Back to Album belonging to Colonel F F Colvin 9L (1860-1936). Contains newspaper cuttings and paper ephemera Photographs

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Accession number 912L : 2124/6
Transcription Lieute
isworth ,
ins , W. P. rrison , J. C. oir , P.
Ussher , E.
Adjt . Crabble , J. ,
R.M. Webb , A. , ho
Q.M. Steele , W. 8. ,
JULY 15 , 1893 .
HURLINGHAM .
9TH LANCERS .
1. Captain C. Bishop
2. Captain Malcolm Little
3. Captain G. Colvin
Major Lamont ( back ) . Colours Yellow and red .
INNISKILLING DRAGOONS .
1. Mr. F. A. B. Fryer
2. Captain C. H. Paynter
3. Mr. Neil Haig
Captain M. F. Rimington ( back ) .
Colours : Red , green , and yellow .
Umpires : Mr. A. E. Peat and Captain Barry . The 9th Lancers ' string comprises a dozen ponies , all more or less well - known . Captain Bishop has Algiers and Promissory Note ; Captain Little , Cambridge , Happy Lad , and Fie - Fie ; Captain Colvin , Belinda , Meg Merrilees , and the three - cornered white barb , Bunny ; and Major Lamont , Pharaoh , Tangiers , and The Barb . The Inniskillings , you see , have a dozen , of which Captain Rimington's lot includes one brown and two bay mares , viz . , Eileen , Butcha , and Ladybird ; Captain Paynter's Venus , a bay Arab , and Ishmael ; Mr. Haig's The Bard , Pilot , and Applepie ; and Mr. Fryer's Biddy Tralee , Sister Mary , and a chestnut mare .
Then a steel - shod rush , and the stirrup's ring , And a crash of stick staves splintering ,
And the billowy battle blended .
Some scrimmaging and an attack made by the Innis killings opened the second period , but Major Lamont's defence was too strong to be easily forced . Vainly did the heavy horsemen shout - nay , roar words of encouragement to each other - they could make little impression on their antagonists , and the battle went against them when a mistake gave them a free hit . It came about thue . The Inniskillings were keeping up a strong and combined attack , and Mr. Haig was in p session of the ball , when Major Lamont shot right across his bows . You , of all men , sir , should not have laid yourself open to the charge of " crossing , " and had not your adversary pulled up , the consequence of the impact must have been serious , to you certainly , to him possibly , and the umpire's decision that you fouled was upheld by all of us onlookers . The free hit gained thus by the Inniskillings aided them little beyond landing the ball over the 9th's goal line , and then came the turn of the light horse , for , after Captain Little had manoeuvred the ball very prettily , Major Lamont came up into the game and scored , a feat which Captain Colvin soon after emulated . On ends being changed , and the teams were clustering in a sharp scuffle under the Walnut Tree , once more the cry of " Foul ! " arose from the ranks of the Inniskillings , and the game was stopped . The exact details of the incident , and who the offender and who the offended , matters but little , but it was a knotty point evidently from the time the argument lasted , and the umpires could not agree , so " time was taken often , and the matter referred to Lord Harrington , who , after hearing both sides of the question , gave his decision in favour of the Inniskillings , an opinion which was endorsed by two polo players who were sitting close to where the incident occurred . The Inniskillings chose to exact as penalty a free hit , and though the shot was a long and difficult one , so well did Captain Rimington smite the ball goalwards that Captain Paynter had no difficulty in scoring . Nothing is more encouraging than success , no matter what the game we play , and so , flusued with the advantage gained , the Inviskillings once more bore up in attack . Full of dash and go was their onslaught , and one of Captain Rimington's hit very fine , for it landed the ball perilously close to the 9th's goal . But Major Lamont was equal to the occasion , for , making a flank movement , he took it out of dangerous ground , and then - well , I can best describe the contest by borrowing ( with slight alterations ) from Lindsay Gordon .
