Back to One of two 9th Lancers albums of photos and sketches `Records of the Gujerat Cup for Pig-Sticking' c1885-1932
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| Accession number | 912L : 2090/23 |
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THE GUZERAT CUP , 1885 . ( new feature in the sporting annals of Guzerat has been the institution this year of an annual igsticking cup for all horses , subscribed for by Cuzerat sportsmen ; and this was supplemented by a handsome cup for ponies only , which was given by Captain M. B. Salmon , and which the Honor has most generously promised shall be an annual gift as long as he remains in Guzerat . The entries for both cups were numerous , but Government orders relating to the Peshin Valley and Suakin kept many good sportsmen from attending . The absence of the honorary secre ta ' y , Mr. W. H. White , C.E. , from this cause was especially regretted . Ample provision in the shape of tents , food , liquor , ice , & c . , had been made in camp for a large party , no light task , seeing the camp was 25 miles from the nearest railway station , but only 12 owners and 18 horses turned up for the Gazerat Cup , and 11 ponies for the grass to open country . Heat 5. - A very good boar was driven out of The waler Sentinel shot off at first , but the boar turned round some mounds and trees , and each rider had a rush at him , Saunterer being faster than Dandy and a little handier on the turn than Sentinel clung to the boar , and Mr. Younghusband got the his level best , with a final burst , to get back to fight before he was killed . the heavy grass cover . This boar made a good otteer , the Salmon Cup , with some spectators . Before enter - spear in view of every one as the boar was doing ing upon a detailed account of the sport , I must lated . Of this mutilation I will give you two instances , tell you that my telegrams to you were much muti in the hope this may catch the eye of the Superin tendent of Telegraphs . I telegraphed as follows : - " Winners of two heats Pony Cup , Tully's Chinkara , Flycatcher , Sweep , not Parabbas , Wellman's Beryll ; third heat , Ga assage as follows : " Pouy Cup , Tully's Barrab trun off . The intelligent clerk improved the , 1 ; esulted as follows : azetteer , 1 ; Chinkara , 2 ; Wellman's Beryll , 2. The third heat Flycatcher , 3. The sweep has not beeu run yet . " at the clerk had evidently had a shot at the You will see Sweep was the name of a pony , Caballa Sweep in old days and thought he knew all about it . The other curious mistake was , I wiote " it is raining here " and the message went the running is taking place here , " which being dated from Sanand Railway station , 25 miles from our camp , caused some astonishment . The entries for the Guzerat Cup comprised 26 leaving 18 to compete : horses , of which 8 ( those marked with an asterisk ) scratched for reasons given above , thus were Dr. Tully's Mr. King's ir . Langley's apt . Foster's Capt . Foster's M. Alban's .... Major Hancock's Major Hancock's Mr. Ritchie's ......... bah ...... Beauty . " Mr. Conroy's Mr. Conroy's . Mr. Henvey Welman's ... b ah Capt . Salmon's Mr. Littleton S's ..... Mr. Littleton S's Mr. Littleton S's Mr. Buckland's .. Mr. Buckland's .. Mr. N. S. Symon's ........ Mr. N. S. Symon's .. Mr. N. S. Symon's . bwg beb h g a h ...... " Sohail . " gah cah .... bag .... b a h bob h bah ba g gah Mr. Younghusband's ... bcbh Dr. Tully's Mr. Littleton's Mr. Ritchie's .... cwh bah bwg gah cah Mr. Younghusband's gah Mr. Younghusband's ... gag Mr. White's ...... h wh Mr. White's Mr. Littleton's Mr. Foster's .... Mr. N. S. Symon's . " Goldfield . " * " Labarnum . " cag cah " Mighty Boar . " Timoor . " * Fancy . " Dandy . " " Bruin . " King of Thule . " Charlie . " a h ...... " Tomtit . " ...... " Sentinel . " Skylark . " Butcher Boy . " Plover . " " Kingfisher . " " Ishmail . " " Wood Pigeon . " Spider . " " Saunterer . " Brat . ' " Baldoyle . " * 11 " Multum in Parvo . " Rupert . " ca h .... " Varsova . " The following list gives the heats as they were drawn , the first on the list being the winner of each heat : 1 . Mr. N. S. Symons's ...... b a h Kingfisher Mr. Littleton's ...... b w gal Butcher Boy Mr. Younghusband's ... b cb gal Spider ......... 2 . Major Hancock's ......... ba h Fancy Mr. Younghusband's ...... g a gal Brat ... Mr. Forster's g a h Sohail 3 . ... ch a h Beauty ..... wh w g Plover ... .... ch cb gal Bruin . 4 . .... ba h Skylark .Owner . g a gal Mighty Boar ...... do . ... b , a gal Ishmail ......... do . Jan's Major Hancock's ......... b a h Dandy 6 . Riders . ..Owner . do . do . 