EACH week in the Free Press we look back at what made the news 150, 100, 50 and 25 years ago. Here is a sample of the items featuring in the This Was The News column this week.

150 years ago – April 17th 1869

A wager of two guineas was laid between Mr John Sully, of Roadwater, and Mr Henry Churchill, of Bilbrook, as to which of their horses could leap the largest number of hurdles in 30 minutes. The contest took place in Old Cleeve where Mr Sully’s Pass By leaped 116 hurdles and Mr Churchill’s Sailor Prince leaped 114. A witness said such a leaping was scarcely ever heard of.

100 years ago – April 19th 1919

A meeting was held in Stogumber to discuss provision of a war memorial. Three schemes were suggested: a church room and institute, new entrance gates to the burial ground, a war memorial window in the church.

50 years ago – April 19th 1969

Roads over Dunkery were blocked by hundreds of cars as a crowd estimated at 4,000 turned out to see Exmoor beacons blaze to announce the start of the Lorna Doone centenary celebrations.

25 years ago – April 22nd 1994

Minehead was hit by two spates of domestic garage burglaries making a total of 80 break-ins in less than a week.