The Lamerton Foxhound Steeplechase at Kilworthy

The Lamerton Steeplechase takes place annually on the edge of Dartmoor. Competitors jump high hedges, here caught on film by Claude Endicott, who reverses his shots demonstrating early visual effects. Fox hunting is the origin of traditional equestrian sports. Venery or the use of scenthounds to track prey followed by horse and hunter is an emotive subject pitting countryside traditionalists against town moralists.

In 1752 in Ireland, Mr Blake challenges Mr O’Callaghan to race from Buttevant Church to Doneraile Church jumping over walls, hedges and ditches with steeples as markers. The steeplechase is born. The National Hunt Committee forms in the 1860s and steeplechasing becomes known as point-to-point. The world’s most famous steeplechase, the Grand National begins at Aintree the 1830s and the Cheltenham Gold Cup is established in 1904-5. Point-to-pointing is run over three miles on Thoroughbreds and a training ground for National Hunt Racing. Steeplechase combines with dressage and show jumping to form Eventing, an Olympic Sport since 1912.