SPORT the 7th Dragoon Guards selected a course at Brook, near Wye ; the Shorncliffe Drag Hunt were at Brabourne ; and the 20th Hussars at Pestling. At each of these functions the usual features, regimental, farmers', and open races, were on the card. The East Kent Hunt in recent years have chosen Smeeth for their point-to-point meeting, whereas the West Kent adopt the perpipatetic principle, Kemsing being the venue in 1906 and Leigh in 1907. The Eridge meetings, held on Easter Monday, are chiefly associated with followers of the West Kent, and the names of many well known amateur riders figure in the Calendar returns. Two owners of Derby winners^ Mr. J. W. Larnach and the late Sir James Miller — have been successful over the Eridge country, and two well known horsemen of the present day — Mr. George Thursby and Mr. H. M. Ripley — have been seen on winning horses. The Mid-Kent Stag Hunt holds a point-to-point meeting annually at Ulcombe. By far the most important gathering in Kentish hunting circles in recent years was that brought to a successful issue near Eden- bridge on 20 April 1907. The Old Surrey Hunt, in conjunction with the East Kent, Eridge, Burstow, South Union, Crawley and Horsham, West Kent, and Tickham Foxhounds, Mid-Kent and Surrey Stag- hounds and West Kent Harriers, joined forces with the members of the Stock Exchange, whose annual steeplechases were included in a strong programme of Inter-Hunt and farmers' races. As may be imagined, the attendance at Mowshurst, the chosen country, was a remarkable one, and a splendid afternoon's sport ensued. Although a trifle holding, the going, which was over 3J miles of capital grass land, was better than had been experienced for some time pre- viously. The first event, the Stock Ex- change Light Weight Challenge Cup, went to Mr. L. R. Carr's Warwick (owner up), which only beat Mr. J. E. Steven's Larry by half a length. Next came a light-weight steeplechase confined to Old Surrey sub- scribers, and here the successful horse was Captain E. H. Trotter's Khalifa II (owner riding). There were only three competitors for the Stock Exchange Heavy Weight Chal- lenge Cup, but Mr. G. N. Murton's Ballin- keele, which had won the Cup in 1906 and had just previously finished eighth in the National Hunt Steeplechase, frightened away nearly all opposition and won easily. Mr. H. W. Boileau's Glencoe and Napper Tandy were ist and 3rd respectively for the Old Surrey Heavy Weight Steeplechase, but the winner had hard work to shake off Mr. C. Leveson Gower's Utility, which only suc- cumbed by a neck. The Tenant Farmers' Steeplechase was marred by a nasty accident which necessitated the destruction of one of the runners. The winner, Mr. A. Haw- kins' Chittenden Lass, was skilfully handled by Mr. Slyfield, a well known follower of local hunts. A big field mustered for the concluding event, an Inter-Hunt Sweep- stake for horses owned by subscribers to any of the hunts concerned in the day's sport, by officers quartered in Kent, and by tenant farmers within the boundaries of the various hunts. Mr. A. N. Watts, riding his own horse Starlight, beat by two lengths another animal of the same name, ridden by Mr. E. Shackle, but owned by Lord Hardinge, who, on Car- low, was one of the unplaced competitors. Mr. H. W. Boileau, the popular master of the Old Surrey Hunt, during the afternoon entertained no fewer than 600 farmers and friends, and from start to finish the whole proceedings went with a rare swing, testifying strongly to the popularity of the various packs represented. The gathering will long rank as one of the most memorable in the annals of point-to-point races held within the county, and it is to be hoped that the venture will be often repeated. DRAGHOUNDS The county can only boast of one Drag Hunt, the Royal Artillery, but this pack is one of the oldest in the kingdom. It was established by Veterinary Surgeon-Major Thacker, R.A., in 1866, three years after the famous Household Brigade Drag Hunt, which appears to have been the first of its kind. The pack hunts in various parts of Kent and also occasionally goes into Essex. Fixtures nearest home (the kennels being at The Camp, Woolwich) are in the neigh- bourhood of Chislehurst, Bromley, Eltham, Orpington, Farningham, and Foots Cray, but some good lines with plenty of jumping are reached in the Tonbridge, Westerham and Sevenoaks districts. The pack consists of fifteen couples of hounds, and meets on Tuesdays and Fridays. Captain H. Roch- ford-Boyd, R.F.A., is master (since 1906), and previous masters have been Captain ' Sam ' Lynes, Captain Albert Williams, Major Hale-Wortham, Captain Winyates, Captain A. E. Turner, Captain R. Alexander, Captain Isaacson, Lieutenant Eustace, Lieutenant Torkington, Major Ward-Ashton, Captain Tyler, Major Hickman, Lieutenant the Honourable A. E. Allsopp, Major Jeffreys, Captain de Roebuck, Lieutenant Courtenay 489 62
