Mid Surrey Drag – Poetry and Verse

The Mid Surrey Draghounds has a history of verse ranging from the printed works of Edward Cazalet to fun rhymes and verse to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries below are a selection.

The Hickstead line, which Douglas Bunn provides, is like riding across Leicestershire at its best. Edward Cazalet wrote these lines about Hickstead.

 

 

“And after this world’s travail, when you ride life’s final line,
	Show the courage of a Dragman as you face your Life Divine,
Ride forth in Hickstead manner to your Maker’s great estates
	As you jump the Stygian Waters and you ping the Pearly Gates.
On earth you’ve tasted Paradise; I speak not of cocaine
	Nor of the false euphoria brought on by fine champagne,
	WBut of the soaring ecstasy that’s only to be found
	WWWhen you’re flying high and mounted, over Hickstead’s glorious ground.”

 

 

When Philippa Marshall joined the Mastership Edward further wrote:-

 

“Hon. Philip wore the Dragman’s crown

WWWFor forty years; in stepping down

WWWWWWHe then decreed:

 

'She stands alone,
Queen Dragon will ascend my throne.’
So Master Marshall now holds sway
She cracks the whip, we all obey.
She’s Thatcher, Princess Di in one,
At times she even out-smarts Bunn.
With Doctor Mark on ready call
She tends those injured when they fall.”

And to mark her retirement:

 

“Across the Weald – when drag lines end - the tea and whiskey flow
	In country pubs for heroes, in a drag line after-glow.
Here the lines are once more ridden and each will tell a tale
	Of no Quarter asked or given in the race across the vale.
Then as the evening lengthens and the fire logs cease to glow,
	When each have put the world to rights and the riders rise to go,
There comes a call spontaneous for a great and mighty toast,
	To mark the Horseman’s Homage to the one they love the most.
To Philippa, our Dragon of genius and of fame
	To the drag lines linked for ever with Philippa’s proud name,
To Sara, Mark and Mandy, the fam’ly we adore,
	We drink your health, we love you, God bless you evermore.”

 

For the 2008 End of Season Dinner Dance, Sue Kenny and Richard Hubbard penned these verses for Colin Baker and David Robinson.

The Farmers ‘ Drag is a lesser place
Without our Colin in the race.
Poor Colin was laid out on his back
His girded loins have been crack’d
We need our whipper-in ‘on board’;
So wish him a speedy mend of pelvis
Soon to be leaping round on Elvis.

With Colin on the mend, the season nearly at an end
We lost the one we most admire in circumstance most rare and dire!

At 65 David aspired,
When others since had long retired
To be the oldest winner in the land,
At Godstone, in front, with lengths in hand
Mighty cheers rang out from the stand,
With Bee and Bee, held strong and ridden hard,
They bagged the first race on the Card.

Having won, in style the members race –
Bee in a moment of confusion said ’no’ thanks
At furious pace; on Charings’ Banks,
Approaching the fence he ducked and dived
And threw his Master out the side!
Now racing is the Sport of King   s
Best not to exit though the wings
A broken neck and heavy brace are now in place
But still he dreams of - just one more race!

And from Dudley Pinney to celebrate George and Richard Goring’s 70th Birthday, this was sung by Drag Members at their birthday party in France May 19th 2008

Ain’t it all a Bloody Shame

It's the rich wot gets the pleasure
It's the poor wot gets the blame,
It's the same the whole world over,
Aint it all a blooming shame

Now there were two brothers Goring
George & Richard were their names
For these bold & handsome brothers
hotels & horses were their game.

It's the rich wot gets the pleasure
It's the poor wot gets the blame,
It's the same the whole world over,
Aint it all a blooming shame

George he had a boat called Bugsy
La Belle France he tried to reach
With the help of Air Sea Rescue
He shook up upon the Beach!

It's the rich wot gets the pleasure
It's the poor wot gets  the blame,
It's the same the whole world over,
Aint it all a blooming shame

Now we come to dear old Richard
Canal barges are his game
Till it came to locks & bridges
Aint it all a blooming shame

It's the rich wot gets the pleasure
It's the poor wot gets the blame,
It's the same the whole world over,
Aint it all a blooming shame

These two boys, they love to party
Balls and Bums they love to bare,
It ain’t clever, it ain’t pretty
But all their bits they love to share!!

 

Some Doggerel for the 2008 – 09 Season Last Seasons’ party was a cracking bash But we missed Robbo after his crash You may have thought he’d have had enough When Bee and Bee cut up so rough. Draughts & cribbage, perhaps some knitting a sedentary  life with lots of sitting? Wrong! Twelve weeks in a metal frame Did not encourage pursuits tame He wavered for weeks, that much is true But come November, ov’r Tom Buckley’s’ hedges, he and Coco flew. (Well til the second hedge anyway!) With Colin’s still un-mended pelvis New Master Stuart took the ride on Elvis. Rock they say is the best foundation – But Northern  Rocks not his salvation. Next he’ll be financing the nation. With Colin’s still un-mended pelvis New Master Stuart took the ride on Elvis David Betts then stepped up to take the Whip By God He gives those hounds some stick! David Betts stepped up to take the Whip By God he gives those hounds some stick! In front it’s like a crazy race Three contenders for the Champion Chase His real job’s keeping Robbo in third place! Have the East Sussex hounds been sold? We’ve been joined by Hickmans young and old Normans and Marshalls too – they kicked on bold To our racing jockeys we wish - good luck this season Remember jumping Drag hedges aids your adhesion! Now Dragging is what we all love best Dressage tests, show jumping – give it a rest! The SAS claim our lines are scary Hey! We’re adrenalin junkies - we like it hairy. Coakham’s hedges have drops untold Requiring horse and rider strong and bold, Winged Tony on his home turf - Like Icarus he came swiftly back to earth. Wicked Woden lived up to his name At twenty he should know the game/At twenty he does not do tame! Two choppers to the rescue on Burwash Weald And Sue’s broken jaw was quickly healed.

And so to this years’ prized Glue Pot, Nick -  your daily double falls - they’re timed to perfection .. But could this season end in rejection Of your claim to win again the coveted Glue Pot – or not? Nick’s challenged by those on three falls in one day ‘We’ve won’ they gloated as on the ground they lay But Garth and Sue have you done your best to win  champagne and cheers and sheepish grins? Despite Linda’s squeals  - they’re a fearful sound She hardly ever hits the ground With just one fall Linda -  panic ye not You have not won this year’s Glue Pot! Jake, Cass and Jerry joined the fight, But even with their combined height, They could not take the coveted prize, Twas whipped away before their eyes. O’re fences barely higher than a speck Fearless Fred at Rivers twice was on the deck And then twice more he went to ground Can it be that Fred has won this round? But , a fair maid laid claim to winning falls, At the Jolly Farmers we listened enthralled, To tales of spills at yet unmentioned, But surely a second win was her intention? Ladies and Gentlemen going one better this year the outright winner is:  Jane Lindsay Sue Kenny and Andrew Siggs

 

 

 

So The Mid Surrey Drag’s literary tradition continues on – any offerings please email us!

With the Mid Surrey Farmers Drag Hounds you can be assured of fun!