May 7, 1896.]
it would be well nigh impossible to keep the Club alive. Each successive regiment has, however, strongly supported the noble game, and proved themselves more sporting than their predecessors, if that were possible. No regi. ment in my experience has done more to pro- mote the interests of polo, and sport in all its branches, than the gallant Rifle Brigade, whom we are happy to have now with us. (Cheers). With the cordial co-operation of the military we shall live in hope of being able to keep the ball rolling, thus maintain our health and strength, and cause us to retain our handsome figures in this the trying Far East. The pre- sence of the ladies on the ground not only adds a great charm to the picturesque surroundings but it causes emulation in the hearts of the players: it makes the old feel gay and the young to feel strong, and forms a strong incentive to increased endeavours and improvement in the play. (Loud cheering.) Polo is most useful for develop ing the attributes so necessary in man, viz., eye, hand, a firm seat, courage, activity, pluck, keenness, determination, &c., &c., in short, the exercise which the noble game yields has worked wonders on many a weak frame. Its effects are more bracing and far more lasting than the best tonics medical science can prescribe. It develops and hardens the muscle, strengthens the nerve, and qualifies man for the discharge of duties and renders him capable of performing better work than he otherwise could do. I can conscientiously say that from polo exercise I to-day feel younger and better than when our Club was started ten years ago. As Mr. Jorrocks said of hunting, so I can say of Hongkong polo, it is the king of sports, with considerably less than twenty per cent. of the dangers of hunting, as the China pony is distinctly averse to colliding. It is with the utmost confidence and heartiness that I ask you to drink in bumpers "Success to the Polo Club." the Club under whose auspices "Sky meetings and 44
Gymkhanas" were here introduced, and to couple the toast with the name of our champion player, the popular and genial Captain Loveband. (Prolonged cheers, followed by "For he's a jolly good follow.")
Captain LOVEBAND in reply said Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, being Captain of the winning team in the recent tournament for Mr. May's challenge cup that we have just finished, I have been detailed to return thanks to the toast of the Polo Club" proposed by our worthy Chairman.
We were fortunate enough to just win the cap on the stroke of time. My play has been too much eulogised. As you all know, I was very well mounted, and a pouy is three-fourths of the game, but of course a certain amount of eye is also requisite. If you are on a pony that won't go up to the ball, no one. however good, can hit the ball. The rest of my team were not quite so well mounted, Mr. Nugent bring condemned to play a very in- different pony belonging to myself. I agree with Mr. Whitehead that we should like to see more civilian members. (Cheers.) Several of them keep ponies simply to ride day after day along the Shanliwan Road, which I think must soon get very monotonous. Why not bring them on to the polo ground? One pony is quite enough to start with. Turn up with one pony and trust to luck to get another mount. Most of us here to-night have been on the backs of Mr. Whitehead's ponies, who is ever ready to mount a horseless polo player, and I am sure we are all deeply indebted to him for his great kindness. Some make the excuse that they can't afford to play, but from what I hear the men in the various Banks and business firms in this colony have no complaints as regards their pay and are in fact very well off. I am afraid that there are men here whose chits in the Club
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
"
HONGKONG GOLF CLUB.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
387
Captain BURNEY rose and, after referring to the well contested competition for Mr. May's challenge cup and the many advantages which the members derive from such matches, This competition resulted, as was generally proposed in a humorous speech success to expected, in a victory for Dr. Lowson. During Sport." No better supporter of steeple. the play on Saturday the most interest was chasing and sport in all its phases than Colonel naturally taken in the two players who were The O'Gorman could be found, whose name he leading. There was a very fair attendance of had very great pleasure in coupling with the spectators, amongst them several ladies, who toast.
appeared to take a lively interest in the pro- Colonel THE O'GORMAN said-Mr. Chair-ceedings. Owing to his fit of bad play on man and gentlemen, it is a most unexpected Friday afternoon Captain Eccles had a difficult honour to be called upon to respond to the toast task before him, as when commencing play on of "Sport," embracing as it does the many Saturday Dr. Lowson had a lead of 10 strokes. grand games in which it is an Englishman's To make up 10 strokes against a player better boast that he alone plays in that spirit of than himself was of course an impossibility, honour and fair play which no other country. unless something extraordinary happened. It is man can rival. (Cheers) The immortal unnecessary to go into detail on a medal round; Jorrocks said that "untin'" is the sport of it will suffice to say that at the ninth hole kings, the himage" of war without its guilt Captain Eccles was 44 to Dr. Lowson's 45. and 25 per cent. of its danger. Well, we can- Dr. Lowson won the next two holes with not have hunting here, but we have polo, which two 4's against two 5's. Nos. 3, 4, and 5-were is the next best thing, and if the word "polo halved in 4. No. 6 was won by Captain Eccles be substituted for "'untin'" you have the sport 5 to 6. No. 7 was won by Dr. Lowson in 5 to of kings at hand, twice or thrice each week. 6. No. 8 was won by Captain Eccles 3 to 5 and A fine manly game it is, which makes horsemen at this point Captain Eccles was one stroke of us, maintains health and strength in all better on the day than his opponent. But at climates, and keeps us fit for the performance the 18th hole disaster overtook the soldier and of our duties in civil or military life. You the result was a "9," which played the very gentlemen whose youth and circumstances mischief with a good score, and gave the Doctor enable you to enjoy this grand sport are most
a further lead of four strokes, the two scores fortunate in having our Chairman as a player, for the last nine holes, being 41 and 45. Those because he instils into the management that spectators who followed the match certainly had energy and ability for which he is well known, an opportunity of seeing a good game of golf, and moreover has generally a pony to spare for as, barring at about 4 or 5 holes, where all a friend who is keen but unfortunate in his steed. the strokes were lost, the play was of a very There is, however, a branch of sport which is high order. All that was possible had been sadly neglected in Hongkong, namely, steeple done to put the course and greens in good chasing"-there is no just reason for it. We playing order, and there was little to complain have an excellent race meeting, and an offday about on that head. The approach shots are with a steeplechase included in tlie programme, always difficult qn this course, owing to the long yet to the shame of Hongkong there were then grass round the greens and the smallness of the but three entries, I believe, certainly an insuf greens themselves, so that you can always con- ficient number to fill the event. With the large sider a 4" at any hole quite good enough. number of good riders in the colony, who cannot be accused of fearing a fall, such an unfortunate circumstance will I feel sure not recur, and I hope that in the forthcoming gymkhanas we shall have many hunting events and good fields on each occasion. Gentlemen, I thank you for the honour have done me and trust that
you Sport" may here and elsewhere live long and prosper. (Cheers).
