Rodeo in New Zealand

    Rodeo contenders pay their own way as they travel extensively following the circuit. The prize money is won by a small number of competitors who excel on the day. It takes $40 to enter each event and the money gathered goes to the top four prize winners in a section. The hosting club also makes its own contribution to the winnings. The prize money is usually between $400 and $1,000.

                                     International photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

    After the chutes open in the bucking events, it’s the cowboys’ job to last eight seconds till the hooter sounds. If the ride is rough, riders have better opportunities to earn more points. The animal can score up to 50 points for their performance and the rider operates on the same scoring system.

                                              Photo by Andrew Mackay

                     Above, Rodney Ruxton rides bareback at the Outram Rodeo,
                                                Mosgiel, February 2007.

    The cowboys experience a dangerous adrenaline rush, but they live for the opportunity to show their honed talents. Soft tissue damage due to sprains and fractures is common. Far more extensive injuries can also be expected from dislodged riders.

                                                Photo by Andrew Mackay

                   Above, Steve Houston rides a bronk at Waikouaiti, February 2008.

    After the hooter sounds, the daring pick-up men ride their horses close. They lift enduring cowboys from their bucking mounts and return them to the ground.

    Some of the rodeo events include saddle-bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, steer riding, steer wrestling (bulldogging) and barrel racing.

    Originally rodeos were known as “buck jumping shows”, but this changed in New Zealand during the forties.The horses used in the bucking competitions are usually ones that have been difficult prospects for general breaking and riding. Others have been bred for the sport and are contracted out.

    Bucking bulls are considered the most difficult to ride and are mostly Friesian and Friesian crosses. However, most riders consider Texas Longhorn Ayrshire crosses to be best for the job. Some bulls weigh in at close to a ton. Creatures like the well-known Tyson have weighed in at 620 kg.

                                                 Photo by Andrew Mackay.

                              Above, the rider tries to stay on the wild bulls back.
                                   The 50th Southland rodoe in February 2007.

                                       International photo courtesy of Wikipedia.


    The rodeo clowns give added entertainment as they run about. It’s their calculating task to distract enraged bulls.

    Bulldogging” is an event when the steer runs from the chute and a cowboy rides on its right side to keep the steer running in a straight line. The wrestler rides on the left side and dives from his horse, grabbing the steer by the horns and brings the animal to a sudden stop, before putting it on its side.

                                                 Photo by Andrew Mackay

                               Above, Haydon Church steer wresting at Miller Flat.
                                                          December 2006.

                                                  Photo by Andrew Mackay.

         Above, Don Tisdall and son Roy roping a steer in the twin Rover Jack Pot Rodeo.
                                          Winanakarua in December 2007.

    

   In the "calf roping ", the riders and horses follow the calf as it comes running from the chute. The calf is roped and the horse stops as the rider slides from it to throw the calf to the ground and tie any of its three legs.

    The cowgirls and their horses are barrel racing experts and the competition can be close. The barrels are put out to make a triangle. Then the riders are timed while riding as quickly as possible making a full turn around each barrel and being careful not to knock any over.

                                                 Photo by Andrew Mackay
              Above, Steve Church competing in the national finals at Millers Flat 2007.

    
    For each event, it is the top eight competitors who earn points towards a chance to compete in the New Zealand finals.Urenui Rodeo is the last opportunity for partisipation to earn points each year.

   The cowboys and girls look debonair in their flamboyant western clothing, silk scarves and Stetsons.

    The Church family have been involved in New Zealand rodeo for over 40 years. Merv Church was the first to initiate his family into this rugged sport. He began competing at the age of 13. Merv has been inducted into the American Cowboy Hall of Fame. He has also received an Order of Merit at New Zealand Government House for his contribution to the sport. Over 16 years (1970–1986) Merv won 15 national all-round titles. This enabled him to be recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. Merv’s six children, brothers, nieces, nephews and other whanau have all competed in the gruelling sport. All take an intense interest in their relatives’ riding and competing. It’s a love for family and sport combined that earns respect for them from around the country.

