Back to One of two 9th Lancers albums of photos and sketches `Records of the Gujerat Cup for Pig-Sticking' c1885-1932 Photographs

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Accession number	912L : 2090/23
Transcription	THE GUZERAT CUP WON BY CAPTAIN CORING JONES 2 DURHAM LE ON " DO - WEEL bwg APRIL 20099 49 came with his usual rush , just at the right time , and with a wee bit of his former luck , which we hope two miles from camp . A big sounder was marked down On April 3rd the meet was at Jetal Wasna , about ( FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT . ) with continue to attend him . No. 6 heat had a hard in a cotton field . Heat one , of second chances , Guzerat gallop , but were done by a wily pig , Mead having had the best of it so far . This ended the first day's Heat two of 2nd chances , Guzerat Cup , also got away . Cup , got off , and after a good race Goring - Jones scored . We were , very glad to get back to our old hunting proceedings , except that an important rule was grounds at Bhandu for this year's meet , and much proposed by Symons and passed after dinner , Hewlett fought it out , Hewlett winning . No. 4 heat McCausland's mare got out of hand and Boulton and obliged to H. H. the Gaekwar of Baroda for giving viz . , " That for the remainder of the meeting of the Salmon Cup resulted in a match between Wil no spear shall be used in competitions except kinson and Gosling , as Thesiger's good pony was very his sanction to the meet being held in his territory it be passed by the Committee as a serviceable spear for again . lame . It was a sporting run , across the big nullah , The proposi- and Wilkinson got the best of it , and speared . After breakfast we went out after a big sounder . The 1st heat of Guzerat Cup , 2nd chances , 2nd round , got off after a jinking pig , and Graham had the luck to win on his pony . The 1st heat of 1st chance 2nd made at once effective . Heat 1 of the first Symington's Macbeth Symons ' Sheldrake pig - sticking not over 8 feet in length . " tion was passed by a large majority , and there was a general feeling of relief that the flimsy competition spear could now be thrown over the hedge , as far as the Gujerat meeting was concerned . There was some discussion on the point , but on enquiring round the table it was seen that most men had only the ordinary round , also got off , and Waddington won on bis clever little mare arina . After these two bad been started , spear - and that every one had some ordinary spears the 2nd heat of the 2nd chances , 2nd round , also got so that there was no real hardship in the rule being off . They were started on the edge of a nasty nullah the pig and took them over the worst place - a big , On 2nd April we had a nine mile ride to the meet- hole and a drop . McCausland got over best , but his Manund - due east of our camp . mare was out of hand , owing to a sore mouth , and he chances , Guzerat Cup , got away . Symington had a good was out of it . Symons had to pull up to save jumping Boulton's Oakleaf ...... chance , but just missed the spear by an inch or so , and on top of Thesiger . This gave the latter a lead , and Keir's Murlisingh Wilkinson got in and speared . Heat 2 of the the pig being short of wind , was easily caught , and Wilkinson's Spurbrand second chances , Guzerat Cup , got away at the same Thesiger speared . Fischer's 4tlas Moth ...... time after a small boar . Symons got on to him first , McCausland's Bronze wing After tea we went across the railway , and the and had the luck to get quickly over a jump into a second round of the Salmon Cup was run off . Heat John's Luxury ....... lane , and from there had it all to himself and one produced a very good race , and it was anybody's speared . No. 4 heat soon after got off . It was a spear . Eventually , Bhagwatsinhji and Waddington fair boar , but he was going a little bit short had a final set - to , the former just getting in first . on his off fore , as he passed in front of the heat , The second heat also got off , and Keir was first just before they were started . All the heat had a up and speared , McCausland spearing just after chance at him . He then went over a biggish fence , There was a question about Keir's spear , which Harter negotiated well , and so got into the next as he could only show a faint mark of fat on the field alone and speared . No. 1 heat had a long point . But after taking the evidence , the Committee , bucket after a good boar , but didn't get off and to whom the Umpire referred the matter , awarded their ill - luck continued after breakfast . The boar Keir the spear . was in a garden place and broke in front of No. 5 A semi - final of the Guzerat Cup got off at the same heat . Baldock got well on to him and speared , ime , viz . , Graham and Thesiger . The latter had the killing him with one spear : No. 3 and 6 heats were then let go after a small sounder ( which No. 1 heat disdained ) , and the result was a win for Graham in We then formed a long line across country and the former and McCausland in the latter . Hewlett beat towards home . The other semi - final of the had hard luck in No. 6 heat , as he seems to have Guzerat Cup got off after a small pig , and after a speared , but as he could not see blood on his spear , he short and sharp run Hewlett won . It was a good went on and speared again after McCausland . If he race , but Hewlett on his Waler Larriken held had stopped and based his claim for spear on " blood Waddington's Czarina all the way . on the pig , " it would have gone to him . However , This left the final of the Guzerat Cup and Salmon and Baldock followed , and wards . The course was a very good one across the river and over a good pig - sticking country . Now occurred one of those accidents which no amount of foresight seems able to prevent . In order to avoid the spare horses and spectators the starter took his field of ten horses about one hundred yards to the left of where the original start was proposed , This brought a sunk lane , with cactus on each side . between the start and the first flag . To the riders the fence looked an ordinary cactus jump , which it