Riot of ponies , revel of blows ,
And fierce , flush'd faces of fighting foes , From croup to bridle , that reeled and rose In a sparkle of stick - play splendid .
PTA
" }
And the end a goal hit by Captain Paynter . Score 9th Lancers , three goals to two . ke tan This brings me to the last act of the play , for soon in clouds of dust the fight was once more raging fiercely , and with perhaps unnecessary venom , for methinks I heard both hot words and saw sticks being used in a manner for which they were not intended by two warriors , somewhat suggestive of Donnybrook Fair . Was this attributable to one gallant corps OwLing to an Irish title and to the other having come from the Emerald Isle ? The excuse , though feeble , is the only one I can find . I speak in no puritanical mood , but , gentlemen , this should not be ; if you cannot play polo without losing your tempers and letting fly strong language , renounce the game , and become candidates for some Hibernian constituency ; there you will be in your element and have plenty of opportunity for giving rein to your tongues , and free play to your arms . But spare us such unseemliness at Hurlingham , particularly when ladies are present . But to resume . There was plenty of galloping , and , though the Inniskillings ' " forwards were not very strong , the fine play and strong hitting of Captain Rimington and Mr. Haig materially aided them in showing a determined front to their antagonists , till , at length , Major Lamont on Tangiers , slipping his field , made a very brilliant run , and only failed to score by the ball bumping and causing him to miss his last stroke . Some neat and finished play by Captain Colvin on Belinda - you know how the pair are ever where they are wanted and a smart bit of dribbling by Captain Bishop on Algiers at length placed the ball favourably for Captain Little , who scored . On ends being changed , the Inniskillings still abated not their efforts , and a bold dash , made by Mr. Haig , placed the ball behind the 9th's goal line , but his comrades , with the shadow of defeat upon them , played a rather loose game , and got out of their places - in fact , I fancy demoralisation was responsible for the way Captain Rimington not only " crossed " Mr. Haig , but also This " foul " was taken advantage of by the 9th by making their opponents take the ball back , and hit out from their own goal line . Some up and - down play , during which Captain Paynter took an ugly fall as Ishmael came down with him , ended in Captain Colvin scoring ; and though , for the few remain ing moments of play , the Inniskillings fought with the energy of despair , all they could do was to force the 9th to hit ehind in self - defence , and a good game ended in the victory of the 9th Lancers by five goals to
wo .
Much as we all noticed the improvement , both in play and discipline , shown by the Inniskillings of late , few of us were prepared for the brilliant and dashing attack with which they opened the game , and which resulted in their twice hitting behind the 9th's goal line . Deter mined not to be caught napping , the latter then assumed the offensive , and , in spite of some very smart near side strokes made by Mr. Haig and Captain Rimington's good defence , they twice hit behind . Then there was some sharp warfare , in which the Inniskillings acquitted themselves right well , and proved that the veteran 9th had to do with no unworthy foemen . More than once Captain Little , on Cambridge , made one of his bold rushes , in which he was emulated by Captain Paynter , whilst in open order warriors wheeled hither and thither , and the shouts of battle rang loud - rather unnecessarily loud at times . You might have noted , too , how quickly those good ponies Cambridge and Algiers can turn , and laid to heart the advantage of being mounted on an active pony . But the 9th had the best of the fight , and after Captain Little and Major Lamont had both had shots at goal which only just missed the posts , the former came with a rush and scored . But , oh ! Inniskillings , where were your eyes ? Your opponent was distinctly off - side when he hit the ball , and I think one if not both of the umpires will bear me out in this assertion . But you appealed not , and so lost a point . Score - 9th Lancers , Captain Little . so lost one goal to love .
9TH LANCERS .
1. Captain C. Bishop 2. Captain Malcolm Little
3. Captain G. Colvin Major Lamont ( back ) .
LORD C. BENTINCK ON " JOEY " ( Back , 9th Lancers ) .