                               Photo courtesy Rotorua Daily Post, 12th Sep 2011.
     Above, Dion Church competing in the bareback comptition at Rerewhakaaitu Rodeo.


    When the rodeo folk travel their circuit, horse trucks and other mobile accommodation carry fridges, stoves and mattresses. These are cheap homes away from home and there is often fresh mutton and other accompanying kai to contribute to succulent meals.



James Fagan
Palmerston North
New Zealand

Working Farm Dogs in New Zealand

Published Memories Magazine issue 82 February / March 2010

Additional photos added.

    From the early nineteenth century, settlers have travelled to New Zealand to acquire land that would be stocked by sheep and cattle. Some opportunists laid claim to all they could see, rushing to the Lands Office to fill in a Depasturing License. Some of the properties covered thousands of hectares. To work the stock, land owners and shepherds imported dogs from suitable blood lines.

    Many of the sheep and cattle dog lines in New Zealand now share the same ancestry. This originated from the Border Collie, Old Hemp. He was bred from a mating in 1893 in Northumbria, England, between a strong-eyed dog, Roy, and the bitch, Meg. Old Hemp’s working ability was reputed to be exceptional and he sired over 200 pups that inherited his outstanding ability.

    James Lilico came to New Zealand in 1895 and imported many Border Collie dogs. His first import, Captain, was a descendant of Old Hemp. Captain’s blood flowed through to many of the famous Heading and Huntaway offspring.

    There have also been other Collie types documented that had a significant influence in New Zealand blood lines. They mostly came from the United Kingdom. Many were different to the Border Collie in appearance and in the way they worked.

A view of a farmer droving a flock of sheep up a hillside on Akara Peninsula.
Photo taken by unidentified photographer.
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull  Library. Ref: PA Coll-8163-06dd caption

    When I was a child, I sometimes went with my father, collecting wool for Beder Brothers who were wool merchants. We went to farms within a large radius from Palmerston North. On occasions, I remember seeing flocks of sheep being driven along back roads. There were dogs moving behind them, barking when necessary and driving the stock forward. We would slowly journey through the flock, being careful not to cause too much disturbance as we went. “There will be a dog up ahead,” my father would say and sure enough, when we got towards the front, there it would be, standing or crouching or moving back and forward, making sure the flock wasn’t moving ahead too quickly. Versatile working breeds like the bob-tailed Smithfield Collie or shaggy Bearded Collie were ideal for this type of work as well as heading breeds.
 

Bearded Collie. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia encyclopedia.

    The Smithfield got its name from Smithfield market in London, where they drove stock to slaughter. They were also used by drovers to take the stock to and from the market. The Bearded Collie was also an old drovers’ breed and both work well as Huntaways.

Smithfield Collies.Photo courtesy of stockman50@icloud.com

    The Border Collie and other heading breeds specialise in bringing stock to their masters and are also used for turning or steering large flocks of sheep or cattle. Their lack of noise when running out is ideal and doesn’t cause unnecessary disturbance. I vividly remember the first time I saw a small Border Collie, run out on a very long head. The small black and white spot of a dog climbed higher and higher into the hills then curved its run to turn the front of the flock through a gateway. What a spectacular sight to witness.

    The silent heading breeds have also been the predominant lambing beat workers. Ewes sometimes require assistance when birthing and may need to be caught. Silent dogs are ideal for this. I have also heard priceless stories of the odd Huntaway that naturally knew to work silently on the beat. One had the knack of putting ewes gently on their side if they needed to be caught. There is always the odd dog that does things outside its breed requirement.

    I remember when the cattle wouldn’t go up a race to load onto a truck. “I’ll get them up there!” shouted a willing enthusiast and he whipped his Huntaway onto a beast’s back and the dog snapped and snarled along the cattle’s backs as they shot forward up the race and onto the truck as easy as bees into a hive.