would be a pleasure to fly . At the word " Go " Symons , John , and Graham raced at the fence in order to try and get clear of the dust . bad luck to drop his spear towards the end of the run , and Graham won . in the excitement of a run , these little points Cup to be run off . naturally get overlooked very often . shaking . The dust was awful . McCausland Graham on Oliver Twist was first over with Symons on " Sheldrake " nearly on the top of him . Both horses saved themselves very cleverly - the drop being con siderable . John was not so lucky . Luxury tried to clear the late and came down badly in the next field , both came down real John's foot being caught in the stirrup . Wilkinson On the 4th instant the meet was at Bumsara again . crumplers , but fortunately they got off with a We then went on to Palasar , were two sounders of Just before arriving there a boar was viewed , and he stopped to see if he could help John , and so pig were marked down in cotton fields . Heat No. 7 was marked down in a castor - oil field . The final for got off after a fast boar , and Thesiger and Waddington the Guzerat Cup ( Hewlett and Graham with W As regards the quality of the pig , they were not up had a good race for it , when the former just speared . dington as Umpire ) got away after him . He was a to former years judging from the shortness of the runs . He could not see blood and went on , and Waddington slow boar and did not give Graham on his pony a This may have been owing to their who speared well just after , was thought to be the chance , by jinking , and Hewlett , on his Waler Larri having had too good a time of it as regards feeding . winner . However , Thesiger luckily did not touch ken had it all his own way - spearing and winning and also the ground favoured horses going fast , it the pig again , and on examining his spear more the Guzerat Cup of 1899. The Salmon Cup final ( Keir drop into the river - bed , and so were out of it . Shortly being too good for the pig to stand up long , with closely he found blood , and the Umpire Symons and Bhagwatsinhji , with White as Umpire , ) got Hewlett , who won the race on Raja Bhagwatsinhji's think most pigstickers , like a rough and tumble before the winning post , Graham was passed by horses going 16 - annas after them . The pig , and I and had a good run , finishing awarded the spear to him . This finished all the No. 3 heat got off , and Takatsinhji and Graham did country where the quarry has a better chance , and heats of the 2nd chances , Guzerat Cup , except No. 1 up in the bed of the river . The Rajah on his Waterloo , the same owner's Oliver Twist being second , and Boulton on Oakleaf third . John being knocked also the hard man on a real clever hunter has a most of the running , the former spearing . clever Arab pony Tarpon beld Keir's After this , we had a long straggling beat towards better chance of securing the spear than when the heavy sand , and he speared and won the quite out of time , we were all occupied in attending No. 1 and No. 5 of the Salmon Cup heats got away Salmon Cup of 1899 . Wallum , but no sport till we got near the big village . at the same time , and Keir won the latter after a very to him , and so of course the pony point - to - point the country is open . could not be held . No. 2 heat got on to a nice boar in full view of the long run . The former was won by McCausland spectators . Baldock got well on to him , but in lean lost a lot of ground . Graham kept the lead to beyond the third flag at the turning point . Sheldrake lying close to him , but from here Atlas Moth and Sheldrake's riders went too much to the left and got fixed up by a deep perpendicular off soon . after , pony safe heat . in after ing over to spear , as he got to a fence , he was unship ped , and this let in Boulton , who speared . had No 4 then got started after a very good boar , but eventually beat them in a nullah and babul cover , Symons ' horse having a narrow escape of being cut . The boar suddenly stopped in the cover and charged , Mead , who but the horse cleverly jumped clean over him . a short dart . An objection was raised on the ground that it was not quite a level start , but after hearing the evidence , the Committee , to whom it been referred , decided to uphold the decision of the Umpire . Nos . 6 and 7 heats then went for the other sounder , close by . Bhagwatsinhji won the former . was mounted on a very fast pony , Lalla , the shikari , did his work well , and espe cially in regard to placing charkus in all the likely trees . Jowla also brought in useful khubber on several occasions . Our meet , to which we all looked forward so much , is now over , and all I can say in conclusion is that I hope we may all be present at the 1900 meet . As said many times before , in regard to future meets , that is the intention of THE OLD ' UN . After being unable to keep him quite enough in hand . breakfast we went for a big sounder , and Meantime No. 7 was also off . The over the rail go . Dhuleepsinhji Umpire -Times of India , April 8 , 1899 . No. 4 got first away after a good boar . Everyone had took them a very long gallop , a chance , and Griffiths got the spear . This boar gave a lot of trouble owing to the heat all using way , before telling them to was not able to go the pace and could not come flimsy competition spears ( about which more anon ) . up level , and it is a question if it is right to run the Every spear got broken , and the boar finally got chance of tiring the pig and not letting your heat go , into the Wallum tank , where he gave considerable when a man does not come up . However , when they present to snap Symons with the Kodak when he race for the spear , the two ponies , Sanam and the charkus ( flagmen ) up the trees as usual , and a of it over stiff pig The heats for the Orcha Cup were then com menced : No. 1 got off after a pig at the top of Bumsara cover , and Bechersinhji got a chance at once All Arabs , except Lady Lily and Hawkmoth and speared . Three pigs were then marked down ( Walers ) . The course was the same as for horses . in a nice green crop , and they all broke in different Forester and Hawkmoth