The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-03
NOW FOR GYNKHGNA MEETS
THIS THE TIME FOR ODD SPORTS
AT COUNTRY CLUBS.

20 fox hunting. shooting n harvest homes
comes the call to ~gymkhana meets. They
are held in spring and summer at exoep-
tional places. but are most frequent when
the leaves are tinted and frost has nipped
the mellow pumpkin.
A gymkhana is really a lawn party made
lively by odd races and queer contests.
The foreign title is a veneer over many
rural sports as old as the hills. for about
the only ones that have no place In gym
khanas are climbing a creased pole and
chasing a pig. likewise CREASED.
But IL pigs are barred their companions
of the farInyard. the geese. are pressed into
service. The geese are brought into the
lists to win prizes by their speed and obodi-
ence to command.
A stretch Of lawn is the r~Rosoourse-
usually part ~ a clubs polo Reld-for the
feathered thorOughbreds and all similar
competitions. Tn OnlOOkers. ranged on
chairs. coaches and automobiles, or on the
= club veranda. have a fine sight OF the games
and they cheer on the contestants with en-
thusiasm, for every one knows h others
and neighborhood r~ivalries are felt.
Now the goose, il not urged to excessive
speed. is a t-actable bird and may Do guided
on the road that il should go with gentle
tappings Of a long. light wand. In Ger
many one sees children driving Hocks Of
geese with long whips and il is the same
, wherever geese are farmed.
At gymkhanas such races are for women
only. but a man usually goes to the post
with each entry to assist in the start. When
all are lined up the starter gives the word
and the race is on.
The dignifed steps OF the goose and
their Kisses of temper form a contrast to
ALE. - 49,
control their desires to whip and run for
the goal and follow the birds as sedatsly
a. Quakers at meeting. A goose Is guided
by light taps from the wand, which must
be played IA deftIy as a trout rod.
Young girls ride in pony races under
different odd conditions at the ~Rymkhanas
and a standard spOrt'is for them to com-
pete on donkeys, the prize to the first in.
but in pony races the tortoise style usually
prevails and the award In to the rider finish
ing last. The conditions forbid a rider
stopping. hut the pony may be walked all
the way or even backed from start to finish.
To roll eggs for a certain distance without
cracking the shell il another race that girls
figure i'm, and sometimes they have rabbits
or guinea pigs 10 drive instead Of geese.
In nearly all the games there is a union
of interest between a girl and a a One
of the p~rettiest is a scarf race, for to do
we'll the contestants must AVE ponies OF
equal speed and ride them we'll.
The ponies and their pairs Of riders hold
ing strips Of bright ribbons make a pretty
picture on the green. There are no handles
or grips on the scarfs; they are merely
strips of silk, and the riders must not give
up either end nor drop one.
The girl holds on the scarf with her left
hand and the reins with the right, while
the man has TO guide his pony lefthanded
and cling to the end of the ribbon with his
right hand. 1t in not an easy thing to ride
a race in couples, for even II the riders have
but one single thought the ponies are usu-
ally at cross purposes. Generally the win
ming pair inish all alone and the lawn be-
hind il strewn with bits Of ribbon dropped
along the course by the others.
In another contest for two the woman's
knowledge Of h~orsemanship is not under
trial. yet her part Is a. difficult az the
Jockeys share. This is known as the thread
and needle race.
The riders are placed far enough apart
20 prevent crowding and as they leave
the post each carries a needle. A eminin
, partner awaits each rider at the other end
of the field TO thread the needle.
The ponies dash up. riders fall on and
hand over the needles. and. while all is
tension and excitement. the girls must PASS
the thread through the little eyes Of steel.
Whichever rider returns first to the starting
post with his needle properly threaded wins
the race.
Alas for the o~verZeal of women in sport!
II has been found necessary at several
country clubs to take precautions that
needles already threaded shall not be
handed 20 the men in these races.
The cigarette and umbrella race requires
the jockey to leave the post smoking a
cigarette and carrying a furled umbrella.
The umbrella must be opened and the
rider finish holding it over his head. still
smoking the same cigarette.
A variation is to have the cigarette lit
by the feminine partner at the turn In the
race, who must strike the match and have
It ready. blow the winds high or low.
Another contest that combines good riding
and fun is the potato race. although polo
balls, apples or even cabbages may be
pressed into service.
The potatoes are placed at equal dis
lance for each rider, four or ak being in
use. The horseman takes up a potato.
returns and drops il into a gail or basket.
repeats the operation for the next potato.
and so on down the line.
All the contestants begin at one time
and the prize is for whoever does the stunt
quickest. Although at the tasks stimuli
taneously. the methods differ. and this adds
20 the fun. for some will dash boldly to the
potato furthest away. others begin with
the one nearest at hand, and still others,
without rhyme or reason. will start their
collecting in the middle Of the bunch.
Another cause OF jolity is the popular
egg and spoon race. which has also been
taken UP by the classes at riding schools
The riders traverse the course as fast %
they may without spiling an egg from
a spoon. To spill liz to be disqualified.
A manikin race is always ludicrous,
both from the parade to the turning post
with the grotesque stuffed men and the
antics Of the ponies, which always shy al
q manikin. To the turning post the race
is an ordinary one. but here each rider
dismounts to lift his stuffed man. They
are heavy az we'll as big, the manikins
and none too comfortable a PARTNER tC
support on the saddle to the finish. yet Thu
must he done to fulfil the requirements.
Tests Of hardness for polo ponies
around stakes or in chasing a ball are