisfactory entn,- the 
proposed meetings on the 13th and 14th current will not be 
held. — The principal subject discussed at the annual meeting 
of the Scottish Ice Rink Club was the effect that the war is 
likely to have on curling during the coming winter. While it 
was recognised that the game, in common with other forms of 
sport, must suffer in some measure, there was a unanimous 
expression of opinion that as the majority of players are out 
of the fsphere of active service no useful object could be 
attained by giving up curling, even temporarily. It was 
agreed to open the Crossmyloof Rink on the rgth current. 
25 