made the running up to sport , and we were very sorry Mrs. Cecil Grey was not were let go , Waddington and Symons had an excellent directions . No. 2 heat was won by Narsinhji after the third flag , and both riders again made the mistake a short run , and No. 3 was won by Fischer after a of going a bit too much left . It seems that Lalla , the went into the tank and got out of the horse's Forester being dead level for some distance , Wadding- still shorter and quite uneventful run . No. 5 heat shikari , meant to beat the river side , and had posted depth with the boar swimming at him . Griffiths ton eventually getting in first . Home was then the got after a much better pig , and had a real hard run , Symons and McCausland were both put wrong by shortly afterwards appeared with a " serviceable " order , and it was a good ten mile ride to get there . spear , and polished off this plucky boar . No. 5 heat After dinner , drawings for the second rounds of also got off , and Hewlett won on a very handy the Guzerat and Salmon Cups took place and resulted looking Waler . John and Thesiger had rather hard as follows : lines , as they went into a lane to help to get the pig out , and the heat got started before they could get up with the umpire . ( Moral : Always stick to your umpire and don't be too good - natured . ) No. 6 heat were also away . Roberts did a lot of the running on Hawthorne , but something went wrong with his stirrup , and this let up Waddington on Czarina , who speared . No. 7 was won by McCausland , Town send having had most of the running . But small fields and fences interfered with his being able to press the boar close enough to spear . All the first chances were now off except the unlucky No. 1 . Three pony heats came out to join in the fray . Hewlett won No. 3 , John having the bad luck to break his stirrup leather , just as he was within an ace of spearing . Birkett won No. 2. His pony refused a fence badly , but the redoubtable " Tommy and John Three more heats had to be run off for the Orcha Cup , and we got to work at once . After a little delay both the semi - finals got off , but only the first heat got into a lane and favoured Graham , who speared . taking one of these left hand flags as a directing post All three ponies in this run raced together well and for the race . So they and Fischer were not in the fenced splendidly , Wilkinson and Symons landing race . Wilkinson appeared to be winning , but got over a big drop into a lane neck and neck . A long caught near the post by Hewlett , who won on Faras beat towards Wallum did not produce anything , and II , Hakim being second , and Sirdar third . Hewlett the river - bed beat after breakfast was also unpro thus rode the winner in both point - to - point races , ductive of a run - the sounder having stolen away . besides winning the Guzerat Cup . In the evening heat 4 of the Orcha Cup got off . was first up , but missed a difficult left - handed chance and then Baldock speared . The boar was a good one and got into Vallum village among the bajree was decided , Graham being the winner after a good stacks , where he kept the spectators and villagers race over a rough nullah country , with Waddington , busy for over an hour before he got his quietus , who just missed the spear . One beater was cut , but not very badly , and Mrs. We had to look for another pig for the other semi Gray made him happy with half of her flask of final , and after a good tramp came up to a sounder . whisky , and some healing powder . This , with Baldock did all the running , but got bothered by a promise of bucksheesh to follow , made him quite a bullock cart in a lane , and this drove the pig back hero and the envy of the surrounding crowd of to Narsinghji , who had hadia fall in the early part of the run , but who now came up , and was lucky enough to come across the pig and get the spear . This put him into the final with Graham . A long beaters . GUZERAT CUP , 1899 . Friday , 31st March , saw the whole party assembled under the old tope of trees . The party was a large one , altogether 32 , including two sporting ladies Mrs. Cecil Gray and Mrs. Reggie Gilbert . The usual afternoon ride on the day of arrival pro duced a little sport , as Rajah Bhagwantsinhji brought out his hawks and greyhounds , and we had a good run after a fox which was killed , a jack also being brought to book . After dinner the important business of heat drawing was done , the two ladies conducting the drawing and reading out the names . The following was the result : : GUZERAT CUP . 1ST CHANCES . Heat 1. - Fischer , Wilkinson , Jaswatsinhji , Symington . Heat 2. - Boulton , Baldock , Himatsinhji , Wankaneer . Heat 3. - Grabam , Harter . Gosling , Takhatsinhji . Heat 4. - White Bhagwa'sinhji , Griffith , Symons . Heat 5. - Thesiger , Hewlett , John , Keir . Heat 6. - Waddington , Goring - Jones , Roberts , Dhuleep singh . Heat 7. - McCausland , Becharsinhji , Townsend , Narsinhji . 2ND CHANCES . Heat 1. - Goring - Jones , John , Griffith , Fischer . Heat 2. - White , Himatsinhji , Symons , Bhagvatsinhji . Heat 3. -Graham . Wilkinson , Roberts , Symington Heat 4. - Harter , Becharsinhji , Boulton , Dhuleepsinhji . - eat 5.- Wankaneer , Townsend , Jaswatsinhji , Baldock . Heat 6. - McCausland , Keir , Hewlett , Takatsinhji . Heat 7. - Thesiger , Gosling , Waddington . SALMON CUP . Heat 1. - McCausland , Fischer , Goring - Jones . Heat 2. - Baldock , Narsinhji , Birkett . Heat 3.- Hewlett , John , Graham . Heat 4. - Wilkinson , Gosling , Thesiger . Heat 5. - Himatsinhji , Javatsinhji , Keir , Heat 6. - Wankaneer , Mead , Bhagvatsinhji . Heat 7. - Symons , Dhuleepsinhji , Waddington . Bumsara was the fixture for the morning , but it only produced one rideable pig owing to some officious individual having elected to try and spoil sport by getting the cover disturbed before our arrival . The culprits were caught in the act , and no doubt received their desserts at the hands of the Wyvedar . The worst of it is that in these cases oné cannot get hold of the real offenders , viz . , the employers of the men who are sent to do the work . GUZERAT CUP . 2ND ROUND . 