Back to Album belonging to Colonel F F Colvin 9L (1860-1936). Contains newspaper cuttings and paper ephemera
Photographs
Item 0075
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| Accession number | 912L : 2124/6 |
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| Transcription |
TERBESARAAAAAAR ALDORO EORG The Freebooters The strife was raging hot . had gained a temporary advantage an advantage the 9th were determined should not last long - and were in con sequence bringing all their forces to turn back the wave of aggression . Galloping on and hitting hard , they were gaining ground . Mr. Gordon , who was riding that beauti fully - shaped chesnut pony , to whom I have more than once alluded , was getting on to take his share in the contest when his pony slipped , and faling , rolled clean over , and on him , for the a wo se animal's whole weight appeared to be on the rider , who seemed crashed . But both were up in a jiffey , oth were up in 46 and though for a moment Mr. Gordon must have under gone the unpleasant sensations of being squashed and knocked silly , besides being nearly deprived of his nether garments , after a few minutes ' rest , he mounted another pony , and was ready to begin . Such is the stuff of which our gallant cavalry men are made , who take a toss " as if it were mere child's play . Well , this ended the second period , when the telegraph - board showed the score - 9th Lancers , three goals ; Freebooters , two . The final period I must condense . Space will not permit my following the ball too closely , nor chronicling all the doughty deeds I witnessed . Believe me , not much fault conld be found with either side . It was a regular case of " When Greek meets Greek . Dashing as was the play of the 9th , they were equalled by Captain M'Laren , aud Mr. Grenfell , who were veritable free lances , ever on the look out for a chance to cut in and carry on the ball . At length , after a series of brilliant runs , Captain M'Laren scored a third goal for the Freebooters , and Captain Little , ere the close of time , increased the 9th score to the like extent , leaving the final result - 9th Lancers , four goals ; Free booters , three . It has been my good fortune to see many a good game of polo this season , but for a tight , hard - fought , well - played game , I do not remember seeing one that equalled this . Everyone played in his place , there was no jealous taking on the ball , no occassion for either captain to rebuke an offender for going out of the game . Players and ponies knew their business , and thus gave all spectators a treat , for which I , as a humble unit , tender my sincere thanks . On Wednesday , in very perfect weather , the Royal Dragoons had another trial match against a Hurlingham team , represented by Messrs . J. and A. E. Peat , Mr. F. B. Mildmay , and Captain Barry , but , though they played up well , and managed to get three goals to their credit , Hurlingham won , scoring five . This was followed by a match between the 12th Lancers and the Royal Artillery , whose teams were thus composed : -12th Lancers : Mr J. M. Gordon , Mr. Egerton Green , Captain Atherton , and Mr. J. O. Johnson . Royal Artillery : Captain Porteous , Mr. Powell , Mr. Lecky , and Captain Manifold . The 12th Lancers won by three goals to one , and I am glad to hear Mr. Gordon seemed none the worse for his fall the previous day , and played as well as ever . The entries for the Military Cup exceed those of previous year , and the following have signified their inten tion of entering the lists : -1st Royai Dragoons , Royal Artillery , 4th Hussars , Royal Horse Guards , 8th Hussars , 9th Lancers , 10th Hussars , 12th Lancers , and 14th Hussars . So there ought to be some real good play . any Owing to the rain on Thursday , play was postponed till Saturday , when the Inter - University match takes place at 3 p.m. , to be followed by one between the 9th Lancers and a Hurlingham team . DOOKER . in about ten minutes the 8th Hussars and the 9th Lancers were ready to play off their tie , and these were the teams : 8th HUSSARS . 1. Captain B. T. Mahon 2. Captain C. N. Vesey 3. Captain P. W. Le Gallaist Captain C. E. Duff ( back ) Colours : Green and gold . 9TH LANCERS . 1. Captain W. Jenner 2. Captain F. Colvin 3. Captain Malcolm Little dr Captain J. Lamont ( back ) . Colours : Red and yellow . Umpire : Mr Arthur Peat . Before alluding to play let me say a word or two about the ponies of the 8th Hussars . Though in point of numbers and class they could not come up to those of the 9th Lancers , yet they were a good serviceable lot taken as a whole , and that the 8th should have got together such a good string during the short time they have been back from India , speaks volumes for their energy and good judgment , for a good polo pony is not easily picked up . Do you see these two bay Arabs standing side by side ? They are as like as two peas , in make and shape , and it is only when they are moving that you will note the difference in their action . They are named Mahmoud and the Sheikh , both very appro priate names . Both are nice animals , and know the game , Just by them stands another Arab , a grey - a nice pony , with very springy action and well shaped withal ; but he is simply called " the grey , " and is not dignified by having a name . That black , which is ridden by Captain Duff , will , I am sure , appeal to you for admiration . Strong , compact , and yet with the light , airy forehand so desirable in any horse , no matter for what purpose it may be employed , she shows a deal of quality , and she can both gallop and stay , besides knowing the game well . Her name is Touch - me not , and a somewhat rolling eye with plenty of white in it , justifies her cognomen . That bay , white - faced mare , which Captain Le Gallais is mounting , is Missie , a very true shaped pony , and made on racing lines , with lots of quality . We shall bear more of her some day as a polo pony , I think , but her education is not yet quite perfect . That roan mare that Captain Mahon is to ride is a very strong - built pony , and has capital manners , even if any great turn of speed is lacking in her . Mona , a brown mare , who looks quite of the " cut - and - come - again order , you will also , I am sure , like . And now having passed our criticism and bestowed admiration where it is due , let us get on forward to the game . 