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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Gray Harrison Younghusband Nick Symons Martin Nathan Proctor Sims Burder Elliot Indahir Singh Waddington Graham Capel - Cure WH White Gray Dholepore Littleton CP White Phillip I. 1 at Saroda fied later 2. I The y hold it for taken out 3. F and under at the Car 4. E I Heat . Umpire - Dholepore Non - start they wish address of discretion FIRST CHANCES . I Heat . Umpire - Haydon . Younghusband Indahir Singh Nick Symons Burder special fir 5. R awarded i reduction 6. G ing of eve ments to Colo Colo The 7. L and their II Heat . Umpire - Littleton . Nathan Quin Littleton Aplin 8. C ary Secre I. A the compe reasons in III Heat . Umpire - Dholepore . the owner II . he may , st stitute m petitor wl done so o III . IV Heat . Umpire - Graham . II Heat . Umpire - CP White . THE meet this year was timed very conveniently to come off during the Easte and Holi holidays , which happened to fall in the same week . The camp was at the same place as last year , viz . , Amliala , about twenty miles south of Ahmedabad , a little off the Dholka road . There were ten compe titors from Bombay and nine from districts far and near round Ahmedabad ; also His Highness the Maharana of Dholepur and Captain Indahir Singh ; making 21 altogether who actually competed , besides one good sportsman who lent his valuable services as umpire and in various other capacities . The afternoon of the 22nd March found us all in camp , most of the Bombay party arriving on the useful but often unpleasant oont ( camel ) ; one of these animals having made himself conspicuously dis agreeable by rushing off the road at intervals and careering round sunk wells with head up in the skies , giving vent to unearthly cries and refusing to be guided by rein , voice or anything else . The camp was the largest there has ever been , and all the arrangements were excellent . The tents were pitched about under mango trees , of which there were any amount , forming the best of shades for men and horses . After the pony - measuring was over , we had a turn round the country , to exercise the horses that would be running in the heats the following morning , and to give the new - comers the lie of the land . Then dinner , in a palatial mess - tent , and after that , the Maharajah joined us , and the draw ing of heats took place , resulting as follows : GUZERAT CUP . Nick Symons Aplin Waddington Elliot Littleton " GUZERAT CUP " PIG - STICKING MEET , 1891 . Colonel HANCOCK . Colonel JACKSON . Capel - Cure CP White Martin WH White Dholepore Younghusband 1. The Meet will be held the last week in March , to include the Holi and Easter Holidays , in the Ahmedabad country . Date and place will be more precisely notified later . 2. The following Cups are offered for competition : Grey Phillip Harrison ( a ) " The Guzerat Cup , " value Rs . 1,000 , subscribed for by residents of Guzerat . ( 6 ) " The Salmon Challenge Cup , " value about Rs . 850 . ( c ) A Cup , value Rs . 250 , presented outright to the winner of the " Salmon Chal lenge Cup " by a few sportsmen residing outside Guzerat . The winner of the " Salmon Challenge Cup " is entitled to have his name inscribed on it , and to hold it for one year , at the end of which he must return it to the Honorary Secretary . It is not to be taken out of India . 3 . For ( a ) , any class of horse may be ridden . For ( b ) and ( e ) , competitors must ride ponies 13.3 and under . All ponies , except those holding W. I. T. C. certificates , to be brought up for measurement at the Camp at an hour which will be duly notified . No allowance for shoes . 4. Entries for the " Guzerat " and " Salmon " Cups respectively : Rs . 15 and Rs . 5 , up to 10th February . 25 ,, 7-8 Dholepore Martin Graham Harrison Non - starters pay full forfeit . Gentlemen entering for the " Guzerat Cup " should state whether they wish to take one or two chances ( see Rule II ) . Entries will not be in time unless they reach the address of the Honorary Secretary by the date named . The Com mittee reserve the discretion of accepting entries up to the time of drawing , on special grounds , and on payment of a special fine or otherwise . 5 . Rs . 30 in the " Guzerat Cup " and Rs . 15 in the " Salmon " competition will probably be awarded for each first spear taken ; but the exact amounts will be fixed hereafter , and are liable to reduction in heats of less than four . Capel - Cure Phillip Macrae Elliot 6 . Gentlemen must bring their own sleeping tents and kit . Mess tents will be found ; also messing of every description , including ice , and liquor , at moderate fixed rates , under similar arrangements to last year's . 7. Liberal concessions are made by the Railway Companies for the conveyance of com petitors and their horses at specially reduced rates . 