MR . D. G. M. CAMPBELL ( No. 1 9th Lancers ) .
17TH LANCERS .
1. Mr. W. H. Tilney
2. Captain H. Fortescue
3. Mr. B. Portal
Captain W. G. Renton ( back ) . Umpires : Captain Barry and Mr. A. E. Peat . The ground now terribly cut up , and more resembling a ploughed field than anything else , was responsible for play being rather slow at first , but the 17th were the first to attack , till Captain Colvin , on Belinda , worked the ball down well , aided by Captain Little , who , on Cam bridge , played brilliantly , in spite of the 17th , No. 2 using his head freely as a battering - ram in a hustle . Assaulted thus on one side by Captain Fortescue , and ridden off on the other by Captain Renton , he had to give way , but a comrade in the person of Captain Colvin was handy , and taking on the ball he had a shot at goal . This went wide , however , and there were some smart -rallys , in which both sides fought right well .. Then Captain Renton's stick broke , and his too faithful henchman ran out to furnish his master with a fresh weapon .
I feel bouud to protest against this practice . The rules lay down distinctly that when a player's stick breaks he must ride to the side of the ground for a fresh one , yet how often do we see the rule broken ? This was very noticeable during the match between the 17th and 12th on Monday , when an enthusiastic and stalwart field officer of the former gallant corps was seen doing " a best on record , " top - hatted and frock coated , with two sticks in his hand behind the fighting line and in the middle of the ground . His esprit de corps is to be admired , but trop de zèle is open at times to rebuke , and this was one of the latter occasions . But to resume , soon Captain Colvin nipped out of a scuffle and hit a neat goal , and after ends were changed a really brilliant run made by Captain Fortescue , on Laddie , whom even Major Lamont and Tangiers - arcades ambo -could not stop , resulted in Mr. Tilney , on Johnnie , coming with a rattle and scoring a magnificent goal for the 17th .
Then the night went on with varying fortune . Mr. Tilney played a most dashing game ; Captain Colvin was ever busy , while Mr. Portal hit some capital backhanders on Sweetheart , and then an attack made by the 9th ended in Major Lamont having a shot at goal ; but the ball went wide , the bell rang , and the score stood one goal all .
Renton is
The second period was a hard - fought one , but , before attempting a description of it , I may mention that the 9th played two fresh ponies , for Captain Bishop was mounted on Quicksilver , and Captain Colvin on Loyalty , both grey Arabs of the highest caste , and late the property of Captain Carew , 7th Hussars , who brought them home from India . On the ball being hit out , Mr. Portal on Star soon got in possession , and you could not have failed to admire his excellent hitting and the way he took the ball up the ground on Star . But there goes Captain Little on Cambridge to stop him . Gallop , good ponies , gallop . The click of stick meeting ball is , I warrant , as , sweet music to your ears as it is to your two masters ; you too , feel the delirium of strife , as , with outstretched to you in and sweep on locked level . Ah , ' tis a gallant sight , but the 17th man won't be ridden off till , the ball hanging under the boards , he misses it . Up surges the fight ; the 17th are playing with real venom , and soon Captain Fortescue , on The Ghost , has a sitting shot at goal . But he misses , the 9th rapidly change defence into attack , and so the game goes on , whilst Captain king every opportunity to bother his opposing No. 1 and put him off - side . At length the fine generalship of Major Lamont - what a good " back " he is ! -and the Rupert - like rushes of Captain Little so pressed the 17th that in trying a flank move ment Captain Renton by accident hit behind his own goal line . This error was , however , atoned for by the admirable manner in which he soon after saved his goal by stopping the ball with his stickin mid - air , and then , during a scuffle near the walnut tree , an unfortunate accident happened , for Mr. Tilney got such an ugly gash on his forehead from a too freely - swung stick , wielded I believe , either himself or one of his own side that he had to retire from the fray , and Mr. Nickalls after some delay took his place , or rather I should say played No. 1 , for Mr. Nickalls performed the duties cf No. 2 , and soon after play re - commenced the latter had a fruitless shot at goal . Once more the 9th assumed the offensive , and once more I have to chronicle an accident , for Major Lamont's pony - I forget whether it was The Barb or Pharaoh - came down , and the game was stopped . But it was soon in full swing again , and after Captain Renton had once saved his goal well on its very verge , Captain Colvin nipped into a scuffle and scored . This ended the period , and the score 9th Lancers , two goals , 17th Lancers , one goal , was hoisted on the board .
