The New York herald., 1879-09-07
EXTRAORDINARY HUNTERS CONTEST.

A correspondent Of the Irish Times, writing from
Galway says"Year after year following mp our race
meeting hero challenge trial of some of our
best hunting horses. ana OH this occasion was one
in which exhibited the most enthusiasm have
yet noticed. Owing to some casual conversation
between tho members of the County Hunt while
discussing the morits Of horsefesh. returning from
Bay brit, which celebration seems to infuse spirit
OF litigation this particular subject ut each re-
curing meet. challenge champion contest was
proposed by Mr.. Bodkin. of Quarry mount. backing
Raction. , % After some Conversation they proposed
to meet to-day at the hallway Hotel stables.
where i'll short time Mr.. Horny 8. Persse was ap-
pointed judge, and the terms Of tho match drawn
up, which were:-A wager Of ESQ each. play or pay.
that Mr.. Bodkin horse (Drolan) would jump All OBJ
ie Powers horse (Ruction) would fail at. Mr.. bod
kin's horse to be ridden by his first whip. Mr..
the prescribed hour OF meet. three O'Clock the
vicinity of the railway stables crowded with tho
elite OF the town and county: They set out from the
stables at three o'clock. when whip made his first
jump down the embsnkment OF the old branch rail-
way line leading to the docks and tried to jump up
against tho other side but failed. Again ana again ho
tried and finally after seventh attempt succeeded
in mounting 1t. Mr.. Joyce then at once jumped
down, and at the first attempt jumped high
against tho ombankment that he porod up after
ward with apparent ease. The embankment was
twenty feet high with an inclino OF about twenty
five, and dangerous that the police were about
being called into requsition to prevent what was
considered to be endangering lie. Some trightful
Bodkin that the whip should jump from the railway
track to the right, aud when he had mounted with
about ten yards run to jump the dock boundary
wall. which. from where he should jump, was about
four and half feet high, with perpendicular
descent the other side to the ground of about
twenty feet. This Mr.. Persse said. 1t would not
be fair to allow, either horses or men would
inevitably be killed, perhaps both. The parties
then made for Ballybrit when whip first broke for
the high road to the course over the solid built
coped boundary wall. about Ave feet high but as he
landing inside the hind feet Of the horse tore
down the wall. making gap for Ruction. which
however not taken advantage of. for MIR. Joyce
took u portion OF tho wall clean. Such danger
jumps there ensued for about half an hour
before seen by any of those present,
nor was 1t anticipated that ever any such
would be attempted. Since the world renowned
Blazers first assumed place and q name
III tho Elizabethan reign, when the then Lord
Deputy graced our hunting fields, such daredevil
horsemanship was never attempted as that of to-
day. In tho days of Charles Edward Galway hunts
men became notorious. and gliding down the scale
OF years to the time OF Denis Bowes Daily and Old
Giles Eyre Of whom Lover is loud in praise. COM
ing to the present day. such horsemanship was never
exhibited. After about three-Q quarters of M hours
exercise Droan Jagged over six feet jump from q
potato fold. which Mr.. Joyce flow over with Ruction
higher up ut ak feet two inches-the highest jump
ever in this county with tired animal. As he
cleared ho received with such cheers as
Galway hunters alone can glvc.