53 Captain Colvin is first on to the ball , after the usual pre liminary scrimmage , and rattles down on Belinda , towards the Stables goal , where the 9th soon after hit behind . After being in touch a couple of times Captains Jenner , Little , and Lamont all take the ball on between them , till Captain Little gets an opportunity , and scores for the 9th . Then there is some pretty play . The 8th meet the attack of their adver saries gallantly , and oppose to them a determined front . Yard by yard , however , the 9th fight the ball up to the very confines of the Hussars ' goal . Here there is a great scrimmage . Look at yon struggling mass of ponies , white clad warriors , whirling sticks , and bare arms ! Who is with the clash of sticks , some familiar voice is heard shouting a warning to one of his side ; now some figure , who has been thickest in the meleé , emerges , only to plunge into the fray once more . Yes , it is , indeed , mimic warfare . Over and over the 9th nearly score , but ever the watchful Captain Duff , or one of his side , avert the threatened danger , when to do so seems well - nigh impossible , and at last the 9th only hit behind . Again and again the 8th attempt aggressive tactics , and gallantly do Captains Le Gallais , Vesey , and Mahon lead the van in turn . But the 9th are equally determined , and on every occasion the hostile movement is baffled , the attack nipped in the bud , and they force back their adversaries , becoming in turn the assailants , till , after as hard fought a bout as I ever witnessed , the period ends by Captain Little hitting a goal , and the score stands - 9th Lancers , two goals to love . The second period opens with Captain Jenner and Cap tain Little taking the ball down in very brilliant style , players of the 9th distinguish themselves , and afford a striking proof , a convincing testimony , of the superiority of the combination game , for they play into each other's hands to perfection . Then Captain Vesey , on the Sheikh , thunders down in a well - attempted attack , whilst Captain Jenner tackles him vigorously on Algiers , and as the two Eastern ponies shove and hustle it is a rare sight . But the 8th man is ridden off , and again , after pressing the Sth sorely , the 9th score through the medium of Captain Jenner , who plays a very pretty game . More hustles , more galloping , much hard hitting on both sides , and then a gleam of light breaks on the cloud of defeat that has overshadowed the fortunes of the 8th , for Captain Vesey gets away on the Sheikh , and , making a most brilliant run , scores with the neatest of near - side strokes a feat that is greeted with thunders of applause from the pavilion , for not only was the achievement very spirited , but somehow the sympathies of spectators are ever with the weakest side . This ends the second phase of the game , leaving the score - 9th Hussars , four goals ; 8th , Hussars , The final period was equally well fought out , and there was no diminution of ardour on either side , in fact , if any thing , the 8th fought with still greater ardour . their forwards dash to the front on every available occasion , again did Captain Duff well sustain the reputation he had in India , of being a very safe " back . " Over and over again , when it seemed long odds on the 9th increasing their score , was the game snatched out of the fire , as if by a miracle . But the 9th were too strong in ponies , and , when it came to racing , fairly galloped down their opponents , and though Captain Le Gallais scored another goal for his side , the 9th added two more to their score , thus winning the game by six goals to two . o e . Again did That it was a good game was universally agreed . The play of the 8th was worthy of all admiration , and had circumstances permitted them being better mounted , the issue might have been a very near thing . All honour them for the gallant way in which they fought an up Ilgame . 2 $$ LETTER season , the most important contest of the present Out of the nine teams which entered for the and brilliant company being present . When the start was it rendered the hitting difficult and uncertain The Lancers , £ 70 , the destination of the The match played at Hurlingham this week to decide by scoring six goals to their opponents ' four . -Regimental their favour , while at the call of time they proved victorious Cup , value trophy , the 9th Lancers ( last year's winners ) and the rounds , and great interest was evinced as to the result , a large 1st ( Royal ) Dragoons had survived the preliminary tested , but the recent rain had made the ground so soft that was soon apparent that the game would be stubbornly con made the Lancers defended the goal near the chestnuts . It the score at the first interval standing two goals to one in who were the stronger team , held the advantage throughout , SKETCHES AT THE POLO MATOH FOR THE INTER - REGIMENTAL CUP AT THE HURLINGHAM CLUB , FULHAM . CAPTAIN LITTLE MAKES A C000 RUN FOR THE NINTH Cuttebert Bradley " ) WHO - WHOOP ! THE NINTH HAVE WON ! " 7 He 14-1 1.J AL ONE OF CAPTAIN LAMONT'S TELLING BACK HANDERS THE ROYALS WERE THE FIRST TO GET AWAY WITH THE BALL h |
