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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Tran Unt Elliot Ette ( .w.w_ GUZERAT 1896. WINNERS of & 4 CUPS SALMON Fraufle Stack Gray V Jowla THE END . Labu appell GUZERAT CUP , 1897 . ( FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT . ) This meeting , which is so keenly looked forward to by sportsmen on this side of India , came off at Bhandu , the place we have had it at for several years now . Nearly every one was in camp by the afternoon of 16th April , and the heats were drawn after dinner as follows : GUZERAT CUP - 1ST CHANCES . 1 Stack , Graham , Sherjumkban , Gray ( Spear . ) 2 Symington , Scott , Elliot , Harrison , Mills ( Spear . ) 3 Knox , Weldon , Keir , Phayre ( Spear . ) 4 Fairfax , Birkett , Waddington , Heneage ( Spear . ) 5 Grantham , Ashby , Purvie , Winter ( Spear . ) 6 Ritchie , Sinclair , Takhatsinghi , Symons ( Spear ) 2ND OHANCES . 1 Symington , Ashby , Gray , Knox ( Spear . ) 2 Ritchie , Mille , Stack , Phayre ( Spear . ) 3 Sinclair , Keir , Sherjamkhan , Waddington ( Spear . ) 4 Harrison , Purvis , Heneage ( Spear . ) 6 Takhatrioghi , Symons , Fairfax ( Spear ) . 6 Giantham , Scott - Elliot , Graham ( Spear . ) SALMON CUP . 1 Harrison , Mills , Bacharsinghi , Vigansinghi ( Spear . ) 2 Heneage , Keir , Stack ( Spear . ) 3 Symons , Waddington , Gray ( Spear . ) 4 Weldon , Natboosinghi , Graham ( Spear . ) 5 Knox , Fairfax , Amarsinghi ( Spear . ) 6 Narsesinghi , Winter , Birkett ( Spear . ) The first day we hunted round the village of Vallam , about five miles east of the camp . A sounder was marked down in a castor oil field , and three heats were ready to go ; but only ( 1 ) got away , umpired by Ashby . A nice boar broke over a good country . Gray was first away , and not being pressed got the spear pretty easily . We then went back to the enclosed country near the village ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) heats having a great bucketing over very enclosed country . Finally ( 2 ) got off , ( umpire Ritchie ) . The pig was an indifferent one , and ran in a circle . Mills speared after Scott Elliot having had a good look in . The latter was unfortunately knocked over by the heat from this time , and had to give up and return to Bombay . We then went back to the old tope of trees to wait for kubber , and to pour ( you don't drink at the Gazerat Cup Meet ) down liquid . ( 3 ) ( 4 ) and ( 6 ) went out before breakfast , and all got off . ( 3 ) Umpired by Major Ashby got away in enclosed country . Phayre's horse knocked over the pig , which got through a hedge and disappeared . The beat was afterwards re - started after another pig , and after a jinking run Phayre got the spear Keir having the bad luck to fall . ( 4 ) Umpire Parvis got on to a sounder and were put on to a nice pig . Waddington and Heneage had a good race , and after jumping a lane together , Heneage being the quicker after landing , got the spear . ( 6 ) Umpired by Heneage , had a boar marked down close to the village . He was reported to be alsurly old brute , well known to the people round for a long time past . He showed some disinclina tion to face a run in the heat , but at last bun ed out . At the word " ride , " Ritchie had a misunder standing with his horse , and the result was both came over , but the word had been given , and there was no time to wait . A sunk lane had to be negotiated , and Symons having the luck to his off the best place for crossing ( viz . , where the boar did ) got away and speared after a short but quick run . This boar showed a lot of fight , He measured 32 inches and was very old , his tushes being broken and ears torn in pieces by fighting . ( 5 ) Heat of 1st Chances was kept back , as Grantham had not arrived , so after breakfast we began the 2nd Chances of the Guzerat Cup . ( 1 ) Umpired by Symons , got on to a big boar . Knox was quickest away , but was passed by Gray , who ought to have got the spear but missed . The pig jinked up a lane , and let in Knox , who speared . The boar was killed after a long run , and after he had cut Knox's pony . ( 2 ) Umpired by Graham , got off after a small pig , and Phayre , after a good run , speared . Ritchie again fell at the start , his Waler , a new purchase , taking advantage of the fact that his master did not know he strongly objected to spurs and so bucked him off . ( 4 ) Umpired by Waddington , got off after a fast boar . Heneage did all the running and speared , Purvis having the bad luck to fall . ( 2 ) 1st Chances was a match between Gray helps us with tents and subscribes for the Cap , as Cups will be on their ever - hospitable table . and Phayre . A very good boar broke out