Gordon’s famous leap alongside the Blue Lake

On 28 July 1864 – 161 years ago – Adam Lindsay Gordon made his famous ‘leap’ over a four-foot-high post and rail fence alongside the Blue Lake with his horse Red Lancer. This feat came about when Lindsay was out cross-country riding with several friends, when each would dare the other to clear any obstacle he could. While discussing remarkable feats on horseback that they had witnessed, or taken part in, he decided to show them a feat they would not be likely to imitate. Having cleared the fence, he had a mere eight-foot wide ledge on which to turn his horse and jump back onto the road, which he did.

The previous day, three of the riders – Lindsay Gordon, William Trainor, and Robert Learmonth – had competed in the Border Handicap Steeplechase in Mount Gambier, a race of four miles with six jumps over a course of almost virgin scrub encircling the town. These three competitors were closely matched, finishing with barely a length between them. Robert Learmonth won on Ingleside, William Trainor was second on Longbow, followed by Lindsay in third place on Modesty.