8 . Copies of the prospectus and any further particulars may be had on application to the Honorary Secretary , Nándod , Rewa Kantha . SECOND CHANCES . I Heat . Umpire - Capel - Cure . RULES . I. All horses or ponies , ridden in either competition , must be bond fide the absolute property of the competitor using them , but the Committee may in their discretion relax this rule for special reasons in any particular case . In such a case the actual taker of first spear in the final heat , and not the owner of the horse which he may be riding , shall be deemed the winner of the Cup . II . Each competitor for the " Guzerat Cup " may buy either one or two entries , and will be allow ed one or two chances accordingly . Drawings will be so arranged that no two chances of the same competitor will be drawn in the same heat . The same horse may be ridden throughout for both chances , or any number of different horses for different heats ; provided that the conditions of Rule are observed . For the " Salmon " competition , each competitor will have only one chance . But the Committee may at any time , before heats are drawn , cancel all second chances for the " Guzerat Cup " if , considering the number of starters and the probable supply of pig , there appears danger of the competition not being finished within a reasonable time . COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT . III . Each heat will be accompanied by an Umpire whose decision shall be final , but who may in his discretion refer any doubtful point for the decision of the Committee . II Heat . Umpire - Graham . IV . To take first spear it is necessary that blood should be drawn and seen on the pig or on spear . V. When " No Heat " has been called , the heat shall be at an end , and shall not revive until regu | The Hon . Secy . , Ahmedabad Hunt . W. H. WHITE , Esq . , C.E. A. D. YOUNGHUSBAND , Esq . , C.S. , Hon . Secy . larly started again . VI . If after a heat has been started the pig gets finally away without being speared , all the riders in that heat shall be deemed to have lost their chance , if the Umpire is of opinion that a fair and sufficient opportunity for spearing has been given and ought to have been taken ; otherwise the heat may be started afresh . An Umpire's decision under this Rule shall be appealable to the Committee . VII . Spears to be delivered on the off - side only , except by a left - handed man , who must declare before starting . Spears must not exceed 8 ft . in length . VIII . Any rider making a frivolous objection or unwarranted claim is liable for each offence to be fined one dozen of champagne or Rs . 50 , at the discretion of the Committee . IX . Foul riding is not allowed . Intentional collision between riders or horses constitutes foul riding , and any competitor so offending is liable to disqualification . X. The Committee's decision on all matters shall be absolutely final . Nandod , Rewa Kántha , 4th January 1891 . III Heat . Umpire - Grey . Burder Graham Indahir Singh Macrae IV Heat . Umpire - Haydon . s , and will be * LAV allowed one or two chances accordingly . Drawings will be so arranged that no two chances of the same competitor will be drawn in the same heat . The same horse may be ridden throughout for both chances , or any number of different horses for different heats ; provided that the conditions of Rule I. are observed . For the " Salmon " competition each competitor will have only one chance . But the Committee may at any time , before heats are drawn , cancel all second chances for the " Guzerat Cup " if , considering the number of starters and the probable supply of pig , there appears danger of the competition not being finished within a reasonable time . IV . Each heat will be accompanied by an Umpire whose decision shall be final , but who may in his discretion refer any doubtful point for the decision of the Committee . V. To take first spear it is necessary that blood should be drawn and seen on the pig or on spear . VI . When " No Heat " has been called , the heat shall be at an end , and shall not revive until regularly started again . VII . If after a heat has been started the pig gets finally away without being speared , all the riders in that heat shall be deemed to have lost their chance , if the Umpire is of opinion that a fair and sufficient opportunity for spearing has been given and ought to have been taken ; otherwise the heat may be started afresh . An Umpire's decision under this Rule shall be appealable to the Com mittee . SALMON PONY CUP . III Heat . Umpire - Haydon . VIII . Spears to be delivered on the off - side only , except by a left - handed man , who must declare before starting . Spears must not exceed 8 ft . in length . IX . Any rider making a frivolous objection or unwarranted claim is liable for each offence to be fined one dozen of champagne or Rs . 50 , at the discretion of the Committee . X. Foul riding is not allowed . Intentional collision between riders or horses constitutes foul riding , and any competitor so offending is liable to disqualification . XI . The Committee's decision on all matters shall be absolutely final . AHMEDABAD , 6th January 1890 . 