of a also the Maharajah of Bhownagger and the Thakor The other sporteman we missed was our dear old sounder and away from the river . The run was Sabeb of Wadwan , The second day we hunted from Panchote , about fast and exciting . The boar went a chucker , As will be seen by the list of entries , a strong enough to come . His voice and cheery - face were friend William White , who was Lot quite well seven miles south - west of camp , across the railway . and got back into the river bed . Gray was a contingent of the young Kathiawar Chiefs was a blank all through the jolly days . Last year the place yielded a capital day's sport , bit the quickest down & rough piece of the bank , present , and what is more , they rode bard and I had almost forgotten to mention what I think but on arrival we were greeted with the news that and with such a heavy boar just in front and meant business , following the lead of their excel- should be put on record . After the drawing of the Mahajans had got the pig driven away from nearly beat , it looked as if he must win , but he lent mentor , our honorary secretary . They the heats the first night , Mr. Waddington drew their usual cover , and sport turned out indifferent . seemed to take a pull , and this let up Phayre , who seemed delighted with the sport , and said they our attention to one or two points . However , we managed to get off five of the Salmon just got in and speared cleverly under the opposite Guzerat Cup . We were all delighted to see these mean to have good horses another year for the Umpiring . He asked us to recollect that th bank . young sportsmen so keen , and hope they will keep umpire should insist on his heat keeping near t it up and be successful in winning later on . and behind him ; and also that when more than The late hours did not prevent us all turning opt one pig broke , the umpire should ride forward for the Point - to - Point Races next morning , which and separate the pig he meant to be ridden before came off near the old tope at Vallam . The Tally letting the heat go . Also he asked that it be an Cup is given by the Fund , and two sportsmen came understood thing that after the spear was got , off forward with Cups for the other two events , a good boar , the heat , except the man who got the Koomar Shri Samatsinghi of Palitana gave the spear , should go on and polish the boar off , bei ng Cup for the Pony race , and the Rev. Mr. Beck joined of course by any one else handy . The gave the Cup for Arabs and O , Bs . umpiring and the boar benefitted by this good The course was the same for all the races , viz . , counsel . about two miles over fair but rather open pig- And last of all our thanks , a dozen times over , sticking country . are due to Mr. Waddington , the honorary secre tary . His courtesy and hard work always ensure the success of the meeting . - Times of India , 2 3 THE TULLY HUNT OUP " FOR ALL HORSES . MrWaddington's b w Carthusian , late Hurry Up , Owner 1 April 30 , 1897 . Major Keir's b w Yule Tide , Owner ...... Mr Symington's b w Macbeth , Capt Knox ...... Capt Harrison's b w Starlight , Mr. Stack ... Mr Littleton's b w Pochard , Owner ... Capt the Hon H G Heneage , bw Napoleon , Mr Gray ... Mr Waddington's b w Spoonbill , Mr Winter ............. Major Ashby's b w Laurel , Capt Weldon ....... All the eight bay Walers were marshalled in line , and let go by Major Phayre ; the pace was a cracker from the start , and it was soon seen that Carthusian and Yale Tide had the lege of the others . A big dead tree was the first turning point , and the next , and final one , Mr. Ritchie on a camel . The two leaders went rather wide for the second point , but were able to make up their ground , and in the race home Carthusian drew away and won comfortably from Yale Tide . Mr. Townsend , who lately owned Carthasian as Hurry Up , will be pleased to see his good horse did so well . The girths belonging to the rider of Spoon bill broke just after the start , and thue put him out of the race . Pony Cup heats . This was quite a model heat - two good men on two good Arabs , about equal in pace , and all in view of the spectatore . We beat up an outlying nullah , and ( 1 ) of the Pony heats got off first after a fast pig . Nyam singhi getting the spear , after a good gallop . ( 2 ) Got off immediately afterwards , over 8 The final of the 1st Chances was afterwards run trappy bit of country . Stack very nearly came off between Mills and Phayre . Phayre had he down over a nullah , but he got the spear after best of the first part of the rup , and had more a long gallop . Heneage had a bad fall at the same than one chance of the spear , but missed , place and could not get clear . The result was a and Mills got in and speared , Phayre and his bad strain in the back , which obliged him to retire good horse Patrol being apparently a from the competition next day . This was terribly hard lines for him , as he had won both his chances in the Guzerat Cup , and with his fast Waler Napoleon , going in fine form , he had a capital chance of winning . bit fagged after all the work they had done , including a long stern chase over enclosed country , just preceding the above mentioned run . The umpire would not let them go then , as the pig stuck to lanes . The 2nd heat of 2nd Chances was then run off , Fairfax beating Graham and Knox after a good run . This finished the third day's work , 11 heats altogether having been got off , which is a record for the Guzerat Cap . The next morning we were off to Khatoran , beyond Vallam . A fine boar was turned out for ( 1 ) of 2nd Chances semi - final . ( 3 ) Got off soon after . There were three excellent ponies in this heat , and three old hands up , so a good gallop for the spear was anticipated . Unfortunately the umpire let the heat go just as the pig got into a lane , and before he could make up bis mind what was up , or where to go , Gray was on him in fifty yards and speared . This was a case in which it would have been better if the Waddington's fast Carthusian had the lege com umpire had ridden ahead and waited till the pig pletely of Phayre's horse , but failed to come had broken over the open before giving the round at the critical moment , and let in Phayre , word . The same pig crossed the bows of ( 4 ) , who speared . and the umpire not knowing he had been already After this the final of the Salmon Cap , viz . , slightly speared , let his heat go . Weldon was first Gray and Stack , was fixed to be run off , with up , but not quick enough on the jink , when Symons as umpire . A long bucket over nasty Graham got in and speared . We had a long nullah country failed to bring them on terms with ambling sort of afternoon , and only ( 6 ) got o , the boar , which had too long a start , and the after a lanky sow . Birkett speared , going in umpire was probably cussed by the two com again twice , just to make sure of blood ! petitors for giving them such a doing . But these On the third day we began at Bhumsana , a things cannot be helped , and Cup running must be favourite cover about two miles from camp . We conducted on much the same lines as general pig commenced with the horse heats which had been sticking . However , we were rewarded by seeing a kept back for Grantham's arrival ( 5 ) of 1st sounder coming up towards the open country . The Chances got off first , the spear falling to Winter . sounder was nursed till well away from the ( 3 ) Of second chances then got away , and was nullahs , and then the umpire singled out the boar won by our honorary secretary , on Carthusian , and let the heat go . The pig jinked right round after a short spin . ( 5 ) Of 2nd Chances got off once , and both men were round almost together . from the same cover , after a small but very fast Gray's Geordie had perhaps just the best of it all pig . Symons did the running on Bluebottle , through , and Gray got up on the right side a little but had too wily a man behind him . Fairfax , bit to the good and speared , but it was a very close finding he could not get up , jumped into the next job , Stack's spear being over the pig just at the field on the chance of Symons driving the pig through a high cactus . This happened , and Fair fax cut in , spearing well . critical moment . Gray thas won the Salmon Cap for the second time , having pulled it off in 1895 on Aladdin . ( 6 ) Of 2nd Chances got away after a heavy After this we went back ! towards Vallam , and boar . Grantham did all the work ou Cobweb , the fital of 2nd Chances was run off between but the pig doubled back in a lane and was Phayre and Fairfax . They had a bucket after a met by Graham , who speared . Still another pig , which was lost ; found another , and after a heat was run off from the same cover , viz . , jinking run , Phayre speared , his horse being the ( 5 ) of the Salmon Cup . After a real good run , Amarsinghi cleverly got the spear , beating Knox and Fairfax , After this we made a move towards Valiam , and ran off the semi - finals of the Salmon Pony Cup , which were drawn as handiest , although Fairfax had the best of it in pace . follows : This left the final of the Guzerat Cap to be run off between Mills and Phayre . After breakfast Waddington took them in charge , and we had a long rambling beat towards Bhumsans , Lalla thought he was on the pug of a good boar , but we could not work up to him , and finally two or three smallish pig went off in enclosed country . The final was started and Mills got away and kept the lead . The pig left the crops and ran along the side of a dry tank , when Major Mills got up and speared , thus winning the Guzerat Cap of 1897 , on his English t . b . mare Clarissa . The hearty congratulations the winner received from us all were mixed with our sympathy for the loser . Major Phayre had ridden all through well and consistently . He had only his one good Arab horse Patrol at the meeting , having had bad luck with his Waler which he intended bringing . 