1st Chances . 1st Heat . - Waddington , Griffith , Thakatsinhji , Wilkinson . 2nd Heat . - Boulton , Hewlett , McCausland , GUZERAT CUP . 2ND ROUND . 2nd Chances . 1st Heat , -Baldook , Harter , Goring - Jones , and Graham 2nd Heat . - Symons , Thesiger , and McCausland . SALMON CUP . 2ND ROUND . 1st Heat . - Waddington , Bhagwatsinhji and Hewlett , winner of 4th Heat . 2nd Heat . - Birkett , McCausland , and Keir . ORCHA CUP . Raja Bahadur Bhagwatsinhji of Orcha had gener ously presented a fine cup for competition , for Arabs and C. - B.'s . Other conditions as for Guzerat Cup . The drawings resulted as follows : 1. Birkett , Bechersinghi , Himatsinhji , Gosling . 2. Thesiger , Narsinghi , Thatakasinhji , Townsend . 3. Fischer , Boulton Jaswatsinhji .. Goring - Jones . 4. John , Keir , Baldock , Raj Saheb of Wankaneer . 5. Graham , Wilkinson , Symons . 6. Hewlett , Griffith Waddington . On the 5th instant we again met at Wallum and the first khubber was a sounder in a prickly - pear patch close to the village . Only one broke away well , and No. 6 heat of the Orcha Cup got off , Waddington winning after a short , sharp burst . This left the semi - finals of the Orcha Cup to be run off , viz . : ( 1 ) Waddington , Fisher , and Grabam ( 2 ) Baldock , Bechersinhji , and Narsinhji .. But the Wallum pig were not sporting , and a long beat resulted in nothing . At 5 o'clock we knocked off for the point - to - point races , a capital course having been marked out by White , Griffith , and Goring - Jones , and THE POINT ΤΟ POINT RACES . For the Tally - Hunt Cap ten horses , all Walers , started , as follows : Raja Bhagwatsinhji's Waterloo ... ridden by Hewlett . Do.'s Oliver Twist Graham . Owner . 21 31 Hewlett's Faras II Wilkinson s Hakim Gosling's Sirdar Fischer's Hawkmoth Baldock's Robin Boulton's Sanam ..... McCausland's Lady Lily Birkett's Royal Symon's Forester 35 31 " 21 11 35 99 The next morning , 6th instant , John being better . we went out early for the pony point - to : point . The entries were as follows : Owner . Owner . Owner . Owner . Owner , Baldock . Owner .Rider , Owner . 31 21 Keir , Owner . 22 beat homewards produced nothing , and it was not until after tiffin that the Umpire Symons got them on to a pig . The run was a good one , and resulted in the popular victory of Graham , who thus won the Orcha Cap on Seagull . This being the fifth or sixth spear , the good little Arab pony had taken during the meeting . This heat was only got off just before the train left , and we had to ride straight to the station . Owing to the accident to John , we could not have the usual wind - up dinner on the 5th instant , as intended , and so the many pleasant things that were meant to be said about Mr. Waddington and the Guzerat Cup Committee ( White , Griffth , Symons , and , of course , Waddington ) cannot be recorded . Everyone present felt much indebted to the Com mittee for the good management which brought the biggest meeting we have ever to such a successful conclusion . Mr. Waddington being honorary secre tary had to bear the brunt of the work , and it is almost needless to say that it was done well . His bundobust was excellent in every detail - and espe cially in the matter of drinks and iced fruit , which were always within call ! Everybody was sorry he did not win one of the Cups , for he rode as well as ever , and only wanted a bit of luck to be in the final for the Salmon and Orcha Cups . Several native Chiefs were out , and they were keen to compete , and did very well , as will be seen from the spears . taken by them . On the first evening Mr. Waddington gave some hints about umpiring what was expected of umpires , viz . , to keep their heats well in hand and behind them , and , if more than one pig , of about same size , broke , to ride forward and separate the pig before starting the heat . The umpiring all through was very good , and we have never seen it better . One or two of the competitors seemed to think it was necessary to have a sort of race - course start , but this is impossible in pigsticking . Competitors must keep up with their umpire , and when the pig is away they must expect to get the word to ride and take their chance if not well up , thus making it as near as possible like a start in ordinary pigsticking . Another point mentioned by Mr. Waddington was that in case a boar was only slightly wounded by the man who got first spear in a heat , then the tushes I would go to any one who rode on and got second spear . This rule commended itself to everyone , and was acted upon . I have already referred to the doing away with competition spears . Everyone seemed pleased with this rule , and after it was introduced it was very noticeable that few pig that ought to be killed got away . 3

Accession number

912L : 2090/23

Transcription

THE GUZERAT CUP
WON BY
CAPTAIN CORING JONES
2 DURHAM LE
ON " DO - WEEL bwg
APRIL 20099
49
came with his usual rush , just at the right time , and with a wee bit of his former luck , which we hope two miles from camp . A big sounder was marked down On April 3rd the meet was at Jetal Wasna , about
( FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT . )
with continue to attend him . No. 6 heat had a hard in a cotton field . Heat one , of second chances , Guzerat gallop , but were done by a wily pig , Mead having had the best of it so far . This ended the first day's Heat two of 2nd chances , Guzerat Cup , also got away . Cup , got off , and after a good race Goring - Jones scored . We were , very glad to get back to our old hunting proceedings , except that an important rule was grounds at Bhandu for this year's meet , and much proposed by Symons and passed after dinner , Hewlett fought it out , Hewlett winning . No. 4 heat McCausland's mare got out of hand and Boulton and obliged to H. H. the Gaekwar of Baroda for giving viz . , " That for the remainder of the meeting of the Salmon Cup resulted in a match between Wil no spear shall be used in competitions except kinson and Gosling , as Thesiger's good pony was very his sanction to the meet being held in his territory it be passed by the Committee as a serviceable spear for again .