The final period opened with some desultory play till the 9th made a vigorous attack , during which Captain Renton's tactics were open to criticism . May be it was an error of judgment on his part , may be the ball did not travel in the direction he intended , but his back hander placed the ball right in front of his own goal , and it was the sheerest good luck that it did not fall in the subsequent scrimmage that took place . At length Mr. Portal on Sweetheart came to the rescue , and took the ball down well till it went out of play . Then Captain Little on that smart little mare Fie - Fie , made a dart , and Captain Renton trying a flank movement hit behind his own goal line by accident . Following up his hit out Captain Renton , on Cuença , took the ball on bravely , and no two knights in tournay could have met each other more fairly and un dauntedly than the 9th and 17th " backs . " Clash went their sticks as they met in mid career , but neither lost his weapon , and then Major Lamont and Tangiers sailed on with the ball and hit behind . Now I have a little story to tell illustrative of how useful a bit of " bluffing " may be at times , and the necessity of a player not being deceived by it . The 17th led by Captain Fortescue on The Cid , and Mr. Portal on Sweetmeat , had developed a smart attack , till friend and foe swept past the ball ; Mr. Nickalls was quickest round , and had a clear field before him and a good start when the cry " offside " arose . He was no more " offside " than you or'I , my friends , and the umpires shouted , " Go on ! " But suspicion had been aroused . Mr. Nickalls left the ball , and though Captain Renton tried to atone for his comrade's mistake , and made a rush on Cuença , he was foiled . Moral : When in doubt go on with the ball until the umpire's whistle stops you . For a space the fight was sharp , as the ball zig - zagged across the ground ; still , the pace was slow , for ponies were tiring , and at length , after the 9th had once hit behind , Captain Little on Cambridge scored . Some three minutes of play now remained , but
as a last resource Captain Renton changed the disposition of is forces , going up himself as No. 2 , and relegating th duties of back " to Mr. Nickalls . The change came too
lat , however , to have any very practical result , the cloud of efeat had settled too closely over the gallant 17th , and though they had the best of the fight till the call of tir e , all they could do was to hit behind . The 6th La cers thus won a hard and well fought game by three goals to one . And what think you , when I add that during nearly the whole of this period Major Lamont was playing with the forefinger of his right hand broken ! A rare instance of soldier pluck , and I commend the incident to Mr. H. C. Bentley as fit subject for an ode .
OLD MAIDS AND BACHELOR'S
BALL , CARLOW , AUGUST 10TH 1893
ESSEX & SUFFOLK HUNT 6x BALL . Xe
TOWN HALL , IPSWICH .
1x1
DECEMBER 7TH , 1893 .
