Arborfield
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 Memories - Army Point-to-Point, 1922

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The Garth Hunt

From the
Bramshill Hunt
to the Garth Hunt
- historical articles from the
'Reading Mercury', 1921

The Remount Depot during the Great War

The 'Reading Mercury' for March 1921 reported the Garth Hunt Point-to-Point races at the Remount Depot, attended by HRH Prince Henry.

The 1922 races seem to have been organised by the Army rather than by the Garth Hunt, as reported on April 1st 1922:

THE ARMY POINT-TO-POINT STEEPLECHASES

The Army Point-to-Point Steeplechases, which were held at the Remount Depot, Arborfield Cross, on Monday, attracted a very large number of spectators, and with the entries including some of the best horses in the British Army the racing was naturally of a very high order.

By kind permission of Major L. A. Jackson, the function was held in the Garth Hunt country on a site which offered ample facilities for the preparation of a capital course. Full use was made of the natural features, and the result was a well-marked course about four miles in length and including many sporting obstacles.

Earl Haig, who was accompanied by Countess Haig, attended the meeting and took a keen interest in the proceedings. Earl Haig presented the premier trophy, a challenge cup presented by H.R.H. the prince of Wales, to the winner, Captain Shaw Stewart, who rode Lieutenant the Hon. R. C. Cubitt’s Limerick.

The onerous duties of hon. secretary were ably discharged by Captain S. G. Hawes, D.S.O., M.C., and general the Earl of Cavan, K.P., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.C.B., A.D.C., was the judge.

Other officials were: Clerk of the course, Major H. O’S. F. Tanner; clerk of the scales, Major R. C. Tennant, R.A.V.C.; starter, Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. Wilson, D.S.O.; hon. surgeon, Captain E. B. Allnutt, M.C., R.A.M.C.; hon. veterinary surgeon, Major W. Ludgate, D.S.O., R.A.V.C.; stewards, Major L. A. Jackson, M.F.H., Lieut.-General Sir T. L. N. Morland, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O., Rear-Admiral R. E. Ross Benson, C.B., R.N., General N. W. Haig, C.B., C.M.G., Colonel-Commandant H. C. Jackson C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., Colonel C. E. G. Norton, C.B., C.S.L., A.D.C., Lieut.-Colonel A.G.A. Hore-Ruthven, V.C., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., Wing Commander W. E. Wynn, O.B.E., R.A.F., Major C. L. T. Walwyn, D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C.

In the Garth Hunt Race Major F. Anderson’s Glory was freely spoken of as a likely winner, whilst Rocket, ridden and owned by Cadet H. C. Walford, who achieved a fine run at the Garth Hunt Point-to-Point Races last week, was also favoured in some quarters. Neither, however, was successful, although both ran well, the ultimate winner being Major H. C. H. Eden’s eight-year-old gelding Cyrano.

There was an unfortunate incident in the first race for the Prince of Wales’ Cup, when Captain J. C. Rogerson’s Hornbill fell at the difficult double jump, known as "The Lane", and broke a leg, its destruction being necessary. In this race Captain Shaw Stewart, riding Lieutenant the Hon. R. C. Cubitt’s Limerick, was a fortunate winner, as the leader of the field in the final four hundred yards refused the last fence.

Lieutenant-Colonel M. Graham’s gelding, Red Seal, justified expectations in securing Earl Haig’s Cup, and in the Past and Present event for the Earl of Cavan’s trophy Ballyrafton, ridden and owned by Lieutenant J. A. G. Emmet, took the lead early in the race, and, holding it until the end, won comfortably from Captain H. A. Pelly’s Spook. Captain W. S. Cornwallis’s Tregeagle, which had secured a second at the Garth Races, maintained its form and secured Earl Beatty’s Cup.

The details are as follows:

THE PRINCE OF WALES CUP:

Challenge Cup presented by the Prince of Wales, together with 20 sov. [Sovereign coins] and a replica of the cup to the winner, 10 sov. to the second, and 5 sov. to the third, for horses five years old and upwards, the property of officers now serving in the Regular Army, Navy or Air Force, that have never been placed first, second or third in any Steeplechase or Flat Race, and have been regularly hunted. Catch weights 12 st. 7 lb. and over. 26 starters.

1: Lieutenant Hon. R. Cubitt’s (Coldstream Guards) Limerick (Capt. Shaw Stewart);
2: Captain D. M. B. Hall’s (Coldstream Guards) Witch II (owner);
3: Captain J. A. Paton’s (The Carabiniers) Pax Vobis.

EARL BEATTY’S CUP:

Challenge Cup presented by Admiral of the Fleet Earl Beatty, together with 20 sov. and a replica of the cup to the winner, 10 sov. to the second, and 5 sov. to the third, for horses five years old and upwards, the property of officers now serving in the Regular Army, Navy or Air Force, that have never been placed first, second or third in any Steeplechase or Flat Race, and have been regularly hunted. Catch weights 14 st. and over. 10 starters.

1: Captain W. S. Cornwallis’s (Royal Scots Greys) Tregeagle
2: Major R. Horeton’s (The Royal Dragoons) Kelly
3: Col.-Commandant A. E. W. Harman’s (1^st Cavalry Brigade) Warrior.

EARL HAIG’S CUP:

Challenge Cup presented by Field-Marshal Earl Haig, together with 20 sov., and a replica of the Cup to the winner, 10 sov. to the second, and 5 sov. to the third, for Government chargers hired previous to 1^st February 1922, by officers now serving in the Regular Army that have never been placed first, second or third in any stepplechase or flat race, and have been regularly hunted. Catch weights 13st. and over, 13 starters.

1: Lieutenant J. A. G. Emmet’s (2^nd Life Guards) Ballyrafton
2: Captain H. A. Pelly’s (7^th Hussars) Spook
3: Colonel-Commandant A. E. W. Harman’s (1^st Cavalry Brigade) Jock.

THE GARTH HUNT RACE:

Cup presented by the Army Point-to-Point Committee and 20 sov. to the winner, 10 sov. to the second, and 5 sov. to the third for horses the property of members and subscribers to The Garth Hunt, officers at the Staff College, Camberley, officers at the Royal Military College, Camberley, and officers whose regiments subscribe to The Garth Hunt, that have never been placed first, second or third in any steeplechase or flat race, and have been regularly hunted with The Garth, Catch weights 13 st. and over, owners allowed 7 lb. Nine starters.

1: Captain H. C. H. Eden’s (R.F.A.) Cyrano
2: Major H. Charrington’s (12^th Lancers) Peggy
3: Major F. Anderson’s (The Black Watch) Glory.

Amongst the large number present were: Earl and Countess Haig, Lady Robert Manners, Lady Villiers, Colonel F. G. Barker, Colonel W. P. Nash, Major Darby Griffith, Major T. J. Wheble, Captain A. Evans, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Sturges, Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Male, Mr. and Mrs. Hautenville Cope, Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Palmer, Miss Dolly Manners, Messrs. H. A. Benyon, W. M. Colebrook, H. E. A. Wiggett, E. E. Palmer, L. W. Jeff-Petit, J. Simonds, etc.

Supt. Goddard was in charge of the police arrangements.

April 15th 1922: The R.A.S.C. Point-to-Point Steeplechase was held at the Remount Depot on Tuesday April 11th. There was a long list of riders and winners.

With acknowledgements to Berkshire Newspapers

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