Mr. JOHN HASTINGS, in responding to the tain Bethune, said that without the assistance of toast of the civilians, which was proposed by Cap. the military element in Hongkong he was afraid polo would die a natural death; and not only was their assistance necessary in keeping the Club alive, but they showed them how to play the game. Since the arrival of their friend Captain Loveband in this colony he had given them an idea of how polo should be played, and he would say this, that Captain Loveband was one had been seen on Causeway Bay for many a of the straightest and the hardest hitters who
long day (cheers)-and that stroke of his, which they had all seen, at the finish of the tournament, when the ball rose some 30 feet of the goal, was one to be remembered. (Ap- into the air and descended right in the middle
plause.) He hoped, however, that, with the example before them of their worthy Chairman, who was again as much at home on a polo pony time, and that was saying a good deal, they as he was in the Legislative Council at question
the field which would hold its own with the would soon be able to put a civilian team into military teams and beat them, too-(applause) -as they had done in former years.
A number of other toasts and several, songs followed, and in acknowledging the toast of his health the Chairman directed the attention of
14
We must heartily congratulate Dr. Lowson on his victory and wish him all good luck and prosperity in his married life. We shall expect to see accounts of his playing at home and we feel sure that he will fully uphold the credit of the Hongkong Golf Club,
THE SCORE,
1st 2nd 3rd rnd. rnd. rnd. Ttl. Dr. J. Lowson
84 86 85 255
Mr. G. Stewart Capt. W. V. Eccles, R.B.... 88 92 89 269 92 93 91 276 96 92 100 288 Mr. C. E. Hume
104 93 96 293 Capt. Rumsey Mr. W. M. Thompson, R.E. 99 95 101 295 Mr. H. L. Dalrymple 104 99 94 297 HONGKONG RIFLE ASSOCIATION.
for on Saturday afternoon over the 500 and 600 The Short Range Cup and Spoons were shot
yards distances. Colour-Sergeant A. Smith, R.B., won the Cup for the first time with a total of 62, the Spoons being taken by Petty Officer Bishop. R.N., Captain Ferguson, R.B., and Colour-Sergeant A. Smith, R.B. lowing were the best scores :--
∞∞ 500 yds.
33
Cr. Sergt. A. Smith, R.B. 32 27 P.-O. Bishop, R.N.
Major. Pemberton, R.B. Captain Ferguson, R.B. Major Wrottesley, R.E. Inspector Butlin.
Rifle.
for M. H.
The fol-
2 66 3 62 33 28
61 23 30 4 57 33 26
-4 55 23 22 6. 3 54 H.K.V.C. FIELD BATTERY, The second spoon competition took place on members entered, the highest scores being as
bar in a short.space of time would buy a polo members to a recent work containing explicit Saturday at the Police Range. Twenty-one!
pony. Others say they have not the time. should think life hardly worth living if I could not spend one hour a day in recreation of sorts -a man cannot work properly unless he does. (Cheers). Lastly, a very common remark is, The China pony is not worth playing on." Well, I say if a man is keen on polo he will play on a donkey if he can't get anything better. (Hurrah), I have now spent a very happy year in Hongkong and have formed a very good im. pression of it, but I am pretty certain that if I did not play polo I should think it a pretty poor place. (Cheers).
and sound advice on "Modern Polo" by E. D. Miller, late 17th Lancers, and edited by M. H. Hayes, F.R.C.V.S., who is well known in China. The book is published by Thacker and Co., Calcutta, and well deserves careful study.
The proceedings, harmonious to a degree throughout, terminated with the singing of
Auld lang syne."
It will be fully a month before the Cass, Smith, and Sin Fokein will be placed on the Shanghai-Formosa line; they are to be docked and overhauled in the meantime.-Mercury.
under :----
200 400 500
27 33 28 32 30 25 19 27 24 20 28 20 22 25 22 25 25 16 27 22 23
H'cap.
points
Ttl.
88
87
15
15
10
79
79
78
78
Gunner Stewart Sergt. McPhail *
Gunner Gow ✶ Gunner Sutton Sergt. Bremner Gunner Deas Gunner Inglis.. Gunner Melbourne. 26 27 19
* Winners of Spoon.
1993 to
853*2222
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