24th / of arch . IV Heat . Umpire - Graham . Waddington On Monday morning we had a long track to cover , beginning work at Sahej - which was the far end of the country - down the river . Just below Sahej , the river Watrak flows into the Sabermatti , and we began by hunting on the banks of the two rivers , reserving the big Sahej cover for another day . No. 3 heat got started first , after an outlying sounder that had been marked down in a small patch of jungle below Wanta and on the opposite side . Graham got the start and kept it , Capel Cure pressing him very closely . The pig proved one of the non - jinking order , and Graham scored rather a lucky spear on " Arbid . " No. 1 heat was the next to get off , a good boar being turned out from the Jhow jungle close to Wassind village . Martin took the lead on " Meg , " and kept it till coming to the river bed , where he got thrown out . The running was then taken up by Nick Symons , who got well away by himself , but was repeatedly jinked , and Gray , coming up on " Lansdowne , " managed to cut in and get the spear . Then breakfast , and after a lot of beating , No. 4 heat was started late in the evening , after a small but very quick boar that made for the Kari river . Littleton got first away , but was shortly after passed by the Maharajah on " Donegal , " and a very good race then took place , " Donegal " having the best of it up to close on the " Kari , " when the boar charged the Maharajah , who missed the spear . Littleton then got on to him at once , and shortly after speared on " Buzzard . " Mr. Phillip , in this run , followed the boar under a low bough and got hung up Absolom - fashion , for a short time , but luckily no damage was done , although it put him out of the running . On Tuesday the meet was at Chitrasur , and we hunted there and at Amliala . Second heat , of second chances , got away first after the biggest of four pigs that broke . Capel - Cure got thrown out a little after the start , by getting the wrong side of a hedge , but eventually got up with the others , when they all had a chance ; but the Maharajah was quickest round , and speared on Donegal . The fourth heat then got off . Phillip had bad luck , " Mother of Pearl " not relishing the business and not giving him a chance , leaving Gray to score an easy win on " Lansdowne . " We then all recrossed the river and had tiffin under the babul trees as usual . Afterwards beat Amliala , which held a lot of good pigs , but they did not break kindly . The third heat for the Salmon Cup was started after a pig , which was ringing back to the jungle . The Maharajah got away , but the three others got bothered at the start , being rather mixed up with spectators , & c . The pig proved a very in different one , getting speared by the Maharajah on " Sweet Bird " within 200 yards of the start and close to the jungle . The ill - fated No. 2 heat , first chances , was meanwhile having a very severe run after another pig , the fencing being very stiff . Eventually the pig got back to the jungle , leaving the heat still not run off at the close of the day . Wednesday saw us at the big tree at the north of Saroda jungle . Unfortunately no other heat could be started until No. 2 of first chances was run off , THE GUZERAT CUP OF 1891 . as all the men in it were distributed among the other heats . On the beat coming through to the north end , a pig broke away in the open , but un A. D. YOUNGHUSBAND , Honorary Secretary luckily the heat was started a few hundred yards too soon , and the pace being very strong , the pig broke back and just got into cover before the beat could bring him to book . A fine boar then went away across the river , but the beat could not be got on to him , and so things went on all day , a lot of pig going away , but , through a continuation of ill luck , No. 2 was always in the wrong place . On Thursday we hunted Amliala again . After a long wait , No. 3 of second chances got away after a good pig , and Graham scored on " Arbid " again , thus winning both his chances . Then No. 1 of second chances got off after what proved a very indifferent pig , which ringed back to cover and hung about in a lane . Elliot had a try and missed , and then the pig ran under Nick Symons ' horse , and he speared on " Myras . " Exactly as the spear was taken , Major Elliot , who was coming very fast down the lane after the pig , ran into " Myras " broadside . Luckily he was riding a small , handy mare , or the results might have been very serious . He was able , by good horsemanship , to put the drag on just in time , and although the blow knocked Myras out of time and prevented his running again during the meeting , the injury seemed only temporary , and the good horse will soon be running again , we hope , with his new owner the Maharajah . Chitrasar was afterwards beaten , but proved blank as regards pig - breaking . On Friday we met at the big tree close to Sahej cover , and beat down the river bed towards the junction of the Sabermutti and Watruk . It was a very cool day , and the pig broke very kindly out outll towards the Sahej village side . The now celebrated No. 2 , of first chances , was the first to get away , and after giving a fair chance to all the heat , Elliot speared on " Safe Home , " and was just able to shew blood . Then the semi - final , of second chances , of the Guzerat Cup got away on a good boar . Nick Symons scratched from this heat , his horse having been knocked out of time , as already mentioned . This left in the Maharajah , Gray and Graham , umpire Littleton . Just after starting , Graham came to grief on " Arbid , " and a piece of cactus getting mixed up with his bridle , it took him a long while to get going again , and so he was out of it . The boar was a good one , and took the Maharajah and Gray a long ring back to