With the introduction of shipping opportunities and refrigeration, there was gradual change towards sheep that produced more meat. This meant that heavier, slower moving breeds began to appear and there was a need for more dogs that produced noise. It was then the New Zealand Huntaway gradually evolved as a breed.

 
     The New Zealand Huntaway is intelligent and a good worker. It developed from local farm dogs and imported breeds that had a tendency to bark. There are now several strains within the breed. The straight Mustering Huntaway barks all the time as it works. It mostly stays behind the stock, to drive them forward. The ‘head and hunt’ type drives stock forward, as well as steering them and bringing them. There are also many handy Huntaway strains able to do most types of farm dog work.

New Zealand Hunterway. Courtesy of James Fagan collection

                     
    Most Australian farm breeds also originated from the Border Collie. As with the New Zealand Huntaway, the Australian Kelpie is capable of all-purpose work and can be seen working efficiently on New Zealand farms. There is a variety of strains with some having strong eye characteristics.

Red Kelpie. Photo courtesy of  Wikipedia encyclopedia.

Blue Merle/Queensland Heeler. Photo courtesy of  Wikipedia encyclopedia.

    The Australian Blue Heeler (sometimes referred to as the Blue Merle or Queensland Heeler) should not be confused with the Red Speckled Heeler. Both are seen working on New Zealand farms and stations. They are bold and able to move aggressive cattle. The Red Speckled Heeler is reputed to be more staunch and harder to train.

Red Speckled Cattle Dog. Courtesy of Wikipedia encyclopedia

 
    It is often said that some of the Australian working strains have Dingo blood. Unplanned matings occasionally take place and some of the offspring are trained to work stock.

In 1889, sheep-dog trials first began at Hakataramea, in South Canterbury. The New Zealand Sheep-Dog Trial Association (Inc) was set up in 1957. By 1965, there were 107 clubs in the North Island and 80 in the South Island, with approximately 9,000 members.

    Shepherds and dogs are tested in circumstances similar to those experienced in shepherding. Trial areas are on steep hill faces that meet flat land. The season begins in February and ends in May. There are usually four events at each trail. These are the straight Huntaway, the Zig-Zag Huntaway, the Long Head and the Short Head and Yard. The first five places in each event win prize money and qualify for points to compete at annual championships.

James Fagan
Palmerston North
New Zealand 

Drovers having smoko?. Date 1920 - 1940
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. Ref: WA - 25186-G.

Rural scene with cattle droving, Date [ Ca 1910 ]. Photo taken by Sydney Charles Smith. Location unknown.
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. Ref: 1/1-020199-G

Droving sheep along a road at Mt Edgecumbe from Cape Runaway centre. Date 1946.
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. Ref:PA Coll-816383

Droving sheep on Commerce Street, Kaitaia. Date 1910. Photograph Northwood brothers.
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. Ref: 1/1-010626-G

Droving sheep to Gisborne showing the southern end of the Waioeka Gorge between Opotiki and Gisborne.circa 1952. Photographer unknown. Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. Ref: PAColl-5469-037

 Two pack horses and three dogs walking behind a flock of sheep.
Photo 1920 - 50 Leo White. Courtesy Alexander Turmbal Library. Ref: WA-25 179-G 

Man and two dogs droving sheep with horse and cart. New Zealand location unknown. Photograph by Leo White.
 Date 1920 - 1940. Courtesy Alexanbal Turnbull Library. Ref WA-25 168-G

Four men on horseback with sheepdogs droving sheep along road near Awake.
Photogragh taken by Albert Percy.
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library New Zealand. Ref: APG-1639-1/2-G 

Man and two horses and dogs lead a huge flock of  sheep at Pakowhai, Hawkes Bay.
Photo Samuel Heath Head 1920?. Courtesy Alexander Turmbull Library,. Ref: 1/1-007287-G 

Sheep drover, North Island New Zealand. Photo Leo White 1938.

Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. WA-03106-G

The History of the Circus in New Zealand

Elephants,  International Act, Credit, Andrew Levy

    

    The modern circus began in England in the mid-eighteenth century. At first, open air horsemanship was presented in the fields on the outskirts of south London.

    Australian circuses were among the first to tour New Zealand. In the mid-nineteenth century, when the gold rushes began, they often visited the mining areas where there was new-found wealth.  Gold dust, or a nugget, was enough to allow the “diggers” to enter a circus performance.  In those days a circus troupe travelled with animals and apparatus in covered, horse-drawn wagons.  It was a hard life, but these people had also travelled in Australia, appearing in cities, towns and out in the bush.

Fitzgerald Brother Circus and Menagerie, Dunedin, c.1894.
Credit: Te PaPa Tongarewa Image number TEPGO2O89 dd caption

    If a particular circus venue had been well attended, they often gave a last night “benefit” performance, to help with a worthwhile community cause.

    In the late decades of the nineteenth century, many acts were drawn from the music hall.  Some of these were trapeze artists, jugglers and tight wire walkers.

Photo Trapeze artists. Courtesy Wikapidia 

    Children also performed in the circus.  In 1893 Fillis’ Circus had Master Taylor, an eight-year-old boy who walked the tight wire and in 1918 Bartons Circus had Little Mona, performing as a trapeze artist.

Little Mona is advertized on the left of the poster below.

    

     At the same time as Master Taylor was performing, Fillis Circus also had four Nubian lions that had been captured in an African forest as cubs. Their diet had become butchers’ beef and as a treat mutton or bullock’s blood. They also had a four-year-old tigress that was born in captivity and was bought by Mr Fillis when he visited India. She was easy to train and was the only tigress anywhere that appeared in the open ring. This caused considerable excitement in its audiences.

     

     By the early twentieth century, the pictures were a newly-popular entertainment, as were vaudeville and variety shows.  However, this did not affect the viability of the circus.

     In 1905 Wirths Wild West Circus saw Chifalo, the “Demon”, performing an incredible feat of skill.  He would ride a cycle from the high tent top and sped down an almost perpendicular incline on to a short plank.  He then shot into the air and across 42 feet of open space before landing on a two-foot wide plank.  This was billed as one of the best acts that had ever toured the “Colonies”.

    
    At the 1906 Christchurch International Exhibition, Barton’s circus was joined by McNeill and Jones, a show that began in the Taranaki. They had a horse called “Maori Jack”, an outstanding buck-jumper that had not been successfully ridden.  Mr Barton believed his friend “Queensland Harry” of aboriginal descent could ride the horse and placed a side bet of £200, winner take all.  McNeill and Jones accepted the challenge enthusiastically.  When Barton took Harry to the circus ring he found “Maori Jack” standing with an English hunting saddle onboard.  A cattle dog was also waiting to bite the horse’s heels to keep him bucking.  Harry rode the horse until he would buck no more and he became famous throughout the country as an outstanding buckjumping rider.

Queensland Harry sitting on a grey horse.

               

Wirth's Circus train. Courtesy Palmerston North City Library

                                 
    With rail becoming more accessible, circuses were able to travel further more quickly and were not limited to moving as little as 20 miles per night.  By 1925 three trains transported Wirths Circus.  When circus trains passed through towns, families rushed to rail crossings or platforms where they saw cattle trucks full of domesticated, wild and exotic animals as they sped past; some peering out, while the Indian/African elephant trunks swung over the top of crates.  At the station sidings, the elephants hauled huge animal cages from the railway to the circus ground.  Sometimes a dozen animals helped position cages and some helped to erect the tall tent tops

A photo of a Circus Tent Palmerston North, New Zealand 2015

    In small towns most of the population would turn out to see the circus. They could fill as many as 2,500 seats for an evening performances.

