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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1907 TIM SUPINDF NEWS . claimed the spear , but neither blood nor fat news of a sounder only halfa APR 1907 could be seen and the heat Souter . was awarded to mile from the camp , and Owen Symons on Rosette and Sir darsinhji on Black Beer , still bearing marks of his previous day's struggle with the babul , were sent on ahead with the Umpire and was most accurately We now adjourned for lunch and after a good rest went off to where a sounder had been located . The here was very Dhanna . The sounder country open , giving a considerable advantage to the they best mounted . traces successful ; was both rider bore of the jungle through which had ridden . An adjournment was now made for lunch but only a short one , for The Salmon Cup , fourth heat , and Salmon Cup first semi - final were pig were plentiful and the day none to long sent off almost together after for the work before us . the two biggest pig in the Khubber of an out- sounder . The Salmon Cup fourth heat was lying boar and of three separate sounders was first over and resulted in a duel between Owen brought in and heat No. 5 of the Gujarat Cup Symons and Ranjitsinhji of Baria , Darley dashed out over a double located , and broke away in a big cotton field . the order to ride being given as soon as the biggest pig of the sounder had parted com pany with the rest . Unfortunately this boar was headed by the spectators in his first at tempt to leave the field , and made two circles , with the spears in hot pursuit , before he fenced with sent after a boar which had been well cown . lane ( BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT . ) despatched from was Telegraphic summaries towns are often somewhat marked This heat produced a good being rather outpaced . Both had chances , Sirdarsinhji in close pursuit and Symons a small up - country severely mutilated , and as this has been the gallop between Darley and Crum , the other two but Ranjitsinhji eventually speared . length behind . The pig made straight for the have being somewhat outpaced , a nice boar of the The Salmon Cup semi - final was a very good corner of an orchard , but finding the fence case with the several messages that I heat , though a short one . Forbes was the hardly to his liking , jinked to sent to you this year it will , perhaps , be of galloping kind was put up and Darley and first to get on to the pig and had his shot , through another cactus fence into the open , interest to your readers to peruse an account Crum raced for him , a left - handed jink let in but thought Medlicott then where Sirdarsinhji speared him , Symons never the right he had missed . GUJARAT PIGS TICKING . A Record of Good Sport chance but missed likewise , various mistakes that have occurred , and give a somewhat more adherent history of the pro ceedings . We met this year at Dholka , a been seen in the morning's work .. station on the railway about 40 miles Ahmedabad and a village in the centre of a third heat , which Sirdarsinhji was Cup The next lot to get away was the Salmon district full of game , in suitable spot for a pigsticking competition . every way a most little lucky to win ; the boar was a fine speci written after the meeting which will correct the the former who missed and Crum had a good went on and killed the pig with one spear . really having a chance of getting up . Darley then The umpire had seen Forbes , as he thought , This left Medlicott and Sirdarsinhji in the getting possession and spearing cleverly . This touch with his first spear and asked to see final for the Gujarat Cup , and a move was was a fast run over more open country than had his spearhead , when blood was discerned and made to Trasad , with J. L. Symons as um Forbes was given first spear . It turned out pire . Darley had been out since the early that Forbes had just touched the pig above morning looking for a suitable boar , from but Brown 29th March , and by Thursday afternoon all the competitors had arrived in camp , as well am and move of a as three ladies , Mrs. Boyd , Mrs. Miss Croft , spears on every possible occasion . An upper all of whom were out with the storied bungalow formed the centrepiece and Rudkin alternately pressed him close ; Brown eventually drove him into a bush further side , but he turned straight back and went on expecting him to break on the his tracks , and Sirdarsinhji who had waited had been unable quite to locate a big one that had been pugged there . We had a long beat but failed to find anything , and were al most despairing , when the Hon . Sec . , full c resource , suggested a couple of miles to a dry tank surrounded by jungle , beyond Rampur village . The heat were moving along the righ . hand side of the tank when Thatcher viewed a sounder away to the up and a left , which he followed , separating a nice boar from it . Meanwhile a spectator had gallopped behind secured him . Two more boar had been viewed the two remaining heats of the The first day's hunting was fixed for Friday , men of the Gujarat pig and in a straight run Gujarat second chances were got ready . the start was a bad one , Heat No. 1 was first away . Unfortunately the boar jinking through a big hedge , in which there was only one gap , immediately after the word to ride had been given . The result was that Colonel Forbes had things all to himself for about half a mile . Then Symons came tents of the competitors , and the horses , about off after a small boar ; in a fast run Colonel great fight ensued between the two , till a ji 90 in number , were stabled round the edge of Forbes always led , and won somewhat easily . let in Alister Forbes . The latter again gave through the tank to the only opening This and the next heat , the 6th of the Gujarat way to Colonel Forbes , and fore proceeding further I will give you the heat lost their boar and were disqualified , but Symons had the misfortune to The heats were drawn on Thursday and be - Cup , were run off in thick country ; the latter they drove the boar across a sunk lane , where the umpire , and beat pursuing him . Unwilling names of the competitors and winners of the they had plenty of chances . heats up to the finals , afterwards giving We now returned to Sakodra for tea , all the the camp , while dotted round it were The Salmon Cup second heat was also run and the spacious compound . between them found himself confronted by a deep well , and come down Alister Forbes then had a shot and missed , letting in Colonel Forbes who speared . a diary of each day's hunting . GUJARAT CUP . Gujarat Cup First Chances having been completed , as well as three of the Salmon Cup heats . About five o'clock Nos . 4 and 5 of the Salmon Cup were put in the line and after a long heat a sounder broke , which produced two rideable pig . No. 4 were first on to the sounder , and the Umpire soon detached a nice boar therefrom . Lloyd on a very fast pony led , but gave way to Graham boar jinked again into a thick cactus hedge . on a jink and the latter speared just as the Meanwhile No. 5 were off after another boar . This gentleman took them straight into the open over a pretty line of bunds , and Medli cott , who did all the work , eventually speared , Crum's bit breaking into two pieces . These two pig were found close to the village of Sindhraj . Shortly afterwards the second chances third heat was let go after a small pig to a very good start , Crum at once going ahead and running him through three fields and missing him as he entered the same lane that had brought J. L. Symons to grief . Crum was pounded in the lane , and Owen Symons , who had been waiting for the jink , got across the lane at a gap , and having matters all to him self , took his time about spearing . The second semi - final of the Salmon Cup was the last to be decided , and produced a really fine run . A big sounder , to see three good lives lost , even in the ardent moments of the final of the Gujarat Cup , he placed himself across the well - shouted " Ware well . " The umpire did not quite catch what he had said and pulled up asking what the shouting was about ; on being told that he and his beat were r'ding straight for a well shrieked : " I thought the pig was in the well , where is the pig , " and riding for the thick babul hedge surrounding the tank went on in pursuit of Thatcher , still muttering impreca tions at the interloper . Medlicott , on Result , and Sirdarsinhji , on Black Beer , got off ab solutely level after the boar , and Medlicott at once commenced to draw away . The beat was a very fast one , but straight , as the pig was not of the jinking kind , and in open country Medlicott speared and won the Gujarat Cup of 1907 before Sirdarsinhji had a shot at the boar . Medlicott is to be heartily congratulated on his success ; he had worked his way into the final some days before that event was de cided and had been kept in suspense during that peroid . His grey South African Result , a grandson of the great Ormonde , is an ideal pigsticker , being very fast and able to turn with any pig in the country . SECOND DAY . was a most containing covert , one fine boar , broke away from the end of the and the gentleman of the party was most cleverly nursed by Moore for about half a mile through high unjumpable cactus fences , the other two both losing the pig , but following Moore . The pig was then driven into the open , and an extremely pretty race followed over low scrub jungle with many holes , by which none of the competitors were trapped . Just as the pig was reaching his point , a thick piece of jungle , he was nearly speared by Sirdarsinhji , but jinked to the left and succumbed