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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GUZERAT CUP PIG - STIOKING MEET , 1889 . COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT . - Colonel Hancock ; Colonel Heyland , 1st Bombay Lancers ; Colonel Jackson ; Major Pengree , R.A .; J. B. D. Adams , Esq .; W. H. White , Esq . , C.E .; and A. D. Younghusband , Esq . , C. S. , Honorary Secretary . 1. The Meet will be held this year in the middle of March , so as to include the Holi holidays . Further particulars of date and place will be notified hereafter . 2. The following Caps will be offered for competition : ( a ) The " Guzerat Cap , " subscribed for by residents of Guzerat , value Rs . 1,000 . ( 6 ) The " Salmon Challenge Cup , " value about Rs . 850 . ( c ) The " Salmon Cup , " value Rs , 250 . 3. For ( 6 ) and ( c ) the competition will be the same ; ( e ) will become the absolute property of the winner , who will also be entitled to the custody of ( b ) for one year , at the end of which time he must return it to the Honorary Secretary , and under no circumstances is he to take it out of India . Competitors for these two Cups to be mounted on ponies 13 : 3 and ander , irrespective of class . Ponies will be measured on ground . No shoe allowance . W. I. T. C. Certificates accepted . 4. For the " Guzerat Cup , " firet entries Rs . 15 and second Rs , 30 close on the 14th and 28th February , re spectively . For the " Salmon " competition , entries Rs . 5 may be made up to 28th February . Half forfeit . The Committee reserves the discretion of admitting later entries on special grounds and on payment of a special fine or otherwise . 5. Rs . 30 for the " Guzerat Cup " and Rs . 15 for the " Salmon " competition will probably be the amount awarded to winner of each heat ; but the exact amounts will be fixed hereafter , and will be liable to reduction in the case of any heat consisting of less than four com petitors . 6. Gentlemen are requested to send their entries as early as possible to the Honorary Secretary to enable an approximate ided to be formed of the numbers to be arranged for . 7. Gentlemen must provide their own sleeping tents and kit . Mess tents and kit , messing and ice will be arranged for ; also whiskey , soda - water , Pilsener beer , and ginger beer . For any other liquor required , gentle men must make their own arrangements . Any gentle man wishing to be independent of the common stock of liquor is requested to inform the Honorary Secretary at the time of sending his entry ; otherwise he will be liable to be charged with a share of the cost . 8. Any further particulars may be obtained on appli ation to the Honorary Secretary , Ahmedabad . RULES . I. All horses or ponies ridden in either competition mast be bona fide the absolute property of the competitor using them ; but the Committee may in their discretion the final relax this rule for special reasons in any particular case . In such a case the actual taker of first spear in heat , and not the owner of the horse which he may be riding , shall be deemed the winner of the Cup . II . If a competitor is disabled from riding by a fall or accident after the competition has begun , he may , subject to the approval of the Committee , appoint a substitute to represent him . The substitute must ride only such horse or horses as might , under Rule 1. , have been ridden by the competitor whom he represents , and in the event . of his winning the final heat , he will be deemed to have done so on behalf of such competitor , whom the Cap will be presented . III . Each competitor for the Guzerat Cup " may buy either one or two entries , and will be allowed one or two chances accordingly , Drawings will be so arranged that no two chances of the same competitor will be drawn in the same heat . The same horse may be ridden throughout for both chances , or any number of different horses for different heats , provided that the conditions of Rule I. are observed . For the " Salmon Cups " each com petitor will have only one chance . IV . Each heat will be accompanied by an umpire ! whose decision shall be final , but who may in his discre tion refer any doubtful point for the decision of the Com mittee . V. To take first spear it is necessary that blood should be drawn , and seen on the pig or on spear . VI . When " No Heat " has been called by the umpire , the heat shall be at an end , and shall not revive until regularly started again . VII , If after a heat has been started the pig gets finally away without being speared , all the riders in that heat shall be deemed to have lost their chance , if the umpire is of opinion that a fair and suficient opportunity for spearing has been given and ought to have been taken ; otherwise the heat may be started afresh . An ampire's decision under this rule shall be appealable to the Committee . VIII , Spears to be delivered on the offside only , ex cept by a left - handed man , who must declare before starting , Spears must not exceed 8 feet in length . IX , Any rider making a frivolous objection or un warranted claim is liable for each such offence to be fined one dozen of champagne or Rs . 