ON
NCE MORE THE OLD POLO RIVALS , the 9th Lancers and 10th Hussars , were destined to mee
in the final tie for the soldiers ' coveted trophy , and the fact aroused such excitement that , in - spite of threaten ing skies , there was an enormous crowd at Hurlingham last Saturday . Fourteen coaches were ranged up on the flank of the lawn , which was thronged many rows deep , whilst on the pavilion roof spectators were crammed like herrings in a barrel . Everywhere one caught the words " 9th " or " 10th , " and it was very evi dent that both sides were warmly supported . Play was to have begun at 4 p.m. , but as H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge , who was to present the Cup to the winners , was prevented from coming till considerably later , and wished to see the whole of the match no slight compliment and a fact that augurs well for the future of military polo - - we had a full hour to wait , and ample opportunity to discuss the merits of the rival teams . The 9th were , I think , the favourites , for were they not surrounded with the halo of prestige , and been thrice winners of the cup before ? Yet against this had to be placed the fact that they had lost the services of their brilliant " back , " Major Lamont , that Captain the Hon . Claude Willoughby had risen from a sick bed , whither he had been confined by a bad fall , and come over post haste from Ireland , and that Captain Bishop was playing with a sprained ankle . A severe handicap , you will admit , and yet how gallantly they played , how thoroughly they showed the result of regimental polo discipline , and what a lesson more than one young polo player must have learnt as he watched them !
At length , after a weary wait , and just as the rain began - for even in this abnormally dry summer Jupiter Pluvius insisted , as he has so often before , in sending down some smart thunder showers - the following teams formed up as the band of the ( 4th Royal Irish ) Dragoons struck up the first notes of the " Argandat " March : 10TH HUSSARS .
1. Lord George Scott 2. Captain C. T. McM . Kavanagh
3. Lord William Bentinck Hon . T. W. Brand ( back ) . Colours : Red , black , and
white .
9TH LANCERS.j
1. Captain Malcolm Little 2. Captain C. Bishop
3. Captain George Colvin Captain Hon . Claude Willoughby ( back ) . Colours : Red and yellow .
Umpires : Mr. A. E. Peat and Captain Barry .
In a blinding shower the game began , and out of the preliminary scrimmage Captain Colvin , on Belinda , was the first to show up . Right soundly he smacked the ball to his " forwards , " but Captain Bishop missed his stroke , and , as the rain poured down , Lord William Bentinck and the Hon . T. W. Brand rapidly turned defence into attack , and drove the ball towards the stable goal . Watching a game and taking notes under a dripping umbrella is no easy task , and besides , I felt those qualms of conscience gene rated from sitting down whilst ladies behind me were standing . But what was on to do under the cir cumstances ? Duty insisted on my being in a position to view the game properly , and besides , Mesdames , I hope that my unworthy body kept off some moisture from your lovely toilettes . Let this plead as an excuse for my apparent ungallantry , and now let me tell you what I saw . There was some very smart hitting , in which forward drives and backhanders were delivered with equal vigour and accuracy by both teams - a misty , wheeling throng and turning ponies , with many deeds of valour , in which Captain Little and the Hon . T. W. Brand were the heroes of the moment . Then , as the 10th rushed up in - attack , Lord William Bentinck lost his stick . Captain Bishop rode off his opposing " back , " and quickly turn ing defence into attack , the 9th swept up . One short , sharp scuffle in front of the chestnuts ' goal , and then " Whoo whoop ! " rang out as Captain Little scored , whilst a thundering cheer of applause rose from the regiment's partisans - and they were not few . Still the rain poured down , and the lightning flashed as , on ends being changed , the 9th attacked the ball was thrown in . A judicious flank movement made by the Hon . T. W. Brand foiled this for the moment , and the ball , going over the boards , gave both sides a moment's breathing time . Sticky play , Mr. Cynic ? Well , perhaps it had not been very fast , but go you , my friend , and do better when reins and stick handle are slippery and wet ; brace your nerves to play a fast game when the ground is cut up , and ponies slithering about , and if you can do better , why , I'll eat my hat ; but , until you can play better than these warriors , hold your tongue and fling not reproach at them . Ah ! it is so easy to criticise , but to do better than what we find fault with how difficult ! Look there as players thunder across the ground after a ball well driven by the Hon . T. W. Brand , till it goes out . Not good polo , say you ? Bah ! I won't argue with you , man , if you cannot make allowances for some diffi culties and cast a lenient eye on some mistakes . But I question if even your vaunted superiority would have been equal to that grand attempt at goal made by
as
soon as