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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Item 0019
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| Accession number | 912L : 2090/23 |
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| Transcription |
GUZERAT CUP , 1894 . The meet this year was at Bhandu , about forty miles from Ahmedabad , on the line to Delhi . Only six competitors turned up , a sad falling off from former days . Several sportsmen were prevented coming at the last moment , among those being Mr. White and Captain Ashby . The following heats were drawn : 1st Heat . Colonel Elliot . Beresford . Major Milton . GUZERAT CUP . First Chances . 1st Heat . Major Milton , Mr. Waddington . Colonel Elliot . 2nd Heat . Captain Ross , Mr. Littleton . Mr. Waddington . Second Chances . 2nd Heat . Captain Ross . Mr. Littleton . Mr. Beresford . We hunted Vallum the first day . First heat got away after a small boar . Major Milton had a chance at him and missed , when Beresford came up and speared , the run not being a good one . Second heat did not get started till after break fast . A small but fast pig got away over the hill and gave a very good run . After jinking and giving every one a chance Littleton got him on the charge . After a rest , under the trees , we went at it again for the second chances . First heat started at the same time as second heat , there being two pigs afoot . The first lost theirs ; second heat got on to what proved a regular " beetle . " However , he took them over a very good jumping country and kept ringing in a cotton field till Beresford at last got him . We were then taken up to a big sounder , and No. 1 heat were let go on a boar . Unfortunately Colonel Elliot did not see the pig , which quickly got into a lane . Mr. Waddington followed him down and eventually speared . Colonel Elliot galloped down outside and got bothered with some other pig which crossed him , and one of which he first mistook for the pig Mr. Waddington was on , and so he was out of it . This was a case of very hard lines , but these things will sometimes happen . Meantime Beresford and Littleton were running off their semi - final after a good boar . Littleton jamped into a narrow lane , and could not get out at once . This gave Beresford a long lead , and before Littleton could get up again , he had speared , killing the boar with one spear .. The next day we went to Palasur , about eight miles west of the railway . Beresford and Wad dington were let go to what proved to be a poor traveller . They both temporarily lost their stir rups in a castor - oil field , and were some time get ting round , when the boar got into the open and jinked . Eventually the pig got back into the castor - oil and Beresford speared , thus winning the Guzerat Cup with a chance in hand , on chesnut waler Flying Dutchman . Waddington was riding Heathcock , who seems to be learning the game quickly . subject for our After breakfast SALMON PONY CHALLENGE CUP , 1st Heat . Mr. Beresford . Mr. Waddington . 2nd Heat . Capt . Ross . Mr. Littleton . Major Milton , Both heats got off together , No. 1 after a boar Waddington cutting which gave them a good run , out the work on Tiptop . He had the bad luck to just miss his spear , letting in Beresford , who got it . Second heat had a long run after a pig , which , although not of the most fashionable colour , took them along at a great pace . Littleton's stirrup leather came out in the crops , and he was out of it for some time , when , luckily for him , the pig got into a thick bit and no heat " was called . When His the beaters came up and tried to get him out , Major Milton was standing about twenty yards from the field , when , without any warning , the plucky little boar came straight for him . spear was smashed , and the pig cut his pony slight ly . The pony went up on end , but the Major stuck to him well and came out of it all right , being much chaffed , of course , at his great encounter with the furious little boar . This would be a great artist to depict in the book . we went out to kubber of two or three marked down . We were all standing on the railway when a small boar was driven out of the Hak What is this I see before crops and came right through all the horses and over the line . Second heat was let go and a good race ensued , Littleton having the legs of the other two speared quickly . After a drink , he and Beresford were sent off for the final , after a very nice boar that was marked down and turned out of a big heap of cut dhal . The boar made for the first piece of high crop near , but did not dwell , and a good race took place . There was not much be tween the two ponies . The boar made a very quick jink , and Littleton , who was riding Moonstone , got round on him first , King Bee rocking heavily in the crops . The boar tried hard to make his point through a high helge , but Littleton