cover by the river bed , where the Maharajah speared , his weight giving him much the best of it in the heavy sand . The three remaining pony heats were next got off , all three being ready at the same time , well hidden away in the fields by the river back . No. 1 got away first , and after a short run Indahir Singh , who was waiting behind , speared on " Silver Tip . " No. 4 started immediately afterwards , and Ca pel - Cure took the honors on " Suoset . " No. 2 , from which Nathan scratched , lost their turn and had to wait till after lunch before they ran it off . After a short gallop , the boar turned to Littleton , who got the benefit of the jink towards the river and speared , after a quick gallop , on Wagtail . Then the semi final of first chances of the Guzerat Cup got ready . This heat was composed of Gray , Elliot , Graham , and Littleton , umpire Burder . After a short wait , they were let go after what proved an indifferent pig . Elliot had a try , but was jinked , and before Littleton , who was lying next to him , could get round , Graham , who was behind , cut in and scored cleverly , thus putting himself in the final with the Maha rajah . A try was made to get off the final of the " Salmon Cup , " but the Sahej pig evidently thought they had shown enough sport for one day , and no thing more was done ; a long ride home to camp being before us . On Saturday , 28th , the meet was again at the big tree , at the north of Saroda jungle . The first beat was across the river , but nothing could be got to break . After lunch , the grass on the Saroda side was beaten . On the way down , the beaters must have dropped a bhiree ( native cigarette ) or something , for the whole place got suddenly ablaze , and , boars on the beat coming up , two or three quickly broke . The final for the Guzerat Cup got started , viz . , the Maharajah and Graham , umpired by Major Elliot . The run was a short one . The boar jinked Graham when the Maharajah came up and passed him , and shortly afterwards speared , thus winning the Guzerat Cup of 1891 on his waler , " Donegal . " Soon afterwards the final for the ponies got away , viz . , Indahir Singh , Littleton , the Maharajah and Capel - Cure , umpire Major Elliot . The boar made a ring back straight to cover , and the umpire wouldn't start , but gave leave to the heat to try and cut the pig off , which one of them did , and with the assistance of the umpire and an outsider , brought him to book . Meantime another boar was afoot , and the missing member of the heat was politely and deservedly slanged for not being in his place in readiness . However , he came up pig , just in time to start with the others , and , after a short run , Capel - Cure , who stuck well to the speared cleverly just as the boar got to the jungle , thus winning the Salmon Pony Cup for 1891 on his Arab pony " Sunset . " The fire was just then roaring up close by , and the scene was a very exciting one , the flames and smoke making an imposing back ground , with the heat running the boar right in front of the burning jungle . We then had a four - mile ride to camp , being shewn on the way the course for the " Tully Hog Hunters ' Cup . " This was a race for a Rs . 250 cup , open to all horses and ponies that had competed for the two cups , ridden by their owners . The course was about three miles , and the start was on the north side of Chandesur village , round a temple on the range of hills which run towards Saroda village ; then mm . Secy . p probably cisely noti away towards the river round a flag posted on a hill ; and after that home to camp ; the last mile of the course being flagged . This was necessary , as the country was very enclosed . This latter part of the course ran parallel to the road to camp , over Graham on Arbid ( Arab ) . Indahur Singh on Ugly ( Hungarian ) . Barder on The Shifter ( Waler ) . t . a very pretty lot of fences , the line being picked out by our sporting Colonel , than whom nobody could be better qualified for the work . The starters for the race were : Elliot on Safe Home ( Waler ) . Gray on Lansdowne ( Arab ) . Younghusband on Teneriffe ( Waler ) . Tifton Buzzard ( Wales ) . lenge Cup " it , and to s not to be onies 13 3 easurement e whether r reach the eserve the ment of a A. D. YOUNGHUSBAND , obably be e liable to also mess r arrange ompetitors he Honor roperty of or special at , and not has begun , The sub the com d to have Honorary Secretary . tranam mauc tue running at his , but was ass by Indahur Singh , after turning round the temple . At the next hill Indahur Singh was leading by 100 yards , Littleton lying next , with the Shifter in close attendance . At the bottom of the hill Buzzard refused a fence , at which he had to be ridden a bit side - ways , and this put him out of the race . On getting into the enclosed country , Indahur Singh's horse fell and put him out of it . Arbid also fell . Elliot's little mare tired away the last quarter mile , and the Shifter sailed in the winner , Safe Home being second , and Lans downe , who ran very well against the walers , third , the honorary secretary taking fourth place on Teneriffe . The win was a very popular one , the Shifter having to carry a matter of 13 stone in the person of his noble owner , with accoutrements . This ended the Guzerat Cup Meeting of 1891 , and a most successful one it proved , everything going off without a hitch . As usual , after dinner , the custom ary loyal toasts were followed by the healths of the three winners , which were drunk with great honors , and , it may be incidentally mentioned , in excel lent champagne , which the winners had generously provided at dinner , to help drown the disappoint ment of their unsuccessful , but nevertheless , thirsty competitors . The It may not be out of place here to again mention the particulars regarding the cups given . Guzerat Cup , value fully Rs . 