to a committee was decided Saturday disappointing day , We met at Sindhraj , close to where we had was at once brought in by Dhanna of two out left off on the preceding afternoon and news lying boar and two tolas , all well separated . After the finish of the Cup The two heats of the Gujerat Cup second meeting was held at which it round first chances were selected for the two Ranjitsinhji , all three riders being practically that in future years , if possible , all the heats boar , and after a longish beat the second heat in a line at the time ; unfortunately this good got away after a nice pig . This was a really good gallop . Medlicott had the legs of Forbes and was ahead most of the way , but in a country well fenced with big cactus hedges Forbes ' " khala " was in his element . tually Medlicott speared , the two being neck of the first chances were to be decided up to boar escaped , nobody else being near enough at the time to follow him up . the final before any of the second chances were run off , so that should there be a scar . This completed the third day's hunting and left to be decided the Salmon Cup final Even- between Colonel Forbes and Ranjitsinhji Baria , and the two semi - finals of the Gujarat to neck after the boar at the time , and was Cup second chances , as well as the final of just able to show blood thus winning a most exciting contest . the Gujarat Cun between Medlicott and the eventual winner of the second chances . SPORTING FIRST FEAT . Lt - Col J R Forbes ( spear ) CA Beyts Alister Forbes KS Narsinhji of Katosan FOURTH HEAT . R R Boyd en Symons ( sper ) FIRST CHANCES . FIRST ROUND . SECOND HEAT . THIRD HEAT . RC Brown JL Symons TD Moore ( spear ) Colonel Dimmock ( spear ) K S Sirdarsinhji W L Souter of Shahpura FIRST HEAT . Owen Symons ( spear ) Captain Darley TD Moore TJ Thatcher WE Crum Captain FIRST HEAT . Lt Col J R Forbes ( spear ) Alister Forbes J L Symons H Medlicott WE Crum TD Moore Owen Symons ( spear ) W L Souter Capt Darley Owen Symons FIFTH HEAT . SECOND ROUND . FIRST HEAT . TD Moore ( spear ) KS Narsinhji of Katosan KS Narsinhji of Baria FOURTH HEAT . FIRST HEAT . Owen Symons ( spear ) Lt - Col JR Forbes K & Ranjitsinbji of Baria ( spear ) FINAL ROUND . H Medlicott ( spear ) Owen Symons . SECOND CHANCES . FIRST ROUND . SECOND SIXTH HEAT Thakur Sabib of Katosan Darley KS Ranjitsinhji of Baria Heat disqualified SECOND HEAT , H Medlicott ( spear ) Lt - Col J K Forbes THIRD HEAT . Captain Rudkin H Medlicott ( spear ) KS Becharsinhji of Katosan DN Graham SECOND HEAT . W L Fouter ( spear ) Captain Darley Thakur Sahib of Katosan TJ Thatcher . FOURTH HEAT . RO Brown K S Sirdarsinbji of FIRST HEAT . Lt - Col J R Forbes ( spear ) H Medlicott DN Graham Shahpura ( spear ) FINAL ROUND Owen Symons DN Graham ROUND . KS Sirdarsinhji of Shahpura ( spear ) FINAL OF GUJERAT CUP . M Medlicott ( spear ) KS Sirdarsinhji of Shahpura KS Sirdarsinhji of Shahpura ( spear ) W L Souter FIFTH HEAT . SALMON CUP . FIRST ROUND . SECOND HEAT . Lt - Col JR Forbes spear ) JL Symons A Beyts RR boyd SECOND HEAT WE Crum H Medlicott ( spear ) J Hirst of the KS Sarajmalji of Katos su SECOND ROUND . was pounded . Darley then got on to the pig Mr Brown's Boaz Captain Darley made the pace very hot and had him to himself , but lost him on the ficult one . The two semi - finals of the Gujarat Hedge of a tank , and Symons having extri- Cup second chances were placed in position followed by Boaz and Kingfisher ; at the turn cated himself came up , met the boar in a lane and the river bank beaten towards them . Colonel Forbes and Owen Symons were the the order was Neptune , Kingfisher , Sloth , but and speared . Such is the glorious uncertainty The former led out after a good Merman went second at the run in only to be hopelessly done through no fault of his own of pigsticking , Symons after being apparently boar , which had been nursed by the umpire displaced again by Kingfisher and Sloth . being afterwards favoured by fortune , who more than equalised the previous harm she first away . his owner a had done . through the high crops , and Forbes several Kingfisher beautifully ridden by times nearly speared . In turning on a jink came brilliantly at the finish , beating Nep Forbes nearly came down , and lost tune by two lengths , with Sloth close up and Lunch was now the order of the day and on stirrup , while he shortly afterwards ran into Merman who had been eased about 5 lengths Unfortunately Sloth and remounting we proceeded to Ranoda , a village a tree and let Symons in . The latter took his both went the wrong side of a flag and Mer the railway from Dholka ; the time and speared , Forbes being close up . The rest of the day , till said to be full of pig , diligent heat revealed only the presence behind . Neptune 5 miles up jungle was but a country : one squeaker , though more were said to have rideable