raced and turned him off , then closed in and speared , as the boar made his second attempt to cross , thus winning the Salmon Cup . The following and last day we devoted to the Point to Point Races and general pigstick ing . Our Umpire , Mr. Beatty , who had been doing us great service in this capacity , went on early to Vallum to mark out the course , assisted by Mr. Littleton . Two high trees were singled out as the turning points , and to get round these and home to the temple , outside Vallum village , about 24 miles of stiff hunting country had to be crossed . The jumps were real big , and took a lot of doing . Five walers started for the Tally Hant Cup , viz . : Colonel Elliot's ......... Colonel Elliot's ..... Tobasco . ..Hawthorne . Mr. Waddington's ..... Heathcock . Mr. Beresford's Leda , Major Milton's .......... All were ridden by their owners except Hawthorne , which was piloted by Captain Roes . Heathcock led till quite near home , when he looked as if he must win , as he was going very strong . Mr. Waddington jumped into the lane at a bad place , and the horse cleverly saved himself from a fall , but lost a lot of ground , and being only 150 yards from the winning post could not make it up . A slashing race took place between Hawthorne and Leda . Captain Ross , by a fine piece of horsemanship , just landing Hawthorne winner by a half length . Colonel Elliot had just bought Hawthorne from a Bombay sportsman whose unavoidable absence from the meet we were all sorry for . The Pony Point to Point came off next , over about two - thirds of the same course . the Five started , viz : Mr. Waddington's Mr , Beresford's Captain Ross's .......... Mr. Waddington's .Tip Top . ... King Bee . ... Rail , Buttercup ( ridden by Colonel Elliot . ) Moonstone , Mr. Littleton's Tip Top seemed in better training than the others and held the race pretty safe all through . He refused a double fence near home , which let up Mr. Beresford and ended in a great race between " King Bee " and " Tip Top , " the latter wioning by a neck . Two finer races than these are seldom seen , and it was a pity we had not a bigger gallery . After this , our Umpire was kind enough to take photos of us all for the " Guzerat Cup Book , " and we then looked up Lala and his Kubber . We were soon on to a very good boar , which took us a long run over a jumping country . Mr. Waddington got the spear . Lala and Malia , who is a first class puggee , went off to try and ring another good boar which had gone off , and we went to the old tope of trees for breakfast . Kubber came in , and we had another first class ruo , with any amount of jumping . Mr. Littleton got the spear and this finished ap the meet , as most of us had to make tracks for the train . The Traffic Manager had kindly consented to stop the mail at Bhandu for us . And here let me acknowledge the invariable courtesy with which the B. B. & C. I. R. officials treat us sports men . They must be all good sportsmen them selves , from the Station Masters up to the Agent ! The weather was a pleasant surprise . We all thought it was going to be very hot , seeing we were in the middle of April , but it was only the middle of the day which was a little too hot in the sun for comfort . The pity was that there was not a larger party to enjoy the sport . The camp was in a grove of trees close to the station , and Mr. Waddington har arranged everything for our comfort . The " 1 " was excellent , and drink and i hudobust first class , the drink camel , s generally in request after a run , being always on the spot . We starteci off the first morning rather badly with pig , having the bad luck to get on to two or three which were not thorough - bred , and this made us a bit impatient about running off the heats , as we feared pig were going to be scarce . However , the sequel showed that there were plenty of good boar about , and Lala's bundobust for marking them down and for charkus in the trees to watch them , was as good as possible . It was suggested at the meet that we should try and get up a Guzerat Tent Club with an annual subscrip tion of , say , Rs . 15 , which would include entrance fees for the Guzerat Cup . The idea seems a good one , and if approved of by the Guzerat Jap Committee will probably be carried out . It is splendid riding country , sound going , and lots of stiff fences . You want a clever bold hunter , not necessarily an expensive one . Cap tain Ross's speech " took the cake " at the dinner the last night . He dressed us all down in capital fashion , and the Giesler was well punished in drinking all the toasts . Our Honorary Secretary's great tact and trouble were amply recognised . The success of the meet was entirely owing to him , and that he may long remain in the country adja cent to Guzerat and help to run the sporting show was the earnest wish of us all , including " THE OLD ' UN . " The exuberance of Watte hoss |