5 . Younghusband's ...... ch a gal Saunterer.Owner . chw gald Sentinel Salmon . Heat 4. This heat was not very satisfactory . Mr. N. S. Symons's Mr. Langley's Mr. Wallace's Mr. Ritchie's Mr. Henry Wellman's ... Mr. Lieton's Dr. Tul It was run off in heavy grass and reeds after a small pig , the umpire and competitors having been disappointed for some time in not getting a run , the pigs refusing to break over the open , and constantly breaking back past the elephants and well kept line of beaters . Skylark was quickest Mr. E hie's . off and got the lead , but Ishmail took up the running on a sharp jink and his rider made a thrust at the pig , but missed his spear , the pig Captain Salmon's turned sharp back and stood still , when Mr. Littleton turning sharp on that handy horse Skylark speared heavily . Mr. Foster on the Mighty Boar was very close up , but never had a fair lay in . Dr. Tull Mr. Wallace's . De D8 . Mr. N. S. Symon's ......... g h Wood Pigeon ... Owner . Mr. Henvey Wellman's ... ch a h King of Thule ... Do. Mr. Langley's ......... b a h Laburnum ...... Do. Heat 1. - A nice boar was driven out of the sea of grass to an open country , interspersed in the latter portion of the run with clumps of Kichadi bushes . Kingfisher was quickest off , and kept the lead for a few hundred yards , when Butcher Boy collared him , but Kingfisher cut in again on a jink Symons speared . It was a very good race . and driving his boar along at a good pace , Mr. Heat 6. - This heat was run off in the heavy grass , which may have been some disadvantage to the race - horse " King of Thule , " who stumbled in his rider's feet out of the stirrups . Wood Pigeon the rough ground just after the start , knocking rushed on and chevying like a greyhound chevies a hare never gave the others a chance , and his ties . owner won the spear easily . Thus ended the first The following was the drawing of winners ' heats , the first on the list being the winner : 1 . Wood Pigeon Fancy Mr. N. S. Symon's ..... Major Hancock's 2 . Mr. Younghusband's ......... Saunterer ....... Mr. Littleton's Skylark Beauty ... Kingfisher .... Dr. Tully's .. Mr. N. S. Symon's do . Heat 1. - This heat was also run in very heavy grass and reed cover , the competitors having waited all one afternoon and all next morning hoping to get a run in the open . They were eventually started after a nasty jinking little boar . Saunterer made the running at first for a hundred yards , when Fancy took it up on , the boar jinking , but Fancy's owner missed his spear , plumping it well into the ground . This rather astonished the pigsticking King of Guzerat himself , and Wood Pigeon got a cut in , and turned and twisted the pig a slight contretemps . The umpire called " no heat , " till the little brute stood still . This gave rise to but again shouted " go on , " when the pig moved again .. Mr. Symons got the best of the second start and speared the boar within 20 yards . Owing to the heavy grass this was a fluky and unsatisfac tory run . Rider . Owner . do . do . Owner . do . the same reasons as above . Heat 2. This was also run in the grass for A pig was seen 4 1 Gazetteer ...... 2 Flycatcher .... Chinkara Sweep .. G. E. Hancock . Beryl Versova Pig Bud ...... 3 E. Fully As some extra incidents I may tell how a portion moving in front of the beaters , and , on the word of the rest of our time was spent apart from being given to ride , Skylark shot to the front , running off heats . While the second winners ' closely followed by Beauty and Kingfisher , the heat was waiting at the edge of the grass , the latter waiting for a jink . No jink occurred , beaters were seen to break up into groups , and however , and Skylark very neatly won the spear . those thrown out for the cup wers , apparently All the runs up to this time had taken place at slaying boar after boar , in the grass , that broke Sarla , where the grass was so extensive and the back past the elephants and beaters , when a the beaters at the other end : mirage so great , that men on trees could not see thumping big boar was seen moving on ahead of so it was agreed to the elephants for ten or twenty yards , and then lying move to a fresh country for the final heat between down only to be kicked up again by the elephants . Wood Pigeon and Skylark . This was done next Tiring of this game , at last he charged the elephants morning , and we went to Dev Dhollera for the right and left , made for the beaters , cutting one beat . Some pigs were beaten out of a high grass man's arm very badly , and then made for a .Owner . hedge , but the umpire would not start the two spectator , who fortunately was mounted on a very competitors as there was no boar . Then came a fast