That the attempt to bring off the highly interesting match between the Thames Hare and Hounds, South London Harriers, and Spartan Harriers at Buckhurst Hill on Saturday last proved failure was not the fault the competing members of the clubs, for SLH turned up with 14 men, and the TH and H with 13. But for a la crosse match which was going on at the same time TH and H would have mustered 20 at least. Owing to a long list of fatalities the Spartans turned up with five men only, and retired from contest, although actually taking part in the run.
The teams :- TH and H: C. H. Mason, A. P. Smith, W. E. Fuller, P. H. Stenning, W. M. Green, A. E. Ball, W. W. Ball, A. E. Preston, A. B. Brown, R. F. Balkwill, W. A. F. Boulger, J. H. A. Reay, and H. D. Groombridge; SLH: J. Gibb, C. H. Larette, H. S. Davison, M. H. Brooker. R. M. Williamson, A. Littell, H. D. Thomas, H. S. P. Warlters, J. E. Warlters, G. F. Harris, C. D. Evitt, V. M. Colson, J. C. Bendixen, and R. H. Brooks. Sydenham Dixon and friend had gone out nearly an hour previously with scent, which was laid over the country described in our last, the line being nearly 11 miles in length.
W. Waddell started the men, who made a formidable appearance as they were drawn up in a line across the road. The pace first was something fearful, everyone evidently being bent upon getting good place in the wood, where single file was the order of the day. Straggling soon took place, a good many not being able, and a wise few not trying to live the pace, which began to slacken on some tough land being reached. There was plenty of bad going, and the staying powers of all were fully tested.
On reaching the Crown, Loughton, Mason and Gibb were together, leading, but looking much 'baked', with Bendixen, Fuller, Stenning, A. P. Smith, Larette and Evitt following the order named. Not far from this point the trail suddenly ceased, and after a deal of pottering about the hare was caught without any scent. It appears that a local idiot had been entrusted with an extra bag of scent, with directions to it to the Crown, but had taken it to some other house in mistake. How any one could entrust any uninterested person with so important a mission passes our comprehension. We do not even see why second supply of scent was needed at all. It is common thing for hares to carry sufficient scent for 15 miles run in the ordinary way, why not for 11 miles on a special occasion?
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