Coursing Notes.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 310, 2 July 1896, Page 9

Coursing Notes.

[by

SLIP.]

In the fourth round of the Benalla (Vic.) Champion Cup, Bloomer, the winner of the Challenge Stakes at Dunedin, was beaten by Happy Jack (by Merry Monarch —Sailoress), who eventually won the Cup, Wasp (by Hedley—Queenis) being runner up. However, Mr Bladon, the owner of Bloomer, secured the Sunbeam Stakes with his black and white bitch Business (by Livingstone— Besant), beating Novelist (pup), by Forlorn— Nettle. The Waterloo Cup of the Darling Down (N.S.W.) Coursing Club resulted in Messrs Deacon and Sullivan’s bitch Iris, by Lotus (imp.) securing the stake, the runner-up being Mr J. O’Callaghan’s dog Sunburst, by Snip. I have to thank John Munday, secretary to the National Coursing Club of Australasia, fora copy of the Club’s revised edition (June, 1896,) of the rules. Some of the old rules, or, at least, amendments to old rules, are very important, and should at once be discussed by New Zealand coursing men. My opinion is that the amended rules should be adopted by the National Coursing Club of JNew Zealand. The late Colonel North as a courser was a great central figure a few years back. He appeared in the English coursing world about eight years ago, his sensational purchase of Fullerton at public auction for 850 guineas soon placing him upon a pinnacle of fame, says the London Sportsman. His earliest connection with the sport was antecedent to this, for in the Autumn of 1887 he bought three greyhounds from Mr P. O’Rourke, Moran, viz., Mask Maid, Mask Man, and Mane Maid, the price being about £5OO. Fullerton was not the only purchase made by the Colonel at the break-up of the Short Flatt Kennel that Saturdry afternoon, for he also gave 510 guineas for Miss GUendyne, 450 guineas for Troughend, 200 guineas for Bit of Fashion (dam or Fullerton) 160 guineas for Miss Kitten, etc. Lord Lurgen, as the owner of Master McGrath (thrice winner of the Waterloo Cup), was deemed to have accomplished a feat that would prove unique in Waterloo records for all time. But Colonel North not only equalled, but eclipsed it. He ran first and second for the Cup in 1889 with Fullerton and Troughend, and carried it off by the aid of Fullerton in the three following years. Nor did this grand dog’s great triumphs stand alone. A younger brother to Fullerton, in Simonian (whom the Colonel bred from Bit of Fashion) carried off the Waterloo Puree in 1891, arid the Plate in 1892, whilst Troughend ran up for the Purse in 1890. Had Fullerton been able to perpetuate his species the Colonel’s further luck might have been different, but with about a score of the best bitches in the country put to him, never a pup was forthcoming. Despite his age— g he was pupped in 1887—Fullerton is said to be now looking wonderfully fresh and well, and to Eltham visitors he was shown with even greater pride than the best of the thoroughbreds.