galloway . As he tersely described it over the tallyho back , and a lanky lean pig was seen going mess table , " that bally boar wasn't so fast as my " Are you ready ? Ride ! " shouts crock , or my poor bones would now be bleaching ..Owner . the umpire , and off went Wood Pigeon stealing on that fearful plain , and the wolves and jackals do . do . over the open . the start , but closely followed by Skylark . The would be snarling over me . " It was , perhaps , do . do . pig dashed into thick hedge like the one he had the finest race of the meeting - the horse been beaten cat of , and both riders : crashed through it , but where was the animal ? He had stopped in the hedge and sneaked out at the end of it . Both ricers caught view , almost without checking , and then a tremendous set to took place a fairly on country . after a fast and jinking pig among bushes , but in After seve i turns and rider won ! Mr. Younghusband came to the rescue and thereby gained a splendid pair of tusks , much the finest we have seen in the Null country . Captain Salmon joined in and helped to polish off this hoary old monster . Mean time the horse Laburnum got his rider into difficulties and got killed hy being knocked out of his hand , rebounding , and running into the horse . Is Owner's Barabbas May . Quaker Dr. Tully's Barabbas .. Mr. N. S. Symons's ...... Flycatcher M. Henry Wellman's ... Beryl ....... Rider . too ) of a valuable pony cup.5 And then there was our sporting doctor , who not only won the pony Owner . cup , but sewed up the wounds inflicted by that terrible boar which , as described above , nearly lost us that most gallant , merry , Owner . and mirth - making artillery officer of whom we do . shall ever pray that he may be one of us next year . I said above the heat was terrific . Well , it was do . do . do . Heat 1. - A small boar was started in short grass , when Chinkara and Sweep took the lead . The pig jinked again and again , and everyone had a cut in , but Fly atcher was the most experienced pony after pig , and successfully negotiated a nasty ditch in the grass , over which Gazetteer fell , throwing his rider heavily , and after that Fly catcher won the spear , with Quaker close up . Heal 2. This was a very pretty run race was hounded out of the grass over a fine open country . Beryl took the lead , and the whole field raced for half a mile , when the boar jinked round and raced them all back again for the long grass . Mr. Wellman on Beryl got the spear , and the others then quickly killed the boar . a boar Heat 3. - A boar broke at first through grass and then over the open and gave a very good run . Barabbas went very kindly , and being very fast , won somewhat easily at the finish ; but all agreed it had been a first class run . There were then left in for the final heat : do . do . Owner . do . do . speed , nor ne naving the advantage slightly on the turn , and now the other , the boar was in front jinking from left to right , Skylark on the left after the boar , Wood Pigeon on the right riding to cut The heat was terrific during the day . All the skin of our noses and hands was blistered by the White kid gloves were at a premium . off the boar as he was crossing . As the boar passed sun . under Wood Pigeon's nose Mr. Littleton speared Black buck were plentiful ; so were likh or the him in the quarter and Mr. Symons simultaneously on the shoulder . The pig went on to the right and both riders stopped . Both spears were covered with blood . Mr. Littleton called spear not hav as a Heat 2. The competitors were started some distance behind a pig , which the umpire separated from the sounder , in a very open country . Brat took the lead at first , when Sohail drew up , and these two had the pig between them , with Fancy with his long experience took advantage of this outpaced , but the pig jinked , and Fancy's rider on his fancy horse and got the spear . lesser florican . Of hares there were hundreds , partridges abounded in the fences , and a few grey quail were seen - very late in the season for them . Teal and ducks of sorts were still to be seen on pools ing seen the other spear . Mr. Symons called dead of water , though it was nearly the middle of April . heat . It was not disputed , and was counted We commenced hunting on April 3rd and kept it dead heat . The two competitors were willing to up for a full week . We saw a magnificent black divide , but the feeling of the committee was to have cobra , but were too tired to stop for that brute , the heat run off . They were , after an hour's beat- though one of our camels only saved himself from ing , started evenly again after a good boar , when Mr. being bitten by holding up his foot in mid Littleton on Skylark , thinking the boar was turning air , after which the snake disappeared in a rat out thereby . to the left through a high grass hedge , got thrown hole . Twenty - eight boars were killed during The boar turned to the right , and the meet , and though a few of them were Mr. Symons on Woodpigeon ran into him at the under legitimate height ( viz . 