David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


06 May 2011

O the Circle ( will be broken )

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VICTORIA'S jumps industry is facing more controversy after a riderless horse leapt into the crowd at yesterday's Grand Annual Steeplechase in Warrnambool, leaving seven people in hospital.
Jumps racing under fire again after horse leaps into crowd
Andrew Eddy, Warrnambool
THE AGE / page 1. / 06/05/2011

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"They wouldn't have seen it coming because of the height of the fence. It would have come straight through the fence at them," Mr Wild said. "There were people running everywhere and I could hear the screaming and a horse among all the people over there."



Seven people were injured by the runaway horse and taken to Warrnambool Hospital. They included a two-year-old girl with a fractured collarbone, a 12-year-old girl with an injured foot and an 80-year-old woman with shoulder and hip injuries.



Victorian Racing Minister Denis Napthine said he had asked Racing Victoria to a conduct broad review of spectator safety, as well as to investigate yesterday's incident. "The safety of spectators at horse racing events is of paramount importance. I have asked Racing Victoria to report back to me on existing safety measures and any recommendations to improve spectator safety," Mr Napthine said.



Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines said an investigation would be launched into all incidents during yesterday's race, but denied the race reflected poorly on jumps racing and thoroughbred racing in general. "What we saw today was a freakish accident where a horse left the course and went onto a public road where people were watching the race, and unfortunately they had no idea the horse was coming," he said. "But only two of the horses actually fell and while we are very concerned about the injured spectators, I doubt it will impact on horse racing's image as the incident was simply freakish."



Australian Jumps Racing Association president Rodney Rae said the incident was totally unexpected. "No one could have foreseen something like this happen. It is similar I suppose to a car leaving the track in a grand prix race and going into the crowd," he said.


images of the spectators courtesy Theatre of the Actors of Regard

For the first time in the race's 134-year history, just two of the eight starters in what is the country's most gruelling steeple event finished the race. No horses or riders were seriously hurt.

The 5500-metre, 33-fence race was eventually taken out by last year's winner, the 11-year-old Al Garhood, ahead of the other remaining contender, Awakening Dream

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Activist group the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses will protest in Melbourne today to call for an immediate end to jumps racing.


with apologies to Daniel Buren, 1968

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