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 0031
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| Accession number | 912L : 2090/23 |
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| Transcription |
It is four years since the above competition has taken place owing to scarcity of pig due to the famine and other causes . This year the committee , consisting of Meers . Younghusband , White and Waddington ( none of whom were able to attend the meet , and were much missed ) , were approached by Mr. Harrington Bulkley who thought there were enough pig round Kharaghoda to run off the cups . Mr. Bulkley kindly consented to take over the dut'es of Honorary Secretary from Mr. Waddington , who has moved from Rajkot to Ajmere , and how correctly he estimated the position we shall shortly show . The camp was fixed near a tank close to Patri . On Thursday , the 31st March , and Fri day , the 1st April , sportsmen and horses coming . Twenty - one entered , and were drawn in heats as follows , which for convenience We number : kept Third Heat , Capt Talbot Mr Souter GUJARAT CUP , 1904 . First Heat , Mr H 8 Symons Mr O Symons Capt Goring Jones ( wioner ) Ma or Stavely 3 A SUCCESSFUL MEETING . GUJARAT OUP . - FIRST OHANCES . Grove O Symons 6 First Heat , Coring Jones Balkley ( winner ) 9 Fourth Heat . Mr Macnamara Capt Grove ( winner ) Mr St John Graham Capt Davie ( winner ) GUJARAT CUP . - SECOND CHANONS , 11 Virat Hest Hotson Davle ( winner ) Bouter Q8ymona 19 Third Heat , Stamton Graham ( Deesa ) , winner Staveley Fourth Heat . Mr J L Symons ( winner ) Mr Hotson Mr Bulkley 7 Second Hent . Hotson Second Heat . Mr Donald Graham Baja Bahadur of Orcha ( winner ) Mr Stamton , RFA Mr Graham ( Deena ) Symons Daraham ( winner ) Bt John Graham Stamton Steele Graham ( Deess ) , winner 15 First Heat , J Bymors 5 Fifth Heat , Graham of Deena Davle ( winner ) 8 Third Hest H Symons Davie ( winner ) Talbot Fifth Eeat , Raja of Orcha Macnamara SALMON PONT OUP . 29 Becond Heat , Balkley D Graham Bouter ( winner ) Grove ( winner ) Cooke JL . Bythons Talbot St. John Graham ( winner ) We do not propose to give a detailed account of each heat , but to refer in detail to a few of 04 Fourth Heat . the best . A move was made at 2 p.m. on Friday , the 1st April , and the bed of the Patri Tank close were put in line . a to the camp was first benten . As soon as the heaters pig broke away in the open . Heat 3 was slipped , and Grove , on a new waler , got the spear . Several other heats were run off , the pig breaking singly , and all taking over most excellent riding ground . In fact , we have never seen pigsticking over such good ground , and it was a hundred to one on the spear every time . Well may that portion called " Altcar the of the country Pigsticking . " of be Next morning an early move was made to the Kharaghoda Tank , Waddington a huge sheet of fresh water , seven miles round , and fringed with rushes and coarse grass an ideal haunt for pig . We were soon on the move , and heats were started and decid 16 Recond Heat . Raikley Grove Bouter ( winner ) ed in all directions , the pig assisting the Honorary Secretary to the utmost by breaking singly , and always in the right direction . By the evening of the second day no less than 12 heats , out of 14 , had heen satisfactorily run off , and not an accident of any kind . The whole of the arrangements went like clock work . The Shekarri Ram Singh and beaters excelled themselves , and cold drinks were always handy , and didn't we pour them down ! Spectators and those not competing in the different heats could see everything . It was absolutely regal in the per fection of detail , and it all looked so easy as all well - managed competitions do look . On the following day six pigs were marked down over the railway . They all broke in a bunch , were separated by the umpires , and after two short scurries Bulklev and Davie speared . It will be observed how Davie on his pony was holding his against horses . Instead of finishing the own first and second chances of the Gujarat Cup right off , as in previous years , the winners different heats , 1 to 10 , were redrawn following result : GUJERAT CUP .- ( SEMI - FINALS . ) of the with the 17 Third Heat , Goring Jones D Graham ( innar ) Raja of Orcha Davie 56 57 18 Firat Feat . Davle ( winner ) Graham ( Deesa ) 55 BAT MON CUP .