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STEEPLECHASING BEGAN IN IRELAND The first mention of a cro scountry race in Ireland was in 1752 anil took place in County Cork The tonrse was from the steeple of the church at Buttevant to the steeple of thu church at Doneraile a distance of four miles or more hence the origin of the word steeplechase The Morning Post says the town of Donoraile gives his title to the head of the St Legcr family and it was four years after the historic contest al ¬ luded to above that Colonel St Logor a scion of the hon e of Doneraile founded the classic racing event which bears his name The paper quoted added that the foundation of organized steeple chasing in England was laid in 1830 when some officers of the First Life Guards asked the well known trainer Tommy Coleman of St Albans to arrange the matter The course chosen was from Hiirlington Church to the Obelisk in Wrest Park near Silsoc The St Albaiis meeting only lasted until ISTSS the farmers over whose land the sport took place relwlling at the unmanageable crowds and the destruction they caused The next year Liverpool was thc venue and the Grand Na Uvual bewail in canicst
