Coursing Notes.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 266, 29 August 1895, Page 2

Coursing Notes.

[By

Slip.]

FIXTURES. Sept. 4—Hawkes Bay Plumpton C.C. Gathering

The fourth and final gathering of the Auckland Coursing Club was brought to a close at the Avondale Plumpton on Saturday afternoon last, and lovers of this popular and interesting sport may bid adieu to coursing until May of 1896. On both days the weather was all that could be desired, the attendance large, and the running of a close and exciting character. The hares were almost without exception gallopers of the first water and led the dogs many a merry dance, with the result that only a few kills w’ere effected in the two days. Four stakes came up for decision, viz., the Champion Collar Stakes, Final Stakes, Recovery Stakes, and Supplementary Stakes, and on the whole the dogs engaged proved a very fair lot, the Final Stake (48 dogs) in particular unearthing several promising animals who should give a good account of themselves in the larger stakes next year. The club is to be congratulated on the success of the season as a whole, and judging by the interest and enthusiasm evinced in the meetings held this year I should say the sport will become more popular and widely supported next season than has been the case in Auckland for several years past. On the whole the judging of Mr J. Barr and the slipping of Ferguson met with general approval, though in the final for the Champion Collar Stake between Cushla and Dora B. dissatisfaction was expressed by the supporters of the latter at the decision (given in favour of Cushla), they being of opinion that a shorter slip should be given and more work witnessed in the deciding course of an event of such importance. Further particulars concerning this course will be found in my notes on the final round of the stake in question. The handsome silver collar presented to the winner of the Collar Stake by the Committee fell to the well-known bitch, Cushla, trained by W. Fox, and in fastening the trophy to the dog’s neck Mrs H. H. Hayr, in a a few well-chosen words, said she hoped this would not be the last occasion on which she would have the pleasure of. making a similar presentation to the inmates of this trainer’s kennel. The results of Saturday’s coursing are as follows ; —

Recovery Stake. Winner, £4; runner-up, £1. —First round : Mr W. F. Alien’s br and w d Ascot beat Lady Guy, Mr A. Beatty’s bl and w b Madame Patti beat Hilda. Final round : Mr A. Beatty’s bl and w b Madame Patti, by Blue Star —Bide-a-wee, beat Mr W. F. Alien’s br and iv d Ascot, by Blue Star —Woolcott, and thus won the stake. Ascot led Madame Patti to hare and turned, when the latter, getting in, had matters pretty much her own way, never leaving the course in doubt.

Final Stake. Winner, £10; runner-up, £4 ; four dogs, £1 each. —Third round : Robin beat Ajax, Tim Doolan beat Boojurn, Newport beat Schoolgirl, Brigadier beat Gentle Lady, Sequah beat Sapphire, Black Cap beat Erina. Fourth round; Robin beat Tim Doolan, Newport beat Brigadier, Black Cap beat Sequah. Fifth round: Robin beat Newport, Black Cap a bye. Final round: Mr H. Petty’s blk and w d Robin, by Kangaroo— Elsie, beat Mr C. Hinton’s blk and w d Black Cap, by Blue Cap—Lady Betty, and won the stake. Robin and Black Cap got well away together, and the former going to the front led to puss, taking first and -second turns, when Black Cap gaining possession turned. Robin getting in again, took another turn out of the game and drove to cover, winning by something like six points. The winner came as a surprise, and as no money was taken about his chance the pencillers had a good innings. The runner up, who is only fifteen months old, is a promising youngster. Champion Collar Stake, winner £2O and silver collar presented by the club ; runner up, £9 15s ; and two dogs £3 each.— Second round : Cushla beat White Star, Myrtle beat Ronda, Stormfiend beat Raspberry, Dora B. ran a bye. Third round : Cushla beat Myrtle. Dora B. beat Stormfiend. Final round : Mr W. Fox’s brl and w b Cushla, by Pine Picture—Promise, beat Mi11. Petty’s red and w b Dora 8., by Rockbail— Woolcott, and won the stake. Commenting on the ‘last four rounds, 'Myrtle and Cushla got away from an even slip to a racing hare, the former showing slightly to the- front for about three parts of the way, when Cushla, coming with a rush, took first turn, served herself, and turned again. Myrtle, getting in, took a couple of turns, when Cushla regaining possession turned, serving to Myrtle, who turned once more, when Cushla, rushing past her opponent, wound up with a meritorious kill just on the escapes. Dora B. and Stormfiend were slipped to a strong hare, and the former, who had something like a length and a half to the good when the game was reached, never left the course in doubt. In the final Cushla and Dora B. were loosed to one of the strongest running bares of the day, and both dogs having put in a lot of work previously, did not overtake puss until well down towards the escapes, when Cushla, shooting to the front, led Dora B. by a length, and wrenching, drove to cover. For a deciding course the slip might well have been a trifle shorter, as many would like to have seen more work in the concluding go, though I hardly think puss was given more than the sixty yards law provided for in the National rules.

Supplementary Stakes, winner £5, runnerup £1. —First round .- Mr J. W. Russell’s (ns) f b Doris beat Couranto ; Mr W. F. Adams’ brl and w d Ascot beat Rubina; Mr J. Appleby’s bl and w b Evening Star beat Snowdrop; Mr G. Stevens’ w d White Hind beat Guy Fawkes. Second sound : Ascot beat Doris, White Hind beat Evening Star. Final round : Ascot had unfortunately to be withdrawn owingto lameness, and the course was a bye for Mr G. Stevens’ w'd White Hind, by Caradot —Cerita, who won the stake.

It is anticipated that the inaugural meeting of the Hawkes Bay Coursing Club, which opens on September 4th, will prove a huge success, as nominations from Auckland, Dunedin, and other outside centres, have been pouring in freely, and the stake will be contested by a host of really good dogs. Four of Mr J. Jerome’s well-known dogs, in the hands of trainer W. Glew, are now in course of preparation at Napier. Final payments (30s) for the stake close with the Secretary, Mr G. T. Cross, at the Caledonian Hotel, Napier, on Monday evening next, at nine p.m. In addition to the local trainers who go to Napier I hear several enthusiasts will make the journey.