- ( SEMI - FIZYALS , ) // 19 Second Hear , St John Graham ( winner ) Grage saw ng at the Kharaghoda Easter Monday hig tank . but on the west side this time , and the heats left undecided were No. 15 in the Gujarat Cup , the final of the Gujarat Cun , and the final of the Salmon Cup between St. John Graham and Davie . A good pig broke quickly and took a bee line for the onen . Jack Symons led all the way , followed by Davie , and it looked a moral for the former . Choos ing his own time he speared but not the pig ! A twist or two through the bushes , and Davie , never far he hind , nipped in and speared - a first class perfor mance for a pony . Immediately after this the final of the Salmon Pony Cup , consisting of Davie ( on the wonderful pony B.P. ) , and St. John Graham Jungli was started . Davie cut out all the work , with Graham lying behind , and Davie's spear passing between the nig's legs snapped off , leaving Graham an easy win . This ended the competition for ponies , Davie and Graham were both new to the game , and deserve every thing nice that can be said of them , and Bombay , gets the Cup , After a short rest and more drinks the final of the Gujarat Cup for horses on was sent off to a fiving start , Davie ( on the same nony B. P. ) . Donald Graham on Spartan , and Souter on Brown Bess . Graham was left a little , and Sonter had the first jink , but failed to reach the pig . Graham took up , the running and almost won , but the pig turned 21. summer sault and did not go cuite as expected . Before he could right himself Davie was at him , and won the Gujarat Cup of 1904 on a pony and only missed the Pony Cup on the same pony by an inch - and Davie is a beginner at pigsticking and rides 13 atone . If this is not a record for man and nony . what is Tong and loud were the ongratulations offered to the gallant nair - end now more drinks and away to the Honorary Secretary's bungalow for breakfast , after which were held the Point - to Paint Races details of which are given below . The course laid out for the Horse Point - to - Point Talles Fun Cun Race was near Khararhoda , starting in soft loamy , ground , with a few jumps . COLLESR lay to the river where the going was rough and sticky and away to the railway on which The a flagman was placed in the mifenced embankment and on to where the Honorary Secretary was with the turning flag and home by the outward rante , The following was the order T finishing : Mr J 1 , Symons ' waler KINGFISHER Mr D N Graham's waler SPARTAN ..... Mr Owen Symon's waler BLACKCOCK Mr W Sonters ' waler Brown Bees .......... M- HS Symons ' waler Yeoman .......... Rajah of Oreha ' waler Larriken ........ Owner 1 Owner 2 ... Owner 3 .... Owner Owner .... Owner Mr St John Graham's Arab Greyleg .................. Owner Blackcock was favourite , and , taking the lead early in the race , was romud the turning flag , and back over the river bed first . Here Kingfisher and Spartan erent un to the leader , and although the former with Blackcock took a longer course , vet he was able to beat Spartan , thne reversing the placing at Santa Cruz last month . The remainder tailed in anyhow , and all enjoyed their galop . It Was catchweights ! owners up . and the time The course taken was about seven minutes . was not nearly so long as it looked from the start ( owing to the haze ) , but was quite long enough and excellently selected by the Honorary Secretary and Mr. Macnamara . After a short rest the Pony Point - to - Point Race was started over the same conrse as the horses , and the result was as follows : Mr J L Symons ' Arab SARACEN Mr Alston 1 Raja of Orcha's waler CHAFFINCH ... Mr O 8vmons 2 ********* Mr W Ronter's Arah LOCHIEL.wner 8 Mr D N Graham's Arab Dawn Owner Mr G R Graham's Arab The Bear Capt Talbot'e Arab Greyleg Mr H 8 Symons ' waler Sandgronse . great pony Capt . Owner 8 ... Owner ... Owner was un Davie's B.P. to start , having twisted his leg in nble the final of the Gujarat Cup . Chaffinch was a hot favorite , and with her lightweight was forced to the front rounding the turning flag well ahend . But the sandy fields cooked her goose , just as the did Blackcock's , and Saracen staying on and taking first . a really big jump near the winning post was easily Chaffinch has , it will be seen , changed hands . It was now nearly dark and a long trail of horses and men wended their way across the plain to camp , which was not reached by many until after dark . At dinner that night our oldest member toasted the Honorary Secretary rovally , but not a single word was undeserved . As a competition this never be year can never be surpassed and may equalled . To ride nigsticking over such a country is a revelation to Bombay sportsmen who are ac customed to having to wait wearv hours at the cover side and then hunt their pig over difficult and dangerous country . We must not omit to mention the assistance of Mr. Macnamara , of the Salt Department , and Mr. Bulkley's right hand man . The Thakore Sahib of Wadhwan was present . but not competing . The Thakore Sahib of Morvi gave liberal support , although " not present . Every good sportsman should sont an if not able to sent and so support the very finest snorting meeting entry even be pre in Western India . Our best thinks are due to the Chief of Patri for allowing the camp to be p'tch ed on his private lands . Four ladies were out all v in the great heat and were singularly lucky in being able to see SO much in comfort . Mav we all meet again at the same place in 1905 under the same excellent management and with the samo excellent results . WELTER WEIGHT . |