          
    By 1939 most staff and performers had volunteered to contribute to the Second World War effort, which caused most shows to close.  However, to boost the morale of the people the authorities allowed Wirths Circus to operate on a smaller scale.

Two circus lions. Evening Post newspaper.
Ref : EP 1955/2083-F. Alexander Turnbull Library,
Wellington New Zealand.

                  

     With the introduction of television in the 1960s, circuses declined to an extent but some innovative circus entrepreneurs were able to keep viable enterprises touring.

     

                       Japanese circus

    Over the decades, Russian, Chinese and Japanese circuses toured New Zealand. There were large successful New Zealand ensembles like the Ridgeway and Whirling Brother circuses as well as the small Rowan Brothers Circus, a humble entertainment troupe that toured New Zealand with carnival rides.  They appeared at agricultural and show days. When some of the performers became older they managed carnival activities.  George Carian no longer rode his “trick horse”, Chief, while he reared and walked on his back legs, but operated carnival activities such as the merry-go-round.

His wife, Ruby, eventually stopped walking the tightrope and went on to supervise the Laughing Clowns caravan.  The Leonardo’s and Robinson’s family circuses were successful small New Zealand circuses that mainly presented at schools.

                                

                            
                                             

Myself  who performed circus clown and mime acts at schools,
Libraries and Palmerston North Esplanarde. Date: Late1990s. 

    Sometimes the circus/fairground folk were treated as gypsies and outcasts. When they settled in a particular place, the children were sent to school where they were often bullied.

A child at the Circus            Poem published in Heritage Matters Magazine  Issue  27 

 

It does't seem long since the circus  
came to town, when I was a child, a  
mischievous little hound.

There were big red trucks, parked in a circle 
and a circus tarpaulin rigged in the middle.

And over to the side, ponies were tethered 
to the ground, where children stood and
jumped waiting for a ride.

The elephant swung his trunk high in
the air. Standing with its leg chained to
the ground, where people listened to its               
trumpeting sound.

The lion moved in a straw-laden cage,
roaring out loud in a kitty catty rage.

Yes, I was a child, who stood among
the crowd, looking all agape as monkeys 
chatted out loud, holding their babes, 
with faces in a daze. Some climbed around, 
looking out their cage.

Then came the time to file into the tent, to
sit on planks which were tiered above the ring. 
Watching the ringmaster cracking his whips,
then swinging them around down by his hips.

The clowns each juggled hoops in the air, 
and then skipped around the ring, 
doing tricks and high jinks.

The tiger tamer showed his skill, directing 
cats as they jumped through rings. They glided 
along like cats on wings.

That was the circus when I was a lad. 
Now I go there as a granddad, watching trapeze 
artists, who swing from their knees. 
These men catch lady acrobats, high above a net  
that sags below.

James Fagan 

Palmerston North
New Zealand

Tinkers, Swagmen, Rovers or Travellers?

Horse Trainer Jim Waller, Palmerstion North, New Zealand

Text published Memories Magazine Issue 85 August / September 2010
Additional Photos Added


    Jim Waller was born at Loburn, Rangiora. He was the son of farmers and had three brothers and three sisters. Jim’s parents worked land on the boundary of Palmerston North in Botanical Road. His mother owned 9 acres and his father another 10 acres.
     As a young person, Jim was a keen sports competitor. There was testimony to this in a newspaper article about the Oroua Downs Sports Club Golden Jubilee that read:


ONE OF THE BEST
Manawatu Standard. Friday, March 5, 1965

    One of the most versatile supporters of the club was the late Mr J. Waller, one of the country’s most successful horse trainers.

    In athletic competition he won the men’s long jump in 1922 and 1924 and the high jump also went to him in those years as well as in 1927. He also won the hop, step and jump in 1924.