50 , at the discretion of the Committee . X. Foul riding is not allowed . atentional collision . between riders or horses constitutes foul riding , and any competitor so offending is liable to disqualification , XI . The Committee's decision on all matters shall be absolutely final . A. D. YOUNGHUS ATD , Honorary Secretary . Ahmedabad Districts , January , 1889 . LITTLETON Mochal's OWNER 1890 THE GUZERAT AND SALMON PONY CUPS . THIS popular meet took place this year at Amliala , a village about 4 miles beyond Saroda , which had been the fixture for the two preceding years . Amliala is about 20 miles from Ahmedabad on the road to Dholka . The Camp was pleasantly situated , about half a mile from the village of Amliala , and tae evening of 6th March saw us all assembled - about 18 sportsmen sitting down to dinuer . After dinner the heats were drawn , as follows : GUZERAT CUP . First Chances . No. 1 Heat . - Birdwood , Younghusband , ( Elliott ) Tudball , and Littleton . No. 2 Heat . - Capel - Cure , Graham , Adams , and Warden . No. 3 Heat . - Burder , Templer , Symons , and W. H. White . Second ances No. 1 Heat . - Macrae , ( Elliott ) Littleton , Burder , and Graham . No. 3 No. 2 Heat.- Warden , W. H. Wuite , N. S. Symons , and Capel - Cure . Heat . - Adams , Birdwood , Younghusband , and Templer . SALMON CHALLENGE CUP . No. 1 Heat . - Burder , Warden , till , and Wadding ton . No. 2 Heat . - Capel - Cure , Younghusband , C. P. White , and Macrae , No. 3 Heat . - Birdwood , Graham , Elliot , and Littleton . Major Elliot was reported scratched - after the heats had been drawn . Before proceeding with an ac count of the meeting , it may be well to mention that the Guzerat Cup is most generously given every year by Guzerat sportsmen , Rs . 1,000 being placed at the disposal of the winner for the purchase of a Cup . It has been suggested that now the Cup has become a regular institution , and one likely to continue , a standard pattern should be fixed on , and the Cup be ready at the meeting , for handing over to the winner . This is a point of of course for the donors . to decide . The " Salmon Pony Cup " is a Challenge Cup , purchased by some friends of the late Captain M. B. Salimon , and presented to the Com mittee of the Guzerat Cup , to be competed for by riders of ponies at the inseting , under the same rules as the Guzerat Cup . With this Challenge Cup , a Cup of the value of Rs . 250 was given by a few sportsmen , residing outside Guzerat , to become the property of the winner of the " Pony Challenge Cup . " On 7th March the meet was at Sahij , a well known cover , on the banks of the Sabermuttee , about 8 miles from Amliala , down the river . No. 1 heat was started after a fast boar , Younghusband got on to him first , and rode him up to the banks of the muddy nullah , where he was lost for a time . Littleton got a view of him , as he crossed the nul lah , and he and Birdwood got away , the boar tak ing them over very bad ground full of holes . Bird wood came to grief , was disabled , and for the rest of the meeting , had to look on from the back of a camel . But he was not seriously hurt . Younghus band then came over , giving himself a nasty shake and hurting his arm . This allowed Littleton to take his time over the bad ground , and taking advantage of a field that came in the way , he went up to the boar and speared , on Gold Our sporting and special correspondent , from the Bengal side , also came to grief over this same ground , when riding after the heat . Breakfast time was partly occupied in bandaging up and setting the wounded going again . In the afternoon two Pony Heats were started . No. 2 finch . heat was very unlucky , being started three times , the boar getting back to cover each time without giving them a fair chance . No. 1 heat was run off , nu Very like the very last of that good old portsman Wood figeon " - maltte The second pair . of Greeches . late in the afternoon . The pig got mixed up with all the riders , after a short run , and eventually the spear was secured by Burder , on Moochal . On the following day the meet was at the Amliala jungle , opposite the village of Chitrasar . Nothing was done , the pig refusing to leave the jungle in the heat of the day . After breakfast we crossed the river and hunted Chitrasar . No. 2 heat , 1st chances , for the Guzerat Cup was won by Capel Cure on Placid Joe after a good run , in which all the heat nad a look in . At the same time No. 3 heat of the 1st chances was being decided . N. S. Symons scored the win , on his old favourite Wood pigeon , Burder waiting for the jink , which the old horse would never give him . It was a long run , over bad ground and Woodpigeon got badly lam ed , and was out of it for the rest of the meeting . The special correspondent was unlucky enough to get another " toss , " his horse putting his feet into a cart rut . This was the second pair of breeches cut up in two days , and we had to make apologies to our guest for the roughness of our country . However he always came up smiling , although a good deal shaken and sprained . No. 3 Pony Heat then got away after a good pig that was driven out of the Sugar Cane . Graham made the running , at first , on Gendarme , but N. S. Symons then came up on Old Boots which he was riding for Birdwood , and got the spear pretty easily , the pony having the legs of the other two in the heat . No. 2 Pony ved on , and after a long stern chase , Heat follo were put on to a boar . Macrae was well up on his game little pony Billy Cock , but got bothered as to which was the right pig in a bit of jungle and Capel - Cure , after a hard ride , secured the spear , on Republican . On 9th March the meet was at our old happy hunting grounds , near Saroda . We began on the far side of the river , but had much difficulty in getting the pig to break . No. 2 heat , 2nd chances was eventually got off and N. S. Symons pulled it off on Myras . Warden pressing him hard on his good pony Sunset , Capel - Cure rode another pig , which he considered was the one the heat was started on , and so got out of it , by a piece of bad This will happen , sometimes , and of course can only be decided by the umpire , hard lines as it may often seem . luck . In the afternoon the jungle was beaten back again , and at last a good boar broke at the end , for the final in Salmon Pony Cup , which comprised Capel - Cure on Republican ; N. S. Symons , repre senting Bird wood , on Old Poots ; and Burder on Pepsine . The pig jinked shortly after the heat was started , and Capel - Cure and Burder seemed to have it all their own way . Old Boots being The boar then went through a quite thrown out . hedge , which Capel - Cure jumped . He landed nearly on top of the boar , which was a very faint hearted one , and which jinked back into from which he came . This completely the field out Capel - Cure , who was not prepared for this retro grade movement . Old Boots then came up and raced with Pepsine for a gap , through which the boar made . The pace of the former landed him first through the gap , and gave N. S. Symons the chance of spearing , which he took , thus winning the Pony Cup for Birdwood . In the evening the Saroda jungle was beaten , but nothing broke , except a fine nilghai , which went right away across the open and made the mouths water of No. 1 Heat , second chances , who were waiting to be started . In Kattiawar they seem to think little of riding down a nilghai , but Guzerat sportsmen consider it a feat and likely to do up a horse com pletely . A Kattiawar sportsman , who was that the way present , told us to ride them down is to canter after them , at first for two or three miles , and not try and burst them . This is just the opposite to what is generally con sidered to be the way to run down a wild animal . It is certainly so in the case of a boar , wolf , and jack However , one lives and learns and to be suc cessful must always be open to the " tips " of brother sportsmen . On 10th March the Amliala jungles were again drawn , and after a long wait , No. 1 Heat , second chances , was started , after a long stern chase following a sounder . Burder made the running , at first , followed by Graham who made a try for the spear as the pig jinked into a castor al . COLD TEA ! NICK'S PIGSTICKING BEVERAGE HOW AND WARDEN FER The RUNNER UP " Labe red Frak oil field . This let up Littleton , who had à 10 with Graham , as the pig got through the he . Littleton's chance got spoiled , however , by his horse's curb chain coming undone and the horse getting unmanageable - the spear being eventually knocked out of his hand in a fence . Graham then took up the running , followed by Burder and Macrae - Graham securing the spear on Arbid . In the evening a boar was broken from Chitrasar jungle , and the final of secd chances was started . This was probably the fastest run of the meeting . All the horses going a cracker and being well up , till they came to a bit of jungle . Here Capel - Cure's knowledge of the country stood him in good stead , he having run over the same ground on a previous day . He kept outside while the two brothers kept in the jungle . Capel - Cure got a lead and was never headed and secured a clever win on Placid Joe , Myras running him hard . For No. 3 Heat , of second chances , Birdwood had scratched , Templer had to go back to duty , and Adams decided to scratch , his horse not being up to time . This only left in Younghusband , who was thus drafted in to the final of Second Chances . On 11th March a Charku bundobust was made for Sindraj , near Dholka , and away in the open country , far from the river - side jungle . Charkus are men posted in trees , who waten the pig from daybreak , following them , if necessary , and mark ing the down in hedges or fields of crops . This used to be a very popular method of hunting in Guzerat , and from the success which attended the bundobust on the last day's hunting , now to be de scribed , it would be worth considering whether the practice should not be more followed up in future . After an eight mile ride to Sindraj , we met the shikaris , and were told that two tolahs of pig were marked down . Graham , N.S. Symons , and Younghushand were in this final heat and , as the winner would be in the final , it was of course most interesting . The tolah was turned out of a hedge - row and the heat started , after the largest pig , which led the lot . The pace was very fast , and Younghusband early came to grief , over a net work of fences . He tried his best to catch his pony , by hanging on to his foreleg , but the pony wouldn't be denied see ing the run and galloped on , nearly upsetting N. S. Symons . From this point a capital race ensued , the pig jinking well several times , tually the pig turned from N. S. Symons to Graham who secured the spear on Arbid . After even a rest , Capel - Cure's horse was brought up from the village , where he had been lying low , and prepara tions were made for the final to be run off . A fresh sounder of pig were turned out of a prickly pear hedge , and away they went . Soon after the start , both competitors being well up , Graham tried to cut through a hole in a hedge which most unluckily wasn't quite practicable , and he got swept off Arbid , leaving Capel - Cure to take his time and secure the spear on Placid Joe , thus winning the Guzerat Cup . Meantime a good boar which was disturbed , most considerately laid down in a patch of grass , and waited there for half an hour till the field could be got together . He was then turned out , and gave a first - class run , N. S. Symons eventually getting the spear . This of course had nothing to do with Cup - running , which was over . As several of the competitors had to leave before the final for the " Guzerat Cup " was run off , the health of the winner ( among other toasts ) had to be drunk , by anticipation , on the night of the 9th instant , after the Pony Cup had been decided . As it turned out we toasted a real good sportsman , and Capel - Cure's win on Placid Joe was a most popular one . The Cup has now been left up - country two years running , and we hope to see some more of the young blood in Bombay coming to the fore and emulating the rider of Arbid this year , and thus increase the chance of Bombay having a look in again as winners . The hon . secretary seems to have ordered the weather specially for the occasion . It was perfect , like all his other arrangements for our comfort . Everything was made easy and comfortable for us . From the time of arrival at Ahmedabad Station , where an official met us with camels and carts , until the time of our departure , when a sowar was ready THE WINNER Capel . Cure CA in the There is , I think , only one other matter which might be men- tioned here . The " Guzerat Cup " Committee have always been liberal - minded cconsidering any If there's anything that can most look nasty its suggestions made for what they think the good of the meet , now recorded , one of the competitors for the " Guzerat UNT Cup " got a heavy fall , and was unfortunate ly disabled from riding further during the meet . He put up another rider , who was approved by the committee , and we were all glad to see his good pony win , and thus make up to some extent for the bad luck of his being personally thrown out of the thing . This putting up another rider was quite in accordance with the Rules . But we think there ex ists a pretty general opinion that the Rule is not now a good one . In such a case the result cannot be very satisfactory to the owner of the horse , and we would suggest that riders in future should take their chance of getting disabled by a fall and if it occurs , and they cannot ride , they must take " the knock " and stand aside , and be content to cuss " their luck , and hope for better next time . " It will be recollected that Mr. Birdwood won the Guzerat Cup last year , and is an undoubted good man after a pig , and although he could not have WITH HIS BLOOMIN EAD A BABAIN had a better substitute than the experienced old LIKE A DASKETFUE O SNAIKE ? sportsman who rode for him , still , in our opinion , the result would have been the same with the owner up . The Rule which is based on the old Bhima Cup Rule , and has been acted on more than once in for mer Guzerat Cup competitions was unquestionably in old days a most popular one , and this is doubtless why the committee have allowed it to remain as the one exception to the great fundamental prin ciple of the Guzerat Cup . " The man wins and not the horse . " But as year by year this principle has come to be more thoroughly realised , by those interested in the competition , a general feeling has grown up that the rule is an anomaly which ought now to be done away with . The matter can safely be left in the hands of the committee for decision . THE UNT , THE UNT , THE GAWD FORSAKEN M meet to gallop in front , and show us the road to the sta tion , after hunting was finished . The forethought of the hon . secretary even reached to pegs being made ready for us half - way between camp and the station . Too much praise cannot be accorded to the hon . secretary for all the trouble taken by him and also the members of the committee . The committee have the satisfaction of its being pretty generally admitted that the " Guzerat Cup stands quite the first in India as regards both the sportsman - like and business - like way in which all the arrangements are conducted . On their part they are anxious to acknowledge the hearty support and co - operation they have met with on all sides . In particular their thanks are due to that good sports man and hard rider H. H. Sir Waghji , K. C. I. E. , Thakor Sahib of Morvi who has always been a warm supporter of the Cup , and who , though pre vented from attending the meet this year , as there was at one time some hope of his doing , to make his debut in the pigsticking line , sent a most wel come addition to our resources in the shape of a small army of camel sowars , whose services were simply invaluable . We do not think it is generally known that a fund has been formed , by the friends of the late Dr. Tully , in commemoration of his name as a sportsman , the interest of which fund goes to wards the annual subscription to the Guzerat Cup . Colonel Hancock , or in his absence Mr. A. D. Younghusband , C. S. , will be glad to receive sub scriptions from anyone wishing to subscribe . The fund will always be a nucleus for subscriptions to the Cup , and in this manner will be a great assis tance in the future . Among the competitors , we notice the name of our popular Bombay artist and we trust his inva riable good nature will lead to the " Cup Album , " getting the benefit of his pencillings taken during the meet . UNT айдит The MAN WINS AND NOT THE HORSE No doubt about it 40 Yourohustand |
