IN THE RING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3358, 26 October 1911, Page 5

IN THE RING.

SOME GOOD STOCK. The whole tenor of the horse competitions was, in the opinion of a wellknown breeder, much more satisfactory than on the first day. For some unassignable reason many ot the animals which baulked consistently at the jumps on the first day went over the sticks with apparent ease yesterday. This was, however, not a general characteristic of the competitions for many hunters of repute baulked or ran off badly just when they were required to be at their best. The open jumping competition attracted some forty entrants, butabout one-third of the number failed to make good at the first jump, and were withdrawn. Mr W. D. S. MacDonald's Brown W., in whose favor the judges decided, attracted much attention from tliQ spectators on account of his easy leaping. Mr J. Sweeney's roan gelding, Silver Shell, also jumped neatly. A hunter who was conspicuous in tlie same class was Mr W. Allen’s aged bay gelding Te Karaka, who clear- y

eel the brush fence with-about a foot to spare, but lost points in other directions. With a few exceptions all hunters competing showed a, lack o schooling, and this was a point on uhich some of the judges commented . Some fine beasts came forward in the harness classes, and a vane y paces were Mr F.. B- * ker’s grey gelding Nobby, which . first place 'in the class for single harness over 15.1 and under 16 hands, uas the object of much admiration, and a regret freely expressed was that the district did not contain moie of stamp. Sonic very smartly got up vehicles and horses entered the ring 1 which the spring cart classes were being .judged, and notable among these were the entries of the Gisborne Slieepfarmers’ Frozen Meat Co., which carried off unite a number of the prizes. In the instance of the competition for best twohorse lorries, they carried off first, second and third prizes, and in other classes secured first and second prizes. The class for the host tradesman s turnout was well supported by entries, and the win of Messrs Machell and Russell was well deserved. ~ Of the hackney classes perhaps that for troop horses was of greatest interest to the onlookers. The entry was fair and the animals and efficiency or the riders were subjected to a thorough try out before the judges awarded first prize to Sergeant W. L. Coleman s cream mare Jenny. The points separating the first and second prize winners in the class tor best weight-carrying hacks, 14 to lo hands were evidently very few, for it required an examination extending over twenty minutes before the judges satisfied themselves as to which was the better of the two animals. The win of Mrs. F. B. Barker’s Majestic in the classes for best- ladies’ hack and champion hacks were most popular and the son of Cracksliot received an ovation when the decoration of champion was conferred upon him. The award of the riband for' champion entire to Mr G. Carrington s Gazelv, by Grey Leg out of Lygia, m the face of the rivalry of the well-known sires Coker’s Empress, Imperial Prince, Battleaxe and Diabolo, was very popularly received, and the champion received another ovation a little earlier when proclaimed the winner of the best thoroughbred entire class. In like manner ilr -J. P. Gordon’s Royal Favorite was awarded the blue riband in the draught stallion entire classes both as champion and best entire any age. The champion is a capable looking horse, and is such as will undoubtedly produce some rseful prodengy. With reference to the horses entered for the competition for best entire calculated to improve the breed of weightcarriers, the judge, Mr McNiven, remarked that in themselves they were good—exceedingly good l —but were not of a. stamp which would do much towards the successful breeding of weight carriers.

In the draught classes Mr James Brunton won outright the challenge cup value £lO 10s, presented by Mr Geo. Witters, vice-president, to be won outright by the exhibitor winning the most points in the draught horse classes in the years 1009, 1910, and 1911. Strange to say, the entries throughout the draught classes were inclined to be meagre, and more than once only the numerical equivalent to the awards was reached by the entries. The pageant of prizewinners in the grand parade, which took place during the afternoon, was the signal for undivided attention to what was going on in the ring. The grand stands were crowded, and the immediate environs of the ring were lined by people ranging three and four deep. On the signal being given, the entire Gazely, hearing the champion’s riband, entered the ring, followed by several other well-known blood horses. Following these came !he 1 and 2-year-old thoroughbreds, after which came the pony entires, saddle entires, carriage entires, hunters, coachers, and yearling hackneys. Thereafter followed draught entires and mares, Shorthorn, Polled Angus, # Hereford, Ayrshire, Jersey and Holstein cattle. A fine, exhibition of prize winners in harness classes for horses followed, and about thirty vehicles turned out. After traversing the ring the whole procession was drawn up in lines facing the pavilion, where they remained for a- few minutes before dispersing.