Lord Willoughby de Broke
1844 -1902
1844 -1902
Hugh Verney, 18th Baron Willoughby de Broke was born at Kineton, near Compton Verney, Warwickshire, on May 14, 1844, the only son of Robert John Barnard (1809-1862), 17th Baronet, and his wife Georgina, daughter of Major-General Thomas Taylor, a courtier to King William IV.
Hugh Verney, 18th Baron Willoughby de Broke was born at Kineton, near Compton Verney, Warwickshire, on May 14, 1844, the only son of Robert John Barnard (1809-1862), 17th Baronet, and his wife Georgina, daughter of Major-General Thomas Taylor, a courtier to King William IV.
He was educated at Eton and then at Christ Church, Oxford, inheriting the title 18th Baron Willoughby de Broke and 26th Baron Latimer on the death of his father in 1862. He became Colonel commanding the Warwickshire Yeomanry, a Deputy Lieutenant and a Justice of the Peace for Warwickshire. He married Geraldine Smith-Barry, a daughter of James Hugh Smith-Barry, in October 1867. They had five children: two sons and three daughters.
He was educated at Eton and then at Christ Church, Oxford, inheriting the title 18th Baron Willoughby de Broke and 26th Baron Latimer on the death of his father in 1862. He became Colonel commanding the Warwickshire Yeomanry, a Deputy Lieutenant and a Justice of the Peace for Warwickshire. He married Geraldine Smith-Barry, a daughter of James Hugh Smith-Barry, in October 1867. They had five children: two sons and three daughters.
He had made his race-riding debut under the nom-de-plume of ‘Mr Ashby’ in the Oxford versus Cambridge Steeplechase Match at the Aylesbury Aristocratic Steeplechases meeting in 1865. Four horses ran for each side, all carrying 12 stone. Despite it being his first attempt, Lord Willoughby de Broke was aboard the favourite, Kate, for Oxford. Cambridge won the race but it is best remembered for the incident where the Earl of Minto (then Viscount Melgund) accidentally collided with and knocked over Lord Willoughby’s mount.
He had made his race-riding debut under the nom-de-plume of ‘Mr Ashby’ in the Oxford versus Cambridge Steeplechase Match at the Aylesbury Aristocratic Steeplechases meeting in 1865. Four horses ran for each side, all carrying 12 stone. Despite it being his first attempt, Lord Willoughby de Broke was aboard the favourite, Kate, for Oxford. Cambridge won the race but it is best remembered for the incident where the Earl of Minto (then Viscount Melgund) accidentally collided with and knocked over Lord Willoughby’s mount.
‘Mr Ashby’ achieved his first success on his mare Lady Betty in the Warwickshire Hunt Cup at Stratford-on-Avon on April 16, 1873. He won that race again in 1874, this time on Roman Bee, the property of a Mr Jessop. At Newport Pagnell the same year, he won the Open Hunters’ Purse on his own mare Abbess. He also won that year’s Undergraduates Race at Aylesbury on a chestnut horse called No Name, and the same day finished second on Abbess in the Master of Hounds Steeplechase, the race being won by Miss Hungerford, ridden by ‘Mr Rolly’, the assumed name of none other than the Earl of Minto. Meanwhile, on the Flat, also in 1874, he rode another of his horses, Brown Bread, to win the Framers’ Plate at Warwick’s Spring meeting.
‘Mr Ashby’ achieved his first success on his mare Lady Betty in the Warwickshire Hunt Cup at Stratford-on-Avon on April 16, 1873. He won that race again in 1874, this time on Roman Bee, the property of a Mr Jessop. At Newport Pagnell the same year, he won the Open Hunters’ Purse on his own mare Abbess. He also won that year’s Undergraduates Race at Aylesbury on a chestnut horse called No Name, and the same day finished second on Abbess in the Master of Hounds Steeplechase, the race being won by Miss Hungerford, ridden by ‘Mr Rolly’, the assumed name of none other than the Earl of Minto. Meanwhile, on the Flat, also in 1874, he rode another of his horses, Brown Bread, to win the Framers’ Plate at Warwick’s Spring meeting.
He won the Warwickshire Hunt Cup for a third successive year in 1875, this time on Mr Kineton’s chestnut mare Kathleen, going on to register a double by winning the two-mile chase on Abbess.
He won the Warwickshire Hunt Cup for a third successive year in 1875, this time on Mr Kineton’s chestnut mare Kathleen, going on to register a double by winning the two-mile chase on Abbess.
Back at Stratford in 1876, he won the Hunters’ Steeplechase on yet another of his horses, Gamut. Gamut turned out again later that same day to win the Avon Steeplechase by a neck. Lord Willoughby rode three winners from five rides at that year’s Tarporley Hunt meeting: viz. the Tarporley Hunt Stakes on Mr. H. R. Corbett’s Conductor, the Gentleman’s Welter Steeplechase on Captain W. G. Middleton’s Capello, and the Borough Members’ Plate on Gamut.
Back at Stratford in 1876, he won the Hunters’ Steeplechase on yet another of his horses, Gamut. Gamut turned out again later that same day to win the Avon Steeplechase by a neck. Lord Willoughby rode three winners from five rides at that year’s Tarporley Hunt meeting: viz. the Tarporley Hunt Stakes on Mr. H. R. Corbett’s Conductor, the Gentleman’s Welter Steeplechase on Captain W. G. Middleton’s Capello, and the Borough Members’ Plate on Gamut.
Thereafter, he mainly confined himself to riding on the Flat and restricted his jumping activities to the hunting field, having become Master of the Warwickshire Hounds in 1876.
Thereafter, he mainly confined himself to riding on the Flat and restricted his jumping activities to the hunting field, having become Master of the Warwickshire Hounds in 1876.
Lord Willoughby was a director of the Warwick Race Club and often rode in races there, winning the one-mile Club Welter Handicap on Cabin Boy at the 1893 April meeting, and the National Hunt Flat Race on Ben Wyvis at the 1894 March fixture.
Lord Willoughby was a director of the Warwick Race Club and often rode in races there, winning the one-mile Club Welter Handicap on Cabin Boy at the 1893 April meeting, and the National Hunt Flat Race on Ben Wyvis at the 1894 March fixture.
He made his final appearance in a steeplechase at Stratford in 1897, finishing third on his own horse Clasp in the Warwickshire Hunt Cup.
He made his final appearance in a steeplechase at Stratford in 1897, finishing third on his own horse Clasp in the Warwickshire Hunt Cup.
On retiring from his Mastership of the Warwickshire Foxhounds in 1900, Lord Willoughby was presented by the members of the hunt with a commemorative plate and a painting of himself surrounded by some of his favourite hounds.
On retiring from his Mastership of the Warwickshire Foxhounds in 1900, Lord Willoughby was presented by the members of the hunt with a commemorative plate and a painting of himself surrounded by some of his favourite hounds.
Hugh Verney, 18th Baron Willoughby de Broke, died in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), on December 19, 1902, aged 58. On his death, the title passed to his eldest son, Richard Verney, 19th Baron Willoughby de Broke (1869-1923).
Hugh Verney, 18th Baron Willoughby de Broke, died in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), on December 19, 1902, aged 58. On his death, the title passed to his eldest son, Richard Verney, 19th Baron Willoughby de Broke (1869-1923).