lame . It was a sporting run , across the big nullah , The proposi- and Wilkinson got the best of it , and speared . After breakfast we went out after a big sounder . The 1st heat of Guzerat Cup , 2nd chances , 2nd round , got off after a jinking pig , and Graham had the luck to win on his pony . The 1st heat of 1st chance 2nd
made at once effective .
Heat 1 of the first
Symington's Macbeth Symons ' Sheldrake
pig - sticking not over 8 feet in length . " tion was passed by a large majority , and there was a general feeling of relief that the flimsy competition spear could now be thrown over the hedge , as far as the Gujerat meeting was concerned . There was some discussion on the point , but on enquiring round the table it was seen that most men had only the ordinary round , also got off , and Waddington won on bis clever little mare arina . After these two bad been started , spear - and that every one had some ordinary spears the 2nd heat of the 2nd chances , 2nd round , also got so that there was no real hardship in the rule being off . They were started on the edge of a nasty nullah the pig and took them over the worst place - a big , On 2nd April we had a nine mile ride to the meet- hole and a drop . McCausland got over best , but his Manund - due east of our camp . mare was out of hand , owing to a sore mouth , and he chances , Guzerat Cup , got away . Symington had a good was out of it . Symons had to pull up to save jumping Boulton's Oakleaf ...... chance , but just missed the spear by an inch or so , and on top of Thesiger . This gave the latter a lead , and Keir's Murlisingh Wilkinson got in and speared . Heat 2 of the the pig being short of wind , was easily caught , and Wilkinson's Spurbrand second chances , Guzerat Cup , got away at the same Thesiger speared . Fischer's 4tlas Moth ...... time after a small boar . Symons got on to him first , McCausland's Bronze wing After tea we went across the railway , and the and had the luck to get quickly over a jump into a second round of the Salmon Cup was run off . Heat John's Luxury ....... lane , and from there had it all to himself and one produced a very good race , and it was anybody's speared . No. 4 heat soon after got off . It was a spear . Eventually , Bhagwatsinhji and Waddington fair boar , but he was going a little bit short had a final set - to , the former just getting in first . on his off fore , as he passed in front of the heat , The second heat also got off , and Keir was first just before they were started . All the heat had a up and speared , McCausland spearing just after chance at him . He then went over a biggish fence , There was a question about Keir's spear , which Harter negotiated well , and so got into the next as he could only show a faint mark of fat on the field alone and speared . No. 1 heat had a long point . But after taking the evidence , the Committee , bucket after a good boar , but didn't get off and to whom the Umpire referred the matter , awarded their ill - luck continued after breakfast . The boar Keir the spear . was in a garden place and broke in front of No. 5 A semi - final of the Guzerat Cup got off at the same heat . Baldock got well on to him and speared , ime , viz . , Graham and Thesiger . The latter had the killing him with one spear : No. 3 and 6 heats were then let go after a small sounder ( which No. 1 heat disdained ) , and the result was a win for Graham in We then formed a long line across country and the former and McCausland in the latter . Hewlett beat towards home . The other semi - final of the had hard luck in No. 6 heat , as he seems to have Guzerat Cup got off after a small pig , and after a speared , but as he could not see blood on his spear , he short and sharp run Hewlett won . It was a good went on and speared again after McCausland . If he race , but Hewlett on his Waler Larriken held had stopped and based his claim for spear on " blood Waddington's Czarina all the way . on the pig , " it would have gone to him . However , This left the final of the Guzerat Cup and Salmon and Baldock followed , and
wards .