28 inches ) and a few Heat 3. - A big sounder of hog was seen making end of the next field and won the Guzerat Cup . sows were killed , it was so difficult to tell off on an open plain about a mile ahead . The Woodpigeon is the same horse that won the in the grass that mistakes were condoned umpire at that distance could not pick out a boar , Bheema Cup in 1883 for his owner , and the same and took his men along at a smart gallop until horse at Mr. Symons rode when he killed a full they got close up , when the boar was distinguished grown dog - wolf single - handed near Poona in 1881 . I have now to describe the Pony Cup . The heats were drawn as follows , the first on the list being the winner of each heat and the order to ride was given . Beauty shot out , and Dr. Tully speared in 150 yards , the boar not attempting to extend himself or jink . After he was speared , the boar gave much better sport and on this occasion . The camp and shikar arrange ments made by Major Hancock and Mr. Ritchie were first class and most luxurious . Nothing could have been better although we were all the time 36 to 40 miles from Ahmedabad . Readers will understand how we toasted Captain Salmon for his handsome gift ( an annual gift soul killed after a hard run . Some pigs were marked down in cactus on a hill side . They were properly driven out , but the plain , and stuck to the low jungle . The order to obstinate creatures refused to break over the open ride had been given at the start , and then ensued a scurry through bair bushes and small nullahs for about three - fourths of a mile . At the first nullah Beryl having a slight lead and going fast stopped dead , and Mr. Wellman was landed far ahead . Barabbas jumped that nullah , and several others in succession , followed by Flycatcher over very rough ground . Barabbas was the faster of the two ponies , and , guided by his skilful owner , neatly speared and won the Salmon Cup . We then returned to camp , and after breakfast went for general pigsticking into the Null . But in such a sea of grass , extending for miles and miles without a break , we could do little good , and only got one boar that afternoon . Next day every one turned out for general pigsticking and we had fair sport , killing five boars , two of which fought well , cutting Dr. Tully's Beauty and the pony Flycatcher . The following day camp was broken up , but on the way back to Ahmedabad station four of the party had five rans over a grand jumping cactus hedge country at Bowla , killing four very good boars , and some good antelope shooting was enjoyed en route . Rider , Owner , do . do . so hot that we saw the village pariah dogs sing down in the village tanks to cool themselves ! Bu 31 from 4 to 6 a.m. a light blanket on the bed wa comfortable . After mess we sang " The Eton Boat Song , " " The Mighty Boar , " Over the Valley and over the Level , " D'ye Ken Jola Peel . " Drink , Puppy , Drink , and other good sporting songs . And Mr. Artilleryman kept the camp roar- . ing with his fun . But ten to twelve hours daily in the saddle made many of us sleepy before midnight . We found the countr in the Null and round about the Null wore a very different aspect , owing to the late rains , to what it did year ago . And the ground in the Nall proper ( or as it is sometimes , called the Chota Runn of Guzerat to distinguish it from the Runn of Cutch ) was so badly cut up by the hoof marks of buffaloes which were turn ed into the reeds to graze and wallow when the place was under water , that it was absolutely too bad to ride over . We expected to get some very fine general pigsticking in the Null , but had to give it up . We noticed what appeared to us a very rare bird a hawk or kite - hawking locusts and such small fry in the Null . From the description given . the honorary secretary of the Bombay Natural His tory Society thinks it must be Elanus Melanup terus . The few present , whose pitention was called to the bird , had never seou i before , and some of us were " old boys . We hopo in future years there will be more riders for these two cups , and as amongst them some of the young Kattywar chiefs , we see that the Kadir Cup on the other side of India has just been won by the Rajah of Dhole LOFER . poor . |