broken back . We spent the rest of the after final second anti - final Mr H Mediicott's RESULT ... admitted that it was now . saw us THE OPENING DAY . man was placed second . Every one was very lunch time , was of spent in endeavours to get the pig away into glad to see Mr. Jack Symons , the veteran but all in vain , though competitor at the Gujarat meeting , win for several big sounders , as well as single boar , the second time on Kingfisher and he had a noon in a long trudge towards home in the were seen . About four o'clock a move was made good cheer at the finish . homewards two heats , the Salmon Cup . ONY HUNT CUP . hopes of picking up a stray boar , but with no and the Gujarat Cup second chances KS Ranjitsingji of Baria's GAYLY . success . Only two heats were , therefore , run accompanying a long line Mr T D Moore's AKB KH N off during the day , and the hopes of finishing of beaters on the off chance of finding some on Monday , which , after the first day's sport , somewhat thing , though all had seemed probably , were remote . rather a forlorn hope . After riding for quite three miles we were thrilled by a shout from the centre of the line , and were overjoyed to see a big sounder break away with both heats at Ambareli , this time on their heels . Two nice pig were separated Dholka and about 7 miles off . from the crowd , and first of all Colonel The first jungle to be beaten was a long strip Forbes and Ranjitsinhji of Baria , the final of low undergrowth on both sides of a nullah lists for the Salmon Cup . were despatched . about a mile from the village and 3 heats The country both overhead and underfoot was On Friday ( 29th March ) we met at Sakodra , were placed in position . The final heat of the vile ! Genuine Gujarat babul jungle with black direction , and by 9 o'clock were on our way to end of the covert , while the second heat of straight - running pig took Kanjitsinnji and the first beat . The country consisted almost the second chances came along with the Forbes through the thick of the jungle and entirely of babul jungle , with dense under heaters . The country on each side of the was caught by the former and speared in the growth of grass and cactus , an ideal country nullah was splendid competition country , only open field in the district . for pig , but a little too thick for a competition . fairly open , with big cactus fences , and all We were all delighted to see Ranjitsinhji OUNTRY BRED PONY CUP . The first beat produced a sounder , containing the heats were successfully run off , as the win . He had ridden throughout with great Mr Lory's Y LLOW HMMER . one nice boar after which heat No. 1 of the jungle was full of pig . The first chance final keenness and strategy combined , and thoroughly Mr H Medlicott's ARMOSET ... Gujarat first chances was despatched . Colonel got away on a very fine boar , too big indeed deserved his victory on his fast mare Gayly . Mr RC Frown's Bulbul Forbes speared in a run in which there was no to give a great run , and after going about a Colonel Forbes was unfortunate in being beaten apt Darley's CB .......... incident worth recording . I may here mention quarter of a mile he charged Medlicott in a both in this and the Gujarat Cup for he A very good that only heats of the Gujarat Cup first lane and the heat was over . This left Medlicott must have secured more first spears than chances and of the Salmon Cup were run off in for the final of the Gujarat Cup . one else at the meeting . this day . Meanwhile the fourth heat of the second Meanwhile , Souter and Sirdarsinhji were chances was despatched after a good boar sent off over a still worse line of country than which had been nursed away from covert by the Salmon Cup final . Sirdarsinhji a ride of five miles from camp in a Gujarat Cup , first chances , at the cotton soil of very fast O Symons 1 Owner 2 .... wner ) disqualified . Owner J race between the first two , ary - Brown coming in first , but being disqualified for missing a flag . After the races it was The next beat was full of pig and Gujarat Cup heats Nos . 2 , 3 and 4 were decided . In the second the the former running into a tree , and then Sirdarsinhji , on a handy pony , playing a waiting game very cleverly , came up , got the pig to himself and , nursing him well , speared . decided that no horse or pony should in future carry less than 10 stone 7lbs . A fair was cule which might have made a difference in heat Moore was somewhat J. L. Symons out of a big sounder . Graham mounted on a pony . Souter on a big waler the results of some of the races . lucky to win ; J. L. Symons and Brown did and Brown both in turn tried and missed , horse , and in the jungle through which they The camp broke up on Tuesday evening , the major portion of the hard work , and hunted the former was undoubtedly placed at an everyone having enjoyed himself enormously . former was especially unlucky , just missing a advantage . They ran for almost two miles be- The thanks of all are due to Mr. Thatcher jinking pig , which eventually charged Moore . fore Sirdarsinhji speared , Souter in the and Mr. Boyd for all the care and trouble The third heat was also a lucky win for Med meantime having collided with a tree and lost taken by them to make the meeting the suc licott ; Graham first got on the pig and was his spear ; he recovered his spear , got up cess that it was . The fact that it was such close to him for a long way through thick with the pig and just missed , and Sirdar- a success will in itself be a greater satisfaction babul jungle ; a jink let in Rudkin , and he Mr. Thatcher and give him more pleasure missed spearing by a fraction of an inch , and than any thanks that can be offered . Medlicott coming with a rush got home . The fourth heat produced a most exciting tussle between Owen Symons and Sirdarsinhji ; the former was first on to the pig , but lost pos session through colliding with a tree . Sir darsinhji then got on to him but lost through This jink a jink , again letting in Symons , who cleverly and The second chances second heat , were the last to get away after a very fast boar . The word to ride was given in the open and Dar to sinhji then scored . Both men and horses bore evidence of the jungle through which they had ley raced up to the pig , followed closely by passed , being covered with scratches and I cannot close without referring to the Thatcher and Souter . They drove him across thorns . singing by Mr. J. S. Symons of " The old some fields and over a dry river bed and later Tuesday was left for the decision of the grey boar " at our last dinner and we all hope Darley just missed spearing as the pig jinked Gujarat Cup , and the Races , and it was that the veteran of the hunt who told us that through a hedge in slightly wooded country . settled that we were to remain in camp until he had first attended the meeting in 1873 will let in Souter who nursed him khubber was brought in of pig in a suitable for many more years be present there to pur eventually speared . Darley place . About 8 a.m. Dhanna came in with sue the warrior of his song . THIRD HEAT . R O Brown RG Gordon Capt kudkin KS Sirdarsinhjio Shahpura ( speire SIXTH HEAT . TJ Thatcher D N Graham ( spear ) W H Lloyd G Wile , SECOND HEAT . TD Moore KS Sirdarsinhji of Shahpura KS Ranjitsinhji of Baria ( spear ) SALMON CUP FINAL . KS Ranjitsinbji f Baria ( spear ) Lt - Col J R Forbes . The above are the bare results , and I will further endeavour to describe the separate hunting , and must ask my readers days to refer to the above lists for the actual performers in the various heats . The 31st south - w a the hock . back and FOURTH DAY . On Monday . it was decided to try the We then retraced our steps and beat at right angles to the previous direction . A good boar was viewed away , and the heat got after him , with Darley leading . Almost at once he jinked to the right through a cactus hedge , Symons following him , while the other country by the Sabarmati , Virdi , a ride of some ten miles being the rendezvous . The two kept up the hedge to try for an opening banks of the river are here thickly covered higher up . The result of these manoeuvres with jao jungle , and outside this were fields favoured Darley , for the boar got through of castor seed six feet high , which made the another small hole in a big fence and Symons task of running off a competition a very dif- aptain Darley's Neptune L THIRD DAY . city of pig towards the end the winner of the first chances could be declared the winner of of the Cup . 69 POINT - TO - POINT RACES . In the afternoon the Point - to - Point Races took place over a sporting course with numer ous big cactus fences . 8 The going was heavy , certainly giving an advantage to the light weights , but neverthe less three excellent races took place . TULLY HUNT CUP - For horses . Mr J L Symons ' KINGFISHER Mr W E Crum's MERMAN Mr Alister Forbes ' URLEW L - Colonel J R Forbes ' Sloth Owner 1 Owner 2 O Symons 3 disqualified Owner U ... Owner ) Owner ... Owner I Mr Owen Symons ' Rosette ....... Owner 2 Owner 3 Owner ( Owner Owner Owner U ......... Mr Loyds ' Mahdi Captain Radkin's Dorothy Mr Hirst's Joe .. ******* The principal point about this race was the great finish between the four first named ponies . As they came into the straight Akbar Khan , Result and Rosette were locked together , an arab , a South African and a waler , and all greys only to be passed by Gayly which won somewhat easily at the finish , the other RENTHIGE was mont being little to choose between three Akbar Khan's remarkable , he was carrying 11 stone to the 8 stone carried by Gayly and was therefore giving away 3 stone besides a class allowance , in all 4 stone . 674 |