The course was a very good one across the river and over a good pig - sticking country . Now occurred one of those accidents which no amount of foresight seems able to prevent . In order to avoid the spare horses and spectators the starter took his field of ten horses about one hundred yards to the left of where the original start was proposed , This brought a sunk lane , with cactus on each side . between the start and the first flag . To the riders the fence looked an ordinary cactus jump , which it would be a pleasure to fly . At the word " Go " Symons , John , and Graham raced at the fence in order to try and get clear of the dust .
bad luck to drop his spear towards the end of the run , and Graham won .
in the excitement of a run , these little points Cup to be run off . naturally get overlooked very often .
shaking . The dust was awful . McCausland
Graham on Oliver Twist was first over with Symons on " Sheldrake " nearly on the top of him . Both horses saved themselves very cleverly - the drop being con siderable . John was not so lucky . Luxury tried to clear the late and came down badly in the next field , both came down real John's foot being caught in the stirrup . Wilkinson On the 4th instant the meet was at Bumsara again . crumplers , but fortunately they got off with a We then went on to Palasar , were two sounders of Just before arriving there a boar was viewed , and he stopped to see if he could help John , and so pig were marked down in cotton fields . Heat No. 7 was marked down in a castor - oil field . The final for got off after a fast boar , and Thesiger and Waddington the Guzerat Cup ( Hewlett and Graham with W As regards the quality of the pig , they were not up had a good race for it , when the former just speared . dington as Umpire ) got away after him . He was a to former years judging from the shortness of the runs . He could not see blood and went on , and Waddington slow boar and did not give Graham on his pony a This may have been owing to their who speared well just after , was thought to be the chance , by jinking , and Hewlett , on his Waler Larri having had too good a time of it as regards feeding . winner . However , Thesiger luckily did not touch ken had it all his own way - spearing and winning and also the ground favoured horses going fast , it the pig again , and on examining his spear more the Guzerat Cup of 1899. The Salmon Cup final ( Keir drop into the river - bed , and so were out of it . Shortly being too good for the pig to stand up long , with closely he found blood , and the Umpire Symons and Bhagwatsinhji , with White as Umpire , ) got Hewlett , who won the race on Raja Bhagwatsinhji's think most pigstickers , like a rough and tumble before the winning post , Graham was passed by horses going 16 - annas after them . The pig , and I and had a good run , finishing awarded the spear to him . This finished all the No. 3 heat got off , and Takatsinhji and Graham did country where the quarry has a better chance , and heats of the 2nd chances , Guzerat Cup , except No. 1 up in the bed of the river . The Rajah on his Waterloo , the same owner's Oliver Twist being second , and Boulton on Oakleaf third . John being knocked also the hard man on a real clever hunter has a most of the running , the former spearing . clever Arab pony Tarpon beld Keir's After this , we had a long straggling beat towards better chance of securing the spear than when the heavy sand , and he speared and won the quite out of time , we were all occupied in attending No. 1 and No. 5 of the Salmon Cup heats got away Salmon Cup of 1899 . Wallum , but no sport till we got near the big village . at the same time , and Keir won the latter after a very to him , and so of course the pony point - to - point the country is open . could not be held . No. 2 heat got on to a nice boar in full view of the long run . The former was won by McCausland spectators . Baldock got well on to him , but in lean
lost a lot of ground . Graham kept the lead to beyond the third flag at the turning point . Sheldrake lying close to him , but from here Atlas Moth and Sheldrake's riders went too much to the left and got fixed up by a deep perpendicular
off soon . after ,
pony safe
heat .
in
after
ing over to spear , as he got to a fence , he was unship ped , and this let in Boulton , who speared .
had
No 4 then got started after a very good boar , but eventually beat them in a nullah and babul cover , Symons ' horse having a narrow escape of being cut . The boar suddenly stopped in the cover and charged , Mead , who but the horse cleverly jumped clean over him .
a short dart . An objection was raised on the ground that it was not quite a level start , but after hearing the evidence , the Committee , to whom it been referred , decided to uphold the decision of the Umpire . Nos . 6 and 7 heats then went for the other sounder , close by . Bhagwatsinhji won the former . was mounted on a very fast pony ,
Lalla , the shikari , did his work well , and espe cially in regard to placing charkus in all the likely trees . Jowla also brought in useful khubber on several occasions . Our meet , to which we all looked forward so much , is now over , and all I can say in conclusion is that I hope we may all be present at the 1900 meet . As said many times before , in regard to future meets , that is the intention of THE OLD ' UN .
After
being unable to keep him quite enough in hand . breakfast we went for a big sounder , and Meantime No. 7 was also off . The over the rail go . Dhuleepsinhji
Umpire
-Times of India , April 8 , 1899 .