    He competed in novelty as well as round-the-ring horse events and won the ‘open hunter’ competition nine times up to 1939 as well as taking the honours in other events and filling the minor places on numerous occasions. Mr Waller’s generosity is shown in that he presented five cups to the club for competition.

    When Jim left school, he first worked as a shepherd for two years at Bushy Park, close to the town of Kai Iwi. For a time Jim also managed a farm for Mr C. T. Keeble at Rangiotu. He married Winifred Cole and they had four daughters, Joyce, Betty, Dorothy and Irene (Chub).

                   Jim Waller standing with horse far right of photo. Harrier hounds in the back ground.

    Later, in 1925, he became the Manawatu Huntsman, keeping the hounds for the Manawatu Hunt Club in Slacks Road, Awapuni, Palmerston North. The club hunted one day at midweek and once during the weekend. Horses, with their riders, would follow a dozen harrier hounds as they chased rabbits and hares across open ground. As the official huntsman, Jim Waller would mostly lead the chase. Jumps referred to as “spars” were built into fences, so the equestrians could follow the hunt over the shortest route. Gates were also left open so less experienced riders could follow the chase.

    Then, in 1941, after sixteen years of successful hunting, Jim wanted to become a racehorse trainer while continuing as the Manawatu Huntsman. However, the Manawatu Hunt Club administration would not allow this, so Jim resigned from the Hunt Club early in 1941.

    Jim went away to fight in the first World War but by the time he reached England it had ended.

    As a horse trainer his career was most successful. In his first year, Jim trained nineteen winners and three years later he placed second in the training success ranks having trained twenty-one winners. He successfully rode as a gentleman rider. Rangi Sarto was one of his most successful mounts and Sleeveless was mentioned as one of the first outstanding horses he trained.

    In the early years Jim helped prepare Aurora Borealis (the horse of his brother, Fred), to win the Great Northern Steeplechase, the Winter Steeplechase, the Grand National Steeplechase, the Lincoln Steeplechase and to come second in the Grand National Hurdles, all in the same year.

    Frisco Jack, Nigger Goy, Nighean, Hunting Royal, Lady Spiral, Colonel Rouge, Greek Effort, Kinsman and Sea Spi were some of those that Jim trained. Sea Spi was the top New Zealand two-year-old but was involved in a nasty mishap when she stood on her lead and pulled backward abruptly. She died a week later. An autopsy revealed that she had broken her neck in the accident. Some of the winners on the flat included Kippo, Hy-spin and Gaelic Song. Waller had the most success with jumpers. Other horses included Colibri, Ellerton Hall, Postman, Lightfair, Gaiety (a Wellington Steeplechase winner), Dawn March (Grant National Steeplechase), Norfolk Boy, Tabor Islet, Person-ality and Solar Mist (Grand National Hurdles).

    For many years Jim also held the position of Clerk of the Course at the Manawatu Race Club.

    Three apprentices trained as jockeys in Jim Waller’s stable; Eric Temperton, John Carter and Merv Andrews. Eric Temperton went on to train Silver Night to win the Melbourne Cup and John Carter trained Polo Prince to do the same. Merv Andrews also went on to train horses to win many major races.

                                        Jim Waller riding unknown horse over a hurdle.
  
     Jim also competed successfully in the show jumping ring during his hunting and racing careers. Frisco Jack was his most successful show jumping mount. The notable equestrian Freda White mentions Frisco Jack’s, Ranger’s and Rob Roy’s jumping abilities in her book, Horses, People and Fun, on page 58. In show jumping events Jim also rode Treasure Hunt, Hinatore, Dick Turpin, Echo and Torquay. All are mentioned in the Palmerston North Metropolitan Spring Show Catalogues. There was a large trophy cabinet at the Waller house. It contained many of the cups that had been won over the years. The largest cup won in competition was sometimes used as a punch bowl at family celebrations.

