P.B. COURSINC CLUB.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11864, 31 May 1909, Page 7

P.B. COURSINC CLUB.

• At* the invitation of the secretary oi the Poverty Bay Coursing Club a vi->it was paid Dy a. Herald reporter to the Club's picturesque situated plumpton at ie Hapara, adjoining the Poverty Bay Park racecourse. The entrance to tlie ground is through tho main gate to tho Park, ' nearly opposito tho Taruheru freezing works, and the visitor then turns to the right and follows the avenue of trees, which leads to the Coursing Club's grandstand. Tho plumpton, which embraces 17 acres, has bee'ni pronounced by experts as ono of the Dominion's ideal courses, containing, as it does, a run of 550 yards of well grassed land, with little hillocks. The liares, which will receivo 100 yards start, should havo little diliiculty m reaching tho escapes, as the conditions are greatly m their favor. Tho plumpton is enclosed by a 6ft wire netting fence, 'which is curried 9in down into the ground. During the coming meeting scrim will be set up round the front side of the .fence, 'which will make tire ground private from the road. At the Makaraka end of tho plumpton there is situated the escape fence, m front of wliich stands a brush fence. The haro on running under this fence is thus-pro-tected Irom the dogs. A platform 3ft oy 9in high has also been ; erected *; m front. of the escape fence, md the hare, unco through the brush fence, is m perfect safety under tho platform, and has tlie choice of 36 escape doors to go through into the homing paddock. lt 'will thus bo* seen that the haro is given every chance- of escape, and the idea is "not to kill the hare, but to give the dogs a chance of showing off their speed and style, and the dog lias to bo exceptionally smart* to catch its sutall but speedy quarry. The homing paddock contains four acres of abundantly grassed and sheltered ground, and tho club is most fortunate iv having secured such a healthy and suitable section, and it is anticipated that tho hares will thrive and breed well; thus saving the expense of importing them from the South. Their fodder is of a varied order, includihg ground grain, turnips, and mangles. The grandstand, which is situated m a central position, will hold 200 people: «■ The work of erection and the other improvements have all been done by energetic menibers. The Club membership totals over 100 members, and its excellent financial position has enabled the Club to'*spei-(d much money m improving '-.-: the plumpton. It wits decided by the' members present to give thß hares a- run over the course m order to -get them used to the escapes. The work of penning nearly 100 hares was then started. A scrim race whs accordingly quickly erected, nnd fixed to the pens. The seven boxes, which* will hold, ,70 . liares, ' were placed in' a .line and the dividing slip boards taken up. The hares, on entering the I race, followed right through the boxes to the end, and the required number were easily * penned by dropping the slip boards. The .boxes were then taken on a pledge" int^.tliti-cpuraing' ground. On being freed the liares smartly found their way ba*ck to the homing paddock: Some of the best coriditioned i ones were given a trial run .with sheep dogs. . All the liares reached snelter.safeiy-._nd easily, the majority. beh% ■m through the escapes before the dogs had travelled half, tbe ground., The secretary, Mr C. Morse, and the committee have arrangements well m hand, and it ifc- anticipated that the Club's opening hieeting, which takes place on Thursday,* June 3 (Prince of Wales' Birthday), and continues on Friday, ' "4th, will he* a great success. THE NOMINATIONS. • . The following nominations have been received by>Mr C. Morse, Secretary of tho Poverty Bay Coursing Club, for the £50 Poverty Bay Maiden Stakes: — F. VV. Clark's Lord Bathurst, It. Morse's Auldearn, W. Courtney's Paul ''Clifford, J. Patterson's Faithful Rose, M. Patterson's Galtec, Bright and Morse's California, Martin Weir's On Top, T. Caliill's Spearmint, N. Holland's Lady Soria, P. Walsh's Newmarket, Otto Hansen's Lady Robina* R. Davidson's Calistrate, Mcßreen's (Hastings) Paddy the Pointer, E. LuttreU's Gold Cloud, T, Hamilton's- Lady NeU W. and E. Morrow's Senorita, G. Danby.'s Comet, G. Danby's Lady »' Betty, JR.' Scott's Daunt, E. Robert's Belle, Sl Downey's (Hastings) Ena, |Si Downey's (Hastings) Golden, H-. Patterspn's Glen Pardan, Morse and : Law's Miss Hilda, W. Whitfield's Springbok, JA Gribble's,: Miss Winnie, J, MiUV Soult, G.f Mills' Miss Advance, Bruco Hpllier's 'Pleasant Days. -"...,' •■' V The following have also*, entered dqgs m this competitioii by telegram, but have not forwarded the names of> the dogs : — J. Gribbje, Auckland; G. Mills (2 dogs), Auckland ;H. Pearce,- Wellington; ahd'H.t Kinnimpiib (2 dogs). This competition will probably take place on tho first day of the meeting (Thursday), and on Friday tho open* sweepstakes will, commence, entries for which are coining m fast. f As .will be seen # by the nominations some pf the champion dogs bf tho DoMinion will bo present at* the meeting. .