Billy on the run
For a number of years Billy was a member of the local Gym in
Horsham. This involved indoor training with weights, medicine balls
and the like and culminated in occasional display nights. The
programme also included regular harrier or hare and hounds runs
through the surrounding country. Billy was an enthusiastic if not
remarkably successful participant in these chases.
I have signed Billy up to MapMyRun.com. If you want to follow
Billy's runs on a map, follow the links.
Good Friday, 23rd March 1894
Took part in a rattling paper chase with the Gym. Met at 8.30 and
at 8.55 sent out Fred and Charlie Prewett as hares with 3 minutes
start. After a short delay on account of false tracks on Worthing
Road, we steered clear away over Blackbridge to Farthing Hill
following the stream up past Miles Farm and Warnham Station. Had
several water jumps, some very stiff ones. After the station was
passed, the pace was very fast on account of the hares being
sighted. The main body got a long way ahead of me. Presently I came
up with a chap named Pratt who stayed with me all the time. We kept
plodding on over very rough country, over plough fields, hedges,
ditches and through thick underwoods getting rather scratched till
we came on the hard road near Capel.
Ockley, Leith Hill, 1906, courtesy of Francis Frith; Photo
credit.
Stopped for a livener at a pub then off to Ockley Station turning
in just beyond the Bridge where we lost all signs of a track but
strange to say, after wandering about with the intention of making
for Warnham, we got to Kingsfold and found all the others in the
“Wheatsheaf”[1] Inn the hares having
been caught a little farther up the road. After a short rest we all
marched home, forming up and doubling down North Parade and arrived
at the school a little after 1.0 after a proper run of over 20
miles.
Saturday 24th March … rather stiff today. Sunday 25th March … I
think I feel rather worse today.
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Thursday 31st May 1894
Met at the Gym at 6.30 for a paper chase. Frank Ireland and Sam
Chriss set off as “hares’ and after 3 minutes grace 10 of us
followed them round Mill Bay, Chesworth, Kerves Lane, and Upland
Farm to the Forest where we had a nice job in keeping the track.
After a long run about “the Race”[2],
we found again and made away home arriving about 9.00 finishing a
run of about 2¼ hours over very rough country at times. Had a rub
down then did ample justice to the supper. After that the Annual
Meeting was held. Most officers were re-elected including self as
Hon. Sec.
Mick Mills Race, St. Leonards
Forrest. © Copyright Peter Cox and licensed for reuse under
this Creative Commons
Licence; Photo Credit.
To follow Billy’s run go to: MapMyRun.
Thursday 12th July 1894
Had another paper chase this evening. Sam and I turned out and made
for Padwick’s field, Normandy, Denne, Hopoast and across the field
to Two Mile Ash Road, then to Southwater. Came out at Bonfire Hill
then to Southwater School, across the fields to Southwater Street
where we thought we heard the other chaps close behind us so Sam
and I cleared out running all the way home.
Southwater from Bonfire Hill,
c.1910, courtesy West Sussex Past Pictures; Ref: PP/WSL/PC006745;
Rep: West Sussex County Council Library Service;
Photo Credit.
To follow Billy’s run, go to: MapMyRun
Christmas Day 1894
Turned out at 8.30 to the Schoolroom for Paper Chase. On account of
the weather and other things we had a very poor muster. Sent out
Jack Young and Alf Ansell with a 3½ minute start, followed by
Frank, Sam, Jim Allen, A. Baker and self. Found the track across
Mitchell’s fields to Blackbridge Road, over main road, Jews Meadow,
to Warnham Mill and Langhurst Wood which we found in a terrible
condition. AB and I got out of track there but were put right by a
keeper. Caught up with the others then on via Hungry Hill to Rusper
where we left the track and halted for refreshments. Good deal of
fun was caused by our arrival in the “Star”, fairly astonished the
natives, stayed about 15 minutes then off again.
Star Inn, Rusper, courtesy of
Horsham Pub Guide; Photo
credit.
Here Arthur Baker took the Faygate Road in hopes of getting a good
run but that turned out to be quite the wrong direction as we found
the track to lead across fields to top of Hurst Hill. Via Moated
House to Holbrook and then home by road all the way finishing down
North Parade. Pretty sight we looked, smothered in mud from head to
foot. On arrival at schoolroom at noon, found our hares dressed and
gone home having arrived some ½ hour before us which is accounted
for by our stay in the pub and waiting for AB who, by the way,
arrived home fairly dead beat a long time after us, Having found he
was wrong, he worked back on the track and followed it home alone.
So ended the hardest run I ever had. Owing to the previous rain,
most fields were no better than quagmires and the woods were
knee-deep in mud.
To follow Billy’s run, go to: Map My Run
- [1] The Wheatsheaf is
no more. Kingsfold has two pubs these days, the Wise Old Owl and
the Dog and Duck. A local may be able to confirm whether either of
these buildings was the Wheatsheaf.
- [2] Mick Mills Race, a
one mile cleared track though St Leonards Forrest. Mick Mills was a
legendary smuggler of that region. When the Devil came to claim his
soul Mick challenged him to race him the length of the track. The
Devil lost the race!
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