Brookfield Monthly Horse Show had a Novelty Harness Class. This was usually won by the show secretary with his pony stallion in a trotting gig. Our friends Luton White Family had tried to win it with a miniature 4 wheel cart and pony. This was always placed 2nd So we took the sled made by our Uncle Ed keeping it under wraps until we drove it in to the ring. I had already ridden Pearly in other events. We won as no one had ever seen the like and took home the trophy. The ultimate result was that the Secretary who had a transport business would no longer take us to other shows.
Me on Sparkplug after winning 12.2h speed test at Brookfield Show about 1950. [ two laps of 1/4 mile track ]
Ready to go to Brookfield from Chelmer Dairy Yard. about 1950.
The first new Austin A40 Devon.
The first new Austin A40 Devon.
Winning 14.2h speed test at Mt Gravatt Show with Sparkplug about 1950.
Teaching Pearley to do tricks
The horse yard Kenmore Park about 1952
Allan with Sparky at full flight
SPARKPLUG WAS ONE OF A NUMBER OF PONIES BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE WEST BY DEALERS. Very few were ridden and used as children's hacks as they all tended to bolt and have bad behaviour. We bought one and it bolted on me. Dad sold it to a car salesman who wanted it for his partner. No knowledge of it after.
Sparky was owned by one of two brothers who had bred and reared Pearly at their home in Taringa.
The eldest brother kept Sparky at the Nundah Pound where he was Assistant Keeper. Anyone going there in the morning was invited to let the pony out of his stable. When there was a small gap the pony would charge the door to get out and thus knocking the door opener for six. Sparky then spent most of his time galloping round the yard. He was only good for speed tests and won many.
Sadly the two pound men were employed as Clerk of Course on Brisbane racecourses.But they were "Warned OFF" when caught carrying battery jiggers to the start of races.
SPARKPLUG WAS ONE OF A NUMBER OF PONIES BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE WEST BY DEALERS. Very few were ridden and used as children's hacks as they all tended to bolt and have bad behaviour. We bought one and it bolted on me. Dad sold it to a car salesman who wanted it for his partner. No knowledge of it after.
Sparky was owned by one of two brothers who had bred and reared Pearly at their home in Taringa.
The eldest brother kept Sparky at the Nundah Pound where he was Assistant Keeper. Anyone going there in the morning was invited to let the pony out of his stable. When there was a small gap the pony would charge the door to get out and thus knocking the door opener for six. Sparky then spent most of his time galloping round the yard. He was only good for speed tests and won many.
Sadly the two pound men were employed as Clerk of Course on Brisbane racecourses.But they were "Warned OFF" when caught carrying battery jiggers to the start of races.
Allan and I when we arrived at Bellthorpe after 2 day ride from Kenmore Park. 1953
Allan about 2000.
Dad, William "Allan" was like his father and a Quiet gambler. He was always going to the Saturday Trots, Redcliffe while we were living on the north side and Rocklea when we moved to Acacia Ridge. His father was known to place bets on the Saturday races while operating the Ashgrove Bus. He would stop outside the house and run in to hear the race on the radio and if he came out whistling, it indicated his bet would pay. It was believed that he went to the Stadium Fights on a Friday night and ran a "Book" up in the bleachers. The night he recieved his fatal head injury, it is thought they were on their way to the Fights.
Dad was a partner in a trotter "Brilliant Sport" that won the Summer Cup at Rocklea 1984