1,000 , is most gener ously subscribed for annually by residents in Guzerat , and becomes the property of the winner . This is the seventh year successively in which it has been competed for . The Salmon Pony Challenge Cup was pur chased in 1888 from the late Captain Salmon's estate by a number of his friends , and was presented to the Committee of the Guzerat Cup , to be run for by ponies every year as a challenge cup . was Captain Salmon's " Guzerat Cup , " won by him in 1886 on Shabaz . This is the fourth year it has been competed for . With it is presented a The cup Rs . 250 cup , subscribed for by sportsmen out side Guzerat , and which becomes the property of the winner of the Challenge Cup . This year a fresh cup has been given for a cross country race , open to all horses that have competed in the above two cups ridden by their owners . The value of the cup is Rs . 250. The race has been christened the " Tully Hog Hunters ' Cup . " The subscription partly comes from the interest on a fund which was subscribed originally by the friends of the late Dr. Tully - an old Guzerat sportsman . Part of the fund went to erect tablets to his memory , and the remainder is now invested as " The Tully Endowment Fund " and is being added to by degrees . The Committee of the Guzerat Cup hope , in time , that the interest on the fund will be large enough to provide an annual cup for the Point to point Race just inaugurated . The fund is in the hands of Messrs . King , King and Co. , and we are glad to hear that the Maharajah of Dholepore has made a handsome donation towards it . The evening finished up with some excellent songs , one of the best being sung by the Maharajah , who gave us " Over the Valley " in great voice and style . He is a light weight , walking about 8 stone ; rides very well and has the best of horses . But still all these would not have allowed him to take away the Guzerat Cup , unless he were a good man across country and a good spear . The hearty congratulations he received on his win were well deserved . He has won most , if not all , of the cups competed for in Bengal , viz . the Kadir , the Hoghunters , and the Ganges cups , and we un derstand next month he means to have a try at the Muttra Cup , which is being revived this year by the K. D. G's . We wish him the best of luck . is a real good sportsman , and we hope will come down again and try conclusions with us another year . Both he and Captain Indahur Singh were in He the final for the Salmon Cup , but we are glad Captain Capel - Cure was able to keep this in the Presidency . A day and a half of general hunting brought this very pleasant meet to a close . Good old Sahej was drawn again , but was blank , and only one boar was killed that day , being turned out of the same small bit of jungle down the river from which the very first run took place . He gave an excellent run across the open . The last morning in camp was roductive of what was a dangerous , if somewhat amusing , inci dent . Just as an old sportsman was beginning his toilet , a mad native woman appeared at the door of his tent , brandishing one of his Bengal spears round her head and going for him . Discre tion being the better part of valour , he made excellent time round the field , with the demented lady in hot pursuit . Eventually she speared and drew blood , but the wound was not serious , and the sportsman's servants and others coming to the rescue , the lady was secured and walked off by the police . No doubt her instincts were sporting , especially as we think her quarry is sometimes known as " grey boar " -and so we hope her incarceration or punishment may not be very long or heavy , as the case may be . The good old sportsman was , it need hardly be said , much chaffed over the matter , and we fear the subject is too good to miss being immortalised by the pencil of our inimitable Bombay artist , who was present . The chaff , however , was as good humouredly taken as our congratulations were sincere on his lucky escape from a serious wound and a " bad business , " as his faithful servant described it . After this we made tracks for Ahmedabad , try ing for a boar on the way , but he proved small and a great traveller , and we could not get on terms with him . Tue health of the Hon . Secretary and the Com mittee were drunk on the last night in camp , with the greatest enthusiasm . But , in conclusion , let us again express our very best thanks to the Honorary Secretary for all his great trouble , and long may he remain near Guzerat and so ensure by his nover failing courtesy and sportsmanlike zeal , the success of the most sporting meeting we ever have in this nart of the country . D |