No. 4 got first away after a good boar . Everyone had took them a very long gallop , a chance , and Griffiths got the spear . This boar gave a lot of trouble owing to the heat all using way , before telling them to was not able to go the pace and could not come flimsy competition spears ( about which more anon ) . up level , and it is a question if it is right to run the Every spear got broken , and the boar finally got chance of tiring the pig and not letting your heat go , into the Wallum tank , where he gave considerable when a man does not come up . However , when they
present to snap Symons with the Kodak when he
race
for the spear , the two ponies , Sanam
and
the charkus ( flagmen ) up the trees as usual , and
a
of it over stiff pig
The heats for the Orcha Cup were then com menced : No. 1 got off after a pig at the top of Bumsara cover , and Bechersinhji got a chance at once All Arabs , except Lady Lily and Hawkmoth and speared . Three pigs were then marked down ( Walers ) . The course was the same as for horses . in a nice green crop , and they all broke in different Forester and Hawkmoth made the running up to sport , and we were very sorry Mrs. Cecil Grey was not were let go , Waddington and Symons had an excellent directions . No. 2 heat was won by Narsinhji after the third flag , and both riders again made the mistake a short run , and No. 3 was won by Fischer after a of going a bit too much left . It seems that Lalla , the went into the tank and got out of the horse's Forester being dead level for some distance , Wadding- still shorter and quite uneventful run . No. 5 heat shikari , meant to beat the river side , and had posted depth with the boar swimming at him . Griffiths ton eventually getting in first . Home was then the got after a much better pig , and had a real hard run , Symons and McCausland were both put wrong by shortly afterwards appeared with a " serviceable " order , and it was a good ten mile ride to get there . spear , and polished off this plucky boar . No. 5 heat After dinner , drawings for the second rounds of also got off , and Hewlett won on a very handy the Guzerat and Salmon Cups took place and resulted looking Waler . John and Thesiger had rather hard as follows : lines , as they went into a lane to help to get the pig out , and the heat got started before they could get up with the umpire . ( Moral : Always stick to your umpire and don't be too good - natured . ) No. 6 heat were also away . Roberts did a lot of the running on Hawthorne , but something went wrong with his stirrup , and this let up Waddington on Czarina , who speared . No. 7 was won by McCausland , Town send having had most of the running . But small fields and fences interfered with his being able to press the boar close enough to spear . All the first chances were now off except the unlucky No. 1 . Three pony heats came out to join in the fray . Hewlett won No. 3 , John having the bad luck to break his stirrup leather , just as he was within an ace of spearing . Birkett won No. 2. His pony refused a fence badly , but the redoubtable " Tommy
and
John
Three more heats had to be run off for the Orcha Cup , and we got to work at once . After a little delay both the semi - finals got off , but only the first heat
got into a lane and favoured Graham , who speared . taking one of these left hand flags as a directing post All three ponies in this run raced together well and for the race . So they and Fischer were not in the fenced splendidly , Wilkinson and Symons landing race . Wilkinson appeared to be winning , but got over a big drop into a lane neck and neck . A long caught near the post by Hewlett , who won on Faras beat towards Wallum did not produce anything , and II , Hakim being second , and Sirdar third . Hewlett the river - bed beat after breakfast was also unpro thus rode the winner in both point - to - point races , ductive of a run - the sounder having stolen away . besides winning the Guzerat Cup . In the evening heat 4 of the Orcha Cup got off . was first up , but missed a difficult left - handed chance and then Baldock speared . The boar was a good one and got into Vallum village among the bajree was decided , Graham being the winner after a good stacks , where he kept the spectators and villagers race over a rough nullah country , with Waddington , busy for over an hour before he got his quietus , who just missed the spear . One beater was cut , but not very badly , and Mrs. We had to look for another pig for the other semi Gray made him happy with half of her flask of final , and after a good tramp came up to a sounder . whisky , and some healing powder . This , with Baldock did all the running , but got bothered by a promise of bucksheesh to follow , made him quite a bullock cart in a lane , and this drove the pig back hero and the envy of the surrounding crowd of to Narsinghji , who had hadia fall in the early part of the run , but who now came up , and was lucky enough to come across the pig and get the spear . This put him into the final with Graham . A long
beaters .
GUZERAT CUP , 1899 .
Friday , 31st March , saw the whole party assembled under the old tope of trees . The party was a large one , altogether 32 , including two sporting ladies Mrs. Cecil Gray and Mrs. Reggie Gilbert .
The usual afternoon ride on the day of arrival pro duced a little sport , as Rajah Bhagwantsinhji brought out his hawks and greyhounds , and we had a good run after a fox which was killed , a jack also being brought to book . After dinner the important business of heat drawing was done , the two ladies conducting the drawing and reading out the names .
The following was the result :
:
GUZERAT CUP . 1ST CHANCES .
Heat 1. - Fischer , Wilkinson , Jaswatsinhji , Symington . Heat 2. - Boulton , Baldock , Himatsinhji , Wankaneer . Heat 3. - Grabam , Harter . Gosling , Takhatsinhji . Heat 4. - White Bhagwa'sinhji , Griffith , Symons . Heat 5. - Thesiger , Hewlett , John , Keir .
Heat 6. - Waddington , Goring - Jones , Roberts , Dhuleep singh .
Heat 7. - McCausland , Becharsinhji , Townsend , Narsinhji . 2ND CHANCES .
Heat 1. - Goring - Jones , John , Griffith , Fischer . Heat 2. - White , Himatsinhji , Symons , Bhagvatsinhji . Heat 3. -Graham . Wilkinson , Roberts , Symington Heat 4. - Harter , Becharsinhji , Boulton , Dhuleepsinhji . - eat 5.- Wankaneer , Townsend , Jaswatsinhji , Baldock . Heat 6. - McCausland , Keir , Hewlett , Takatsinhji . Heat 7. - Thesiger , Gosling , Waddington .
SALMON CUP .
Heat 1. - McCausland , Fischer , Goring - Jones . Heat 2. - Baldock , Narsinhji , Birkett . Heat 3.- Hewlett , John , Graham . Heat 4. - Wilkinson , Gosling , Thesiger .