Riot

    Jim Waller also owned a pony called Riot, which stood at about 14½ hands. Riot was a phenomenal jumper. Often referred to as a freak because of his fantastic jumping ability, it was well known that Riot could jump out of a loose box when the top door was left open. Bob Waller, Jim’s nephew, once lost control of Riot while competing in a pony jump event at an A&P Show in Palmerston North. Riot jumped into the crowd while Bob was still mounted on the pony.

     There is a wonderful photo of Riot taken in 1928 when he cleared 6 ft 2 in and won the Dalrymple High Jump at the Manawatu A&P Association’s Royal Show. The pony was ridden by the young teenager Jack McDowel who later became Jim’s son-in-law.

                                       Jack McDowel riding Riot                                                                             Riot free jumping

    The Waller family also has a spectacular photo of Riot jumping with nobody aboard his back. Riot would jump most objects easily when chased towards them despite not having a rider aboard. When not being ridden, the pony was mostly left to run freely along side the Manawatu river adjacent to Slacks Road with the herd of hunt club kills (horses used to feed the Hunt Club hounds). Eventually the pony went missing while running by the river. The mystery of the pony’s fate was never solved. Jim Waller died in 1956 at the age of 58.

                                  Compiled by grandson, James Fagan (Jim) 2009,
                                  from newspaper clippings and some family memories

    Jim Waller had a second son-in-law who went on to become a hurdle jocky. This was my father Jim Fagan who did his apprenticship with renouned horse trainer George New of Awapuni, Palmerston North.There was an interesting newspaper article in our family about an outlaw horse.


   An "Outlaw" By The Name Of Thunderhead
               Taken from an old news paper cutting. Published in the early 1940s.


    There is quite a story behind the surprise win of Thunderhead at Feilding and his dividend of nearly a score, and the outlaw of the Awapuni tracks may be on the way to making a name for himself.


    When first put into work at Awapuni the King Lu gelding purchased by "Lucky Max" Rough looked anything but a bargain. It was by only the greatest difficulty that he could be got on to the track at all; and then he would indulge in buck-jumping exhibitions which would have put any circus to shame. His trainer and half a dozen other riders bit the dust so often that only Jim Fagan would tackle him, and to date the twain have never parted company.

     Fagan Schooled the King Lu gelding, who showed aptitude for the game, and he rode him in all his work prior to the Feilding meeting last Saturday. However, although the four year-old showed some pace in a few short sprints the general impression was that he would "go to market" once be saw the track on race day, and he was given scant consideration last week-end.


    It was not until after the Feilding acceptances closed that the King Lu gelding was named; the announcement that he would race as Thunderhead caused no more than passing comment- he appeared to be appropriately named.


   Thunderhead behaved himself surprisingly well at Feilding, and his connections acted wisely in putting up 53/41b overweight to secure Fagan's services—not that any other local rider would have accepted the mount. The King Lu gelding was one of the first to move from the barrier-rise and, after the first furlong, he was never further back than fifth. He was third when they straightened up, and, although inclined to run about before Fagan drew the stick, he came home as true as a die to beat Dutch Mary and Gardane.


Related To Crucinella


    Thunderhead comes from a successful family. Thirty-six years earlier his third dam Crucinella, had won the Feilding Cup with 9.5 and that good daughter of San Francisco, who was a half-sister to Nonette, took the Wellington Cup among other good races. Alawa, She produced Canella, a mare with knees like footballs.


    At the stud, however, Canella produced Birkenella, who won many good races on the flat for Mr. W. R. Kemball,before being put to jumping. He soon made a name for himself as a steeplechaser, winning the Waikato Hunt Cup with 11.12 and the Wellington Steeplechase at long odds. However, he had a bad fall in the Grand National and was never the same horse afterwards.


    Canella then dropped Cinnamon to Sarto, and that mare produced the useful jumper Pahu, Pango and Miss Pango, Canella's 1924 foal to Warplane was Vinella, dam of the Feilding Trial Plate winner.


James Fagan
Palmerston North
New Zealand