South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 8 October 1960
The above picture of this racing pony—”the best 13 hand pony in the country”—has been kindly lent to us by Mr. T. Lunn, of 1 Crofton Drive, Bolton.
“I think it may be of interest to some aged people in Conisbrough,” Mr. Lunn says. “My dad sold this pony to Mr. Joe Crossland, Fox Inn, Conisbrough, well over 60 years ago. Mr. Crossland got a lad named Dalton Marshall to ride it, and it won many races.
“Dad said it was the best 13 hand pony in England, and only sold it because it was too small to carry his 8 st. 6 lb. when racing.
“Dad followed the Badsworth and Fitzwilliam hounds and jumped Billingly Dyke many times before parting with her for 20 gns. He chose her from a drove of pit ponies at a Barnsley Fair and saved her from a life in the mine.
“Besides riding her he used her in a trap and fetched groceries from Barnsley Co-op, before we had one at Bolton-on-Dearne.
“I think the photograph must have been taken in Fox Inn yard.”
Mr. Crossland sent it to Dad soon after he became the owner. The pony was named Jess and had many fans.