Heat 5. - Himatsinhji , Javatsinhji , Keir , Heat 6. - Wankaneer , Mead , Bhagvatsinhji . Heat 7. - Symons , Dhuleepsinhji , Waddington .
Bumsara was the fixture for the morning , but it only produced one rideable pig owing to some officious individual having elected to try and spoil sport by getting the cover disturbed before our arrival . The culprits were caught in the act , and no doubt received their desserts at the hands of the Wyvedar . The worst of it is that in these cases oné cannot get hold of the real offenders , viz . , the employers of the men who are sent to do the work .
GUZERAT CUP .
2ND ROUND . 1st Chances .
1st Heat . - Waddington , Griffith , Thakatsinhji , Wilkinson .
2nd Heat . - Boulton , Hewlett , McCausland ,
GUZERAT CUP . 2ND ROUND .
2nd Chances .
1st Heat , -Baldook , Harter , Goring - Jones , and Graham 2nd Heat . - Symons , Thesiger , and McCausland .
SALMON CUP . 2ND ROUND .
1st Heat . - Waddington , Bhagwatsinhji and Hewlett , winner of 4th Heat .
2nd Heat . - Birkett , McCausland , and Keir .
ORCHA CUP .
Raja Bahadur Bhagwatsinhji of Orcha had gener ously presented a fine cup for competition , for Arabs and C. - B.'s . Other conditions as for Guzerat Cup . The drawings resulted as follows :
1. Birkett , Bechersinghi , Himatsinhji , Gosling . 2. Thesiger , Narsinghi , Thatakasinhji , Townsend . 3. Fischer , Boulton Jaswatsinhji .. Goring - Jones . 4. John , Keir , Baldock , Raj Saheb of Wankaneer . 5. Graham , Wilkinson , Symons . 6. Hewlett , Griffith Waddington .
On the 5th instant we again met at Wallum and the first khubber was a sounder in a prickly - pear patch close to the village . Only one broke away well , and No. 6 heat of the Orcha Cup got off , Waddington winning after a short , sharp burst . This left the semi - finals of the Orcha Cup to be run off , viz . : ( 1 ) Waddington , Fisher , and Grabam ( 2 ) Baldock , Bechersinhji , and Narsinhji .. But the Wallum pig were not sporting , and a long beat resulted in nothing . At 5 o'clock we knocked off for the point - to - point races , a capital course having been marked out by White , Griffith , and Goring - Jones ,
and
THE POINT ΤΟ POINT RACES . For the Tally - Hunt Cap ten horses , all Walers , started , as follows :
Raja Bhagwatsinhji's Waterloo ... ridden by Hewlett . Do.'s Oliver Twist
Graham .
Owner .
21
31
Hewlett's Faras II Wilkinson s Hakim Gosling's Sirdar Fischer's Hawkmoth Baldock's Robin Boulton's Sanam ..... McCausland's Lady Lily Birkett's Royal Symon's Forester
35
31
"
21
11
35
99
The next morning , 6th instant , John being better . we went out early for the pony point - to : point . The entries were as follows :
Owner .
Owner .
Owner .
Owner .
Owner ,
Baldock . Owner
.Rider , Owner .
31
21
Keir ,
Owner .
22
beat homewards produced nothing , and it was not until after tiffin that the Umpire Symons got them on to a pig . The run was a good one , and resulted in the popular victory of Graham , who thus won the Orcha Cap on Seagull . This being the fifth or sixth spear , the good little Arab pony had taken during the meeting . This heat was only got off just before the train left , and we had to ride straight to the station . Owing to the accident to John , we could not have the usual wind - up dinner on the 5th instant , as intended , and so the many pleasant things that were meant to be said about Mr. Waddington and the Guzerat Cup Committee ( White , Griffth , Symons , and , of course , Waddington ) cannot be recorded .
Everyone present felt much indebted to the Com mittee for the good management which brought the biggest meeting we have ever to such a successful conclusion . Mr. Waddington being honorary secre tary had to bear the brunt of the work , and it is almost needless to say that it was done well . His bundobust was excellent in every detail - and espe cially in the matter of drinks and iced fruit , which were always within call ! Everybody was sorry he did not win one of the Cups , for he rode as well as ever , and only wanted a bit of luck to be in the final for the Salmon and Orcha Cups . Several native Chiefs were out , and they were keen to compete , and did very well , as will be seen from the spears . taken by them . On the first evening Mr. Waddington gave some hints about umpiring what was expected of umpires , viz . , to keep their heats well in hand and behind them , and , if more than one pig , of about same size , broke , to ride forward and separate the pig before starting the heat . The umpiring all through was very good , and we have never seen it better . One or two of the competitors seemed to think it was necessary to have a sort of race - course start , but this is impossible in pigsticking . Competitors must keep up with their umpire , and when the pig is away they must expect to get the word to ride and take their chance if not well up , thus making it as near as possible like a start in ordinary pigsticking .
Another point mentioned by Mr. Waddington was that in case a boar was only slightly wounded by the man who got first spear in a heat , then the tushes I would go to any one who rode on and got second spear . This rule commended itself to everyone , and was acted upon . I have already referred to the doing away with competition spears . Everyone seemed pleased with this rule , and after it was introduced it was very noticeable that few pig that ought to be killed got away .
3

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