The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-11

Sumter's first Horse Show has come
to close. The final events were
held Thursday afternoon when the
championship cups were awarded.
The show has been pronounced by
exhibitors, officers and spectators,
alike, great success from every point
Of view and the officers of the Sum-
ter Horse Show Association feel that
the object Of the show has been
largely attained, the increasing Of the
interest in Sumter county in the own
ing and raising of fancy and utility
animals.
The last day was a big success, de-
spite the opposition of the elements.
The weather was cold and it was
drizzling at the time that the show
was due to open, but this did not
keep the crowds Of Sumter people and
the visitors from their places.
They came out wrapped up in winter
the day previous they had been dress
ed in spring costumes. The events
came off without a hitch and all Of
them were Of an intensely interesting
nature, the awarding Of the cham
pionship cups coming last and keep
ing the interest Of the audience in
suspense up to the last.
Autocrat, owned by Geo. D. Shore
Of Sumter and ridden by J. w.
Brock Of Kentucky. won the cup in
the five-gaited saddle horse class;
Foxy Phil. owned by J. n. Kirven Of
Darlington and ridden by N. w.
Kirven, carried off the championship
in the three-gaited class, while Dan,
Mr. Kirven's celebrated roadster,
driven by n. w. Kirven, was award
ed the trophy for harness horses of
all classes.
The events In which the ladies and
children rode and drove were also Of
the greatest interest. Mr.. J. A. Nc
Innes OF Darlington exhibited his
handsome pony. Diamond Dick, in the
pony class, the handsome little ami
NAL carrying off the blue ribbon each
time he was entered. there being
hardly any animal in the ring in his
class for beauty and movement. This
is the handsomest pony seen in Sum-
ter in many day.
Again the crowds, the automobiles,
the flag floating over the judge s
stand and the inspiring music from
the Sumter band made the occasion a
festive one and everybody pleased that
they had come. And then at the last
the sun, which had been hidden be-
hind the clouds all day, peeped out
and shone down upon the scene, as
If anxious at the last minute to show
that approval of the show which had
been withheld up to that time.
The officers Of the association are
extremely gratified at the immense
interest which has been aroused in
the Sumter people by the show and
at the very flattering attendance on
each Of the three days, despite the
bad weather. They feel that they
have learned much during the show
which will be Of benefit to them when
they arrange for the show next year
and are assured that then they can
make it even more Of a success than
the one which has just ended. al
though this will be a difficult under
taking, as this years show has been
successful beyond their highest ex-
pectations. More than four thousand
people attended the three perform
ances and the officers feel that they
have given the spectators the full
worth of their time and money by
the numerous and handsome exhibits
in the show ring. Next year it is
thought that the renown Of Sumter's
first horse show will have spread
abroad and the crowd from other
places will be greater than this year.
Many Of the spectators have be-
come SO interested that they will at
tend performances at other places
on the horse show circuit and next
year will be more willing to do all in
their power to aid in making the show
a success.
The award of prizes was as fol-
lows:
Draft Horse. .'irst, Tom, O'Donnell
& Co., Sumter, $40; second, Maude,
j. w. McKiever. Sumter, $40; third,
Prince, Abe Ryttenberg, Sumter, IS.
Ponies under twelve hands, ridden
b" girl or boy. First. Dandy, ID.
China, Sumter. ridden by b. r.
China, $40; second, Minnie. owned and
ridden by Doris McCollum, Sumter,