Back to Album belonging to Colonel F F Colvin 9L (1860-1936). Contains newspaper cuttings and paper ephemera
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Item 0035
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| Accession number | 912L : 2124/6 |
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1884 THE INTER - REGIMENTAL POLO TOURNAMENT . [ FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT . ] UMBALLA , 31st March . THE month of March has seen quite a polo jubilee at Umballa . I have already sent you ao counts of the Infantry and Native Cavalry tournaments , and I have now to present your readers with a few details of the several matches in this the more important contest . The absence of the 10th Hussars ' team was not the least conspicuous feature of this tour nament . The sympathy of all who have wit nessed the splendid contests held at these tour naments has been not only with the 10th , who have had to leave India almost on the eve of the tournament , and without being afforded an op portunity of regaining the Cup they lost last year , but is extended also to another splendid regiment that has taken a distinguished part and had a close struggle for the Cup on three previ ous occasions , but owing to the breaking up of its team , due to the exigencies of the service , has not been able to be present this year ; I refer to the Rifle Brigade . Subsequent to the publication of the seven teams that had entered , an eighth was added , that of the 2nd Regiment , Central India Horse . This gallant team , which is facile princeps in the Bombay Presidency , where , by the way , polo hardly flourishes to perfection , very plucki ly elected to come up to the centre of polo and give battle to the champion teams , by entering for the Native Cavalry contest , and also for the Inter - regimental Cup . Mr. Hughes - Buller , of this regiment , has had the advantage of some months ' residence in Umballa during the past year and has profited vastly by practice there . Indeed , there is no better player in any team than him , and , as I have before said , without him his team would be weak . Besides the eight entries , the Rifle Brigade and the Royal Artillery from Bar eilly subscribed to this season's Cup . A new team with that of the O. I. H. was that of the 17th Lancers , who also came up to this side of India from the Bombay side and were cordially welcomed . Having only recently come off a long march and been without practice , they had the additional misfortune of being drawn in a tie with the 9th Lancers ' first team , and were early expunged from the competition lists . They , however , played other private matches and showed themselves in good form . Next year they promise to be a dangerous factor in the tournament , and mean to spare no money to mount themselves . If any change MOTY observable in the teams , I think it was that as a whole they were more powerful than those that have played before . I may especially instance the Carabineers , 8th Hussars and 13th Hussars , and the King's Own Borderers . The whole of these teams played infinitely better this year than they did last and previous years . The 9th also have not only im . proved , but have extended their excellence to such a degree that the whole regiment has been in fused with it , and to the surprise of many they brought two teams in place of a single one , and for the quality of both one need only refer to the match between them . Yet this is not all ; the regiment could have brought a third team of almost equal merit to the front . On the afternoon of the 23rd instant there was the usual parade of the ponies of the 8 teams , con sisting of about 200 very fine specimens of polo ponies , and the sight of these was enough to bring tears into the eyes of polo enthusiasts as the re flection could not fail to force itself on them that the great polo pony supplying province - the Pun jab - will soon have no more ponies . Under the encouragement given to breeders all of them are going in for mule produce , and the country - bred tattoo will soon be an extinct species . I can add nothing to the details of each of the matches given below . All are agreed that the one between the two teams of the 9th Lancers was the best game they have witnessed at any of the tourna ments . Even those who saw the close match last year between the 9th Lancers and 10th Hussars may be assured that this one was quite as good . A meeting has been held in regard to the tour nament for next year , and it has been decided to hold it at Meerut on the 9th March 1885 , and Captain Fell , of the 8th Hussars , is to take up the Honorary Secretary ship in place of Major the Hon'ble H. Legge , who resigns after conducting two tournaments to a most successful issue and earning golden opinions for his courtesy and tact . FIRST TIES . First game , morning , 24th March . 9th Lancers ( first team ) versus 17th Lancers . Maj . B. Gough ( back ) | Captain Neeld . Mr. Cameron ( back . ) * Jenner . Mr. Herbert ( back . ) Renton ( back . ) D'Aguilar . Colvin . Won by 9th Lancers by 10 goals to 2. The 17th Lancers , who have but recently arrived at their destination , Lucknow , after a long march , and have besides not had the advantage hitherto of playing with good teams , were unfortunate in being drawn with such a strong team as the 9th Lancers . They , however , played a most plucky game , but the 9th had not much difficulty in se curing their advantages , and rapidly ran their score up to ten against the 17th Lancers ' two when time was called . Messrs . Jenner and Cameron played splendidly . 340 evening , 24th March . versus 13th Hussars . Captain Braithwaite . Mr. MacDougall . LG Second game , 8th Hussars Captain Fell . Mr. Vesey . Burn.ona Duff . 1.₂ Smithson . McLaren . Won by 8th Hussars by 4 goals to 2. This was a very even and well contested game for the first half period of play , during which the two sides secured a goal . each . Soon after the half time the 13th got a second goal , and in ten minutes later the 8th equalised the score add ing one more goal to their score . Twelve minutes elapsed before any further result , when another goal fell to the 8th , and just before final time was called the 8th made a fourth goal ; the game concluding in favour of the 8th by 4 goals to 2 . 33 93 39 11 Third game , morning , 25th March . 9th Lancers ( second team ) versus King's Own Borderers . minthe a 000 Capt . Lord W. Beresford . Major Scott Chisholme . Mr. Little . Duff . " } Captain Hallowes . Jones . Mr. G. N. Mayne . J. Reid . first goal was got by the 9th after nine minutes ' play , and before the game had lasted 20 minutes they got a second goal . Play proceeded evenly for another 16 minutes , on the termination of which the 9th secured a third goal , and no other results were obtained till , when close upon the conclusion of the hour's play , the 9th scored their fourth goal . It was a very fast and exciting game ; both being local teams , and having a large share of sympathy on each side , every changing feature in the play was watched with increasing interest . For the K. O. B.'s Messrs . Gordon and Reid played splendidly , while Messrs . Little and Duff elicited much applause for their brilliant play , and both supported each other splendidly all through . 99 ,, L. Gordon . R. Taylor . 3 . Fourth game , evening , 25th March . The Carabineers versus 2nd Regiment Central India Horse . Captain Masters . Mr. Hughes - Buller . " Daly . 39 Mr. Owen . Beddy . " Watson . Resulted in a tie with 2 goals all . The first goal was got by the Carabineers three minu tes after play commenced , and in another sixteen minutes the C. I. H. scored a goal . Nothing was added to either score for the next half hour , but after that lapse of time the C. I. H. scored a second goal , and their example was quickly followed by the Carabineers , who within another five minutes of play brought up their score to 2. During the remainder of the game play was very even , and finally , when time was called , the game stood 2 all . It was decided to play off the tie on Wednesday evening . Fifth game , evening , 26th March . The same teams met to play off the tie . The Carabineers played better together than on the previous evening and succeeded in scoring two goals during the hour's play , and the tie was decid ed in favour of the Carabineers by 2 goals to love . Captain Masters and Mr. Hughes - Buller play ed well for their side . Captain Masters ex cited much curiosity by his peculiar style of play , holding his stick in either hand according as the ball was on his right or left hand . Captain Hallowes " half back . " and Mr. Owen " back , " played particularly well SECOND TIES . roo tn nlan the 8th These were drawn after the tie between the Carabineers and Central India Horse , when it was decided whichever Hussars . The two tea ing drawn together we of the 27th , and the mi though there was some hoped the two teams against others , and th playing the final matc been the case , provide last . But the spectato sure being anticipated First game , ma 9th Lancers ( first teat t Won by first tean was one of the mos played games ever w son's tournament . A tators , including all numerous visitors , a to witness this matc time previous excite gan at 10 minutes immediately carried in of the ground and kep utes , and in the succee team returned the co to the opposite side , b any result . After cl team succeeded in ( minutes of the ball usual interval play pro the ball was never c moving about pretty ground , the backs ( splendidly , and neve tacks allowing the b It was altogether a hour's play and unp polo . Of course it wa ponies . Ponies were playing for six mint a goal . The exciteme at its highest pitch game with the grea continued for 27 m of ponies , during whi tained any advantag called the score sto was then decided minutes , and after an struggle Mr. Colvin s a minute of time bei victory for the first t drove the ball throu play of the two forwa of the second team , repeated applause fr fully equal to the for match with the Kir Chisholme's back pl support to his side . and played with his ly supported the effe while he was ever h from the attacks of play of the first tea dividually was simply select any particula individual playing hi side to admiration . T is the so the shame à sorrows For soldier's Class Jour name is ours to remember , from our craven & cheggioh eles your honou Mly & wake and rally , slup воло 25 keep ! nour is ours 15 . jonne ang To wake to the chame Jame theus There Lifting on the face of the silentéky ! TT All that you died to ( 1 ) 781 میله 3 Hussars were to be declared the winners as the score then stood for no further advantanas the harrest we have Breap ! feel . ve are slaves no MSC Ronger , But strong as the brave speci And be , in the land gosschiedsa , the All to the chame a corros The you would have us be ! B & S to sare ! سه one The collision that occurred at one period of game between Messrs . Cameron and Little , in which the latter's pony fell , very fortunately with out injury to his rider , resulted in a foul being by the Umpires . The second team , in virtue of claimed by the second team which was allowed ) this , obtained a free hit from the spot where the ponies also at different periods of the game fell foul occurred . Major Gough's and Mr. Duff's with them , but fortunately without any harm . The victory of the first team was received with sympathies of the majority during the play were great applause , yet it was no secret that the with the second team .. Second game , evening , 27th March . The Carabineers versus 8th K. R. I. Hussars . Resulted in a tie with two goals all . Soon a busy time of it , the Carabineers scored the after play commenced , and after the ball had had another half - hour's play , when the 8th , after some first goal . Play continued very even for about fine play , succeeded in placing the ball between their adversaries ' flags . The game had not con tinued for ten minutes when the 8th added an other goal to their score . The play now became very brisk on both sides and there was some excellent individual play , Mr. Beddy , Carabi neers , especially obtaining a capital run for near ly the whole length of the ground . During the latter part of the game it looked as if the 8th need no blagon ما ( fron seara ) As the as your name is spoken , facing We are stirred by евая men will have strength to die ! TV We want to watch word Buisseas one of the faithful few ! no To bid us be strong again , As long as the flay . If CHAMA Shall us carry Alagon of glory . من ہوتے England , och stair ! VEC w The stranger won the cup .. the cup in hand , started , the jeweller after him . Cabby ( with surprise ) : " A shillin ' , sir ? Why , it's more'n two mile ! " Fare ( calmly ) : " No , it's only a mile and three quarters ; but you were an awful time over it with that old screw of yours . " Cabby ( with indignation : " Screw is he , guvenor ! Well , then , I'm blest if I haven't been driving a pair of them , and no mistake ! " gow no battle cry ! forget that we left you weety . lonely , an nakeſon fate with her flaring wreher , talent lie 2020 Sheep , & be still , greès - eodier , should we weep zo zon ! Amongst the hordes of the faithles , muy A السماته 14 a sélent vitness . Premember that England Cones Jow , Indy the came too late ! G.R. Payou 18285 - - |