1st Heat - Amersinghi , Birkett , Stack ( Spear ) . 2nd Heat - Vijansinghi , Graham , Grey ( Spear ) . ( 1 ) Got off and had a very good run . Stack did the work , but the others got in , and had a chance , Birkett's pony knocking over the pig and giving him hopes that he had touched it , but this proved not to be the case , and Stack won . ( 2 ) Had a short gallop with some good fencing , Gray getting in frst . This left him in with Stack for the final in the Salmon Cup . After breakfast the semi finals of Guzerat Cup were proceeded with - drawn as follows : 1ST CHANCES . 1st Heat - Winter , Symons , Mills ( Spear . ) 2nd Heat - Gray , Heneage , Phayre ( Spear . ) 2ND CHANCES . 1st Heat - Heneage , Waddington Phayre ( Spear . ) 2nd Heat - Kaox , Graham , Fairfax ( Spear . ) ( 1 ) 1st Ohances had a great gallop across the open , which resulted in a race between Mills and Symons ; the pig got into a lane , when Winter got on to him and thought he had speared , but couldn't show blood . Bymons then got on and drove the pig out of the lane and across Mills , who eventually speared . Just before dinner we were treated to a Darbar by the Collector ( Wahiwatdar ) of the district , This gentleman had done a great deal to assist in all the different camp arrangements , and to add to our obligations to him he presented all the guests assembled with a splendid present of fruit , sweets , & c . The brase trays containing the presents were three deep , and quite filled the shamiana . After dinner we drank the usual toasts , and none were more beartily received than those in which the names of the keen supporters of the Cup were mentioned - viz . , the Gaek war of Baroda , who not only subscribes , but does a great deal to help with police and all arrangements , the Onp being ran off in his territory ; the Thakor Sabeb of Morvi , who ***** . * THE PONY COP , PRESENTED BY KOOMAR SHRI SAMATSINGHI OF PALITANA . Mr Stack's b a Skip Jack , Owner ......... Oapt Knox's c b Cavendish , Owner ... Mr Littleton's g a Tarpon , Owner ......... Capt Weldon's g a Castanet , Owner ........ Mr Birkett's ga Ali Baba , Owner Capt Knox's a c b Flashlight , Mr Winter *** 99 Skip Jack and Cavendish were round the fallen tree first , then Tarpon drew up and passed them , holding the lead for some distance , when he was repassed by Skip Jack . They jumped into the last lane in this order , and got pounded for a little . Skip Jack got over first and was never headed , winning pretty easily . CUP FOR ARABS AND C.B.'S PRESENTED BY REV . MB , BECK , Mr Gray's g a Hermit , Owner ........ Mr Littleton's b a Bluebottle , Captain Weldon ..... Osptain Grantham's g a Cobweb , Capt Knox Mr Stack's b & Savernake , Owner ..... Mr Waddington's b a Sanam , Owner Mr Winter's o a Sunlight , Owner 1 8 The veteran Bluebottle cut out the running from the start , and Captain Weldon looked like winning , but was collared at the finish by Hermit , whose owner had waited on him , and Mr. Gray was able to score his second win for the meeting . Royal sport still awaited us , for on getting back to camp two boar were marked down for us . The first gave an excellent run across the open , and Mr. Waddington got the spear on Spoon Bill . The second spear fell to Captain Knox . Both these boar were 30 inches , and were most sporting and accommodating , as they laid up close to the station , and we got the second one just before the mail left for Bombay . On the following morning , Mr. Gray , Mr. Stack and Captain Weldon went out to Rampur , beyond Vallam , and got three good boar before break fast , in capital riding country . Before closing these notes , I must make mention of two lovers of the chase , who were much missed from the meeting . Mrs. Cecil Gray was kept away , but by nothing less than 5,000 miles of distance . Nobody is more keen and nobody stands a real hard and hot day more uncomplainingly than Mrs. Cecil . We shall welcome her back at the meets to come , and mean time there will be the satisfaction that two more 4 HAP HE NOT CLUNG FAST TO THE MAINTOP MAST GR - Y WOULD HAVE COME OFF TO Too B " PURPLE